Read Online Cole: Black Bear Outlaws #3 (Mating Fever) by Kenzie Cox - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kenzie Cox
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contemplating the best way to climb aboard without falling in. But before I could make up my mind, Jackhole jerked, rolled to his knees, and scrambled to reach me.
Instinct took over, and I jumped backward, hit the side of the boat, and fell in head first, landing on my shoulder against the bottom of the boat.
“Ouch,” I muttered and quickly righted myself, reaching for the choke on the motor. But before I could push the power button, I heard a cry of terror, followed by the thrashing of water. I turned, and stared in utter horror as I watched the monster gator clamp his jaws over my abductors neck and haul him into the river.
And just like that, they both disappeared, leaving nothing but a ripple of water.
Chapter 8
Cole
“T here!” I pointed to the old shack I knew Clive’s uncle had left him. His place was a good forty minute ride from ours. The chance of him being there was slim at best, but we had to check. If he thought we couldn’t identify him, it was an ideal place to hide out for a while.
Cyrus pointed, indicating he was going to circle the island to do a little recon before we went ashore. If he was there, he already knew he had company by the sound of the motor, despite the fact it was only a low roar as we inched along. The bayou wasn’t good at masking noises. It also meant there was no reason to hide our arrival.
I kept the shotgun aimed at the shack, just in case all hell broke loose. But everything was quiet. No sign of habitation. “Dammit,” I muttered. “Let’s tie up to that tree and—”
“Cole,” Cyrus said and pointed upriver at an aluminum boat off in the distance.
I squinted, shielding my eyes from the sun. It was drifting against the edge of the shore and appeared empty. “Let’s check it out first.”
“You got it. But keep that gun handy in case it’s a trap.” He pressed the throttle down and the engine roared to life.
At that moment, a dark head popped up from the drifting boat, followed by a cry for help and the waving of arms.
“Holy shit,” I said, my eyes wide with disbelief. “It’s Amberly. Hurry.”
Cyrus did as I asked and in no time, I was jumping into the small boat, enveloping Amberly in my arms.
“Oh, God,” She sobbed against my chest, her voice hoarse. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
I tightened my hold on her, my insides churning with relief and complete horror as I realized her wrists and ankles were bound. “You’re okay now, princess,” I soothed and kissed the top of her head. “I’ve got you.”
She nodded, her sobs quieting.
I pulled away slightly, then picked her up and transferred her into our boat. Placing her on one of the benches, I nodded to Cyrus. “Can you pick the lock on those shackles?”
He took a moment to study them, then with steel in his gaze, he nodded. His expression must’ve mirrored mine. When we found Clive and anyone else who was responsible for this, it was going to be ugly. No one messed with the Doucet family.
While I used a utility knife to cut the wires binding Amberly’s wrists, Cyrus produced the lock picks he always carried, and managed to have her free in less than thirty seconds.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I said to Cyrus, as Amberly rubbed at her wrists and leaned into me.
He nodded once, turned the boat around and flew down the river.
I tightened my grip on her, letting her nearness soothe me. The ache that had formed the moment I’d realized she was missing lessoned with each passing moment she was in my arms. “You scared me, love,” I said into her ear.
She turned her tired eyes to meet mine. “He’s gone.”
“Who? Clive?” I asked.
“The bastard who did this to me. Is that his name?” There was pure hatred in her dark blue eyes.
I couldn’t say I blamed her. “Did he have a bear paw tattoo on his palm?”
“Yes, and one that said loyalty . He said you put it there.”
“I did. That was a long time ago. I’ll fill you in later. For now, why
Instinct took over, and I jumped backward, hit the side of the boat, and fell in head first, landing on my shoulder against the bottom of the boat.
“Ouch,” I muttered and quickly righted myself, reaching for the choke on the motor. But before I could push the power button, I heard a cry of terror, followed by the thrashing of water. I turned, and stared in utter horror as I watched the monster gator clamp his jaws over my abductors neck and haul him into the river.
And just like that, they both disappeared, leaving nothing but a ripple of water.
Chapter 8
Cole
“T here!” I pointed to the old shack I knew Clive’s uncle had left him. His place was a good forty minute ride from ours. The chance of him being there was slim at best, but we had to check. If he thought we couldn’t identify him, it was an ideal place to hide out for a while.
Cyrus pointed, indicating he was going to circle the island to do a little recon before we went ashore. If he was there, he already knew he had company by the sound of the motor, despite the fact it was only a low roar as we inched along. The bayou wasn’t good at masking noises. It also meant there was no reason to hide our arrival.
I kept the shotgun aimed at the shack, just in case all hell broke loose. But everything was quiet. No sign of habitation. “Dammit,” I muttered. “Let’s tie up to that tree and—”
“Cole,” Cyrus said and pointed upriver at an aluminum boat off in the distance.
I squinted, shielding my eyes from the sun. It was drifting against the edge of the shore and appeared empty. “Let’s check it out first.”
“You got it. But keep that gun handy in case it’s a trap.” He pressed the throttle down and the engine roared to life.
At that moment, a dark head popped up from the drifting boat, followed by a cry for help and the waving of arms.
“Holy shit,” I said, my eyes wide with disbelief. “It’s Amberly. Hurry.”
Cyrus did as I asked and in no time, I was jumping into the small boat, enveloping Amberly in my arms.
“Oh, God,” She sobbed against my chest, her voice hoarse. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
I tightened my hold on her, my insides churning with relief and complete horror as I realized her wrists and ankles were bound. “You’re okay now, princess,” I soothed and kissed the top of her head. “I’ve got you.”
She nodded, her sobs quieting.
I pulled away slightly, then picked her up and transferred her into our boat. Placing her on one of the benches, I nodded to Cyrus. “Can you pick the lock on those shackles?”
He took a moment to study them, then with steel in his gaze, he nodded. His expression must’ve mirrored mine. When we found Clive and anyone else who was responsible for this, it was going to be ugly. No one messed with the Doucet family.
While I used a utility knife to cut the wires binding Amberly’s wrists, Cyrus produced the lock picks he always carried, and managed to have her free in less than thirty seconds.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I said to Cyrus, as Amberly rubbed at her wrists and leaned into me.
He nodded once, turned the boat around and flew down the river.
I tightened my grip on her, letting her nearness soothe me. The ache that had formed the moment I’d realized she was missing lessoned with each passing moment she was in my arms. “You scared me, love,” I said into her ear.
She turned her tired eyes to meet mine. “He’s gone.”
“Who? Clive?” I asked.
“The bastard who did this to me. Is that his name?” There was pure hatred in her dark blue eyes.
I couldn’t say I blamed her. “Did he have a bear paw tattoo on his palm?”
“Yes, and one that said loyalty . He said you put it there.”
“I did. That was a long time ago. I’ll fill you in later. For now, why
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