Read Online Polar Bared by Eve Langlais - Free Book Online Page B

people living out here. And most don’t like cidiots butting their curious noses into their affairs. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stick to what you came for, studying the wildlife. I might also suggest not wandering off by yourself, neither. Bad things can happen to those who don’t practice precaution.”
    “You knew I was gone?” She couldn’t help an accusatory note. “Why didn’t you come looking for me?”
    “I did. Saw someone got to you first.”
    “And didn’t bother to come for me or notify anyone?” How rude. What if Gene had been a man with less honor?
    “I wasn’t about to tangle with him. ”
    “Him? Do you mean Gene?” she asked.
    “Enough with the questions. I’m done answering. And you need to stop asking. Count yourself lucky that you’re back here and, like I said, no more wandering off. Next time you might not end up so fortunate.”
    More confused than ever, Vicky returned to her tent. What did the guide mean ? Was he inferring Gene had a less-than-stellar reputation? Surely the man who saved her wasn’t so bad.
    While she could only fantasize various scenarios—from Gene being the outcast son of some kind of arctic family to a one-man, Rambo-like recluse—they did keep her entertained the rest of the day. More out of boredom than anything else, she went to bed early that night and hoped for a reoccurrence of dreams featuring a certain naked man.
    The sounds in the camp lulled her, the murmur of voices, a radio softly playing, the rumble of the generator when it kicked a background hum to them all. The various noises kept her awake as her mind slowly shut down. Eventually, the residents around her settled in for the night and she finally drifted off.
    While she didn’t hear a thing, she certainly felt the cold draft that caressed her exposed face.
    What on earth—
    A hand slapped over her mouth and a menacing voice warned, “Not a sound.”
    As if she could scream with him muffling her.
    But as to his added, “Don’t move.”
    Not a problem. With sudden fear invading every inch of her body, she could feel the faintness coming on.
    No. No. I mustn’t pass out now. God only knew what would happen to her or where she’d wake up. Unlike her experience with Gene, she didn’t get the impression the guy holding her hostage meant her well. If she let her terror overpower her, she might never wake again.
    Fighting the lassitude trying to blanket her mind didn’t mean she expended energy pushing back the inertia of her body. As her assailant dragged her from her cot, she left her limbs limp. Heavy. Let him exert himself if he wanted to kidnap her.
    His grunt of exertion helped to ease some of her fright. Whoever accosted her definitely lacked Gene’s effortless strength. She began to think she could maybe fight her way loose until he said, “Mind giving me a fucking hand here? The heifer weighs a goddamned ton.”
    Heifer? Vicky might sport a few extra pounds, but calling her a cow was totally uncalled for. Oddly enough the comment sparked a teensy tiny flare of anger.
    “You heard what the boss said. You need to drag her. We’re supposed to make it look like a bear snagged her.”
    What the heck were they talking about? What boss and why did they want to cover up their tracks by blaming a poor defenseless polar bear?
    “Are you finished slashing the back of her tent?” grumbled the one holding her.
    “Almost. Fucking shit is tougher to cut than my old lady’s meatloaf.”
    With her faint spell having passed by, and the comments clicking together in her mind, Vicky came to a startling conclusion.
    These guys want me dead.
    The spark in her flared brighter, and suddenly his order to remain quiet and obedient, yeah, that wasn’t working for her. Vicky began to struggle. Twisting in his grip, taking him by surprise enough that the hand covering her mouth slipped, and she managed a short, “Help!” before a fist connected with her jaw.
    Ooh look at the pretty