Read Online Danger in Paradise by Katie Reus - Free Book Online Page B

she’d been waiting for since she was fifteen. Maybe she could finally find peace or at least closure.
      “Three days is all I need, then you’ll never have to worry about Richard Taylor again. You’ve got twenty minutes to grab what you need and get out of here. Don’t take that yacht. You’re supposed to be dead.”
    “Fine.” Luke nodded then shoved his prisoner forward.
    Without pause, the two men walked out the front door. They didn’t even stop to cut his cuffs off.
    Luke stepped forward as if he was having second thoughts about letting them go, but Hope grabbed his arm. If they’d wanted them dead, they would be. The stranger’s intentions might not be clear, but his order was concise. They needed to get out of there.
    When they were gone, Luke turned toward her, his voice accusing. “I thought you were a photographer.”
    The hair on the back of her neck rose and she yanked her hand away. “I am. And I don’t like your tone.”
    “Why would someone put out a hit on a photographer?” His eyes narrowed.
    “Do you really want to worry about that now?” She rolled her eyes to cover her very real fear and started for the stairs. She stood at the bottom of the stairwell, waiting for him to make a decision. As much as she wanted to scream in frustration about what was happening, she couldn’t. They needed to keep a level head and get out of the house in case those two guys changed their minds and came back.
    It was obvious Luke was torn between grilling her and getting out of there. “Fine, but this isn’t over.”
    * * * * *
     
    Hope held on to the fraying straps that secured her against the side of the hollowed out Cessna. When Luke said they’d be flying to Jamaica, she’d expected a small two-seater plane. She hadn’t expected to be strapped into a cargo hull sharing the trip with crates of coconuts, pineapples, and what she was fairly sure was marijuana.
    Directly across from her on the other side of the plane, Luke was strapped in, too. His eyes were closed, but she was almost certain he wasn’t asleep. He’d barely said two words as they’d grabbed their stuff and had only spoken directly to her when she’d asked a question. Even if she’d wanted to talk to him, she could barely hear herself think above the engine. Apparently the owner of the plane didn’t see any reason to add insulation or sound-proofing. Then again, they probably didn’t transport people very often.
    Luke seemed to have a plan and since her mind was still reeling, she wasn’t going to fight him. As soon as they landed, she needed internet access. If someone had enough money to hire a killer, then there was a good chance they were well-known enough to be on the internet.
    The plane dipped suddenly and Luke’s eyes flew open. They made eye contact, but just as quickly he averted his eyes to the front of the plane. He was ignoring her and that just pissed her off. He had no right to be angry at her when she’d done nothing wrong.
    As the plane twisted violently, her stomach pitched with nausea. Everything not strapped down shifted. Crates and random fruit rolled around the interior. When the plane twisted again, she yelped as something struck her head. Before she had a chance to absorb the pain, blackness engulfed her.
     

Chapter 6
     
    The man everyone called John pulled out one of his throw away cell phones and dialed a familiar number as he and his partner hiked down the deserted beach.
    His boss picked up on the second ring. “Bishop, here.”
    “It’s done.” He didn’t identify himself and didn’t even consider going into details over an unsecured line.
    “You’re sure?”
    “Yes. We have three days.” He glanced around, even though it was nearly pitch black. Clouds covered the moon and stars, veiling their existence.
    “Where are they?”
    “They won’t cause any trouble until the deal is done. Trust me.” If time had allowed, they would have taken Hope and Luke into protective custody and