Chapter 17 #3
“Be careful,” Tonka warned. “Choo has an agenda, but there’s no telling what it is.”
Brick nodded, though his friend had already turned around and left.
He stared after him for a long moment. A foreboding swept through Brick, making him shiver even though the room wasn’t cold in the least. Not knowing why he suddenly felt so claustrophobic and anxious made him desperate to get out.
Of the room, the building, and into the land that had always soothed him.
He considered calling Alaska and telling her that he was going to take Mutt and head off into the forest on his own, after all.
But he swiftly rejected the idea. He wouldn’t be able to hike as hard or fast as he would by himself, but he didn’t want to leave her behind.
He didn’t have a good reason why, except that he enjoyed being with her and didn’t want to leave her alone.
So taking a deep breath, Brick headed out of the room.
He did his best to give a friendly smile and nod to the guests relaxing in the lodge as he walked toward the front door.
Deciding to put Choo, the investment decision, and everything else out of his mind for now, he made his way toward his cabin. Toward Alaska.
Yong paced his hotel room impatiently. He’d changed into black cargo pants, a black shirt, hiking boots, and had readied the pistol he’d picked up from a contact when he’d arrived in the United States.
It was so easy to get firearms here, it was ridiculous.
But since it suited his needs, he wasn’t complaining.
He wasn’t actually planning on shooting anyone, if it could be avoided.
The gun was just to make sure Alaska went along nice and quietly.
And after this afternoon, he was doubly glad he had it.
Yong hadn’t missed the protective looks Vandine had shot her way.
He already knew the man wasn’t her husband, as she’d told the Russian.
One of the other men let it slip that none of them were married.
It was still a complication that she was fucking her rescuer, but not exactly unexpected.
If he’d been in Vandine’s shoes, he would’ve taken advantage of the situation and started fucking her too. Women were predictable and easy. Alaska was probably so overcome with gratefulness, she’d spread her legs for him before they’d even arrived back in the US.
But Vandine’s feelings toward her didn’t matter. Neither did her feelings. Alaska was his. His, dammit! He’d paid for her, fair and square. She’d be coming with him tonight, one way or another.
When he’d finally gotten a chance to touch her today, he’d almost blown his cover. He’d wanted to claim her as his own right then and there. Her hand was so soft, and the way it had trembled in his grip turned him on so much, it was all he could do to hide his erection.
Deep down, she knew she was his. That he was her master. He reveled in her fear, and it would ramp up so much once he had her where he wanted her. She’d fight at first, there was no doubt, but before too long, she’d submit. They all did.
Vandine might be a problem, but not one Yong couldn’t handle.
Today’s visit had been perfect. He’d been able to study the area without raising any suspicions.
He knew which cabin Alaska was staying in, knew where the other cabins were, and discovered the animals on the property weren’t a concern.
They were docile as could be and wouldn’t raise the alarm if they spotted him wandering around.
He needed to wait until it was dark, then he’d make his move.
He had a vehicle he’d borrowed from a man who’d paid a staggering amount to have first crack at Alaska…
after Yong, of course. The man who’d provided the car had even scoped out the property.
There was a dirt road, some sort of old logging road, off the main thoroughfare that led to Los Alamos.
Yong would park there, hike through the forest, execute the diversions to keep everyone busy, then retrieve his property.
And if absolutely necessary, he’d use the gun to kill anyone who dared get in his way.
The more he thought about it, the better he liked his chances if he eliminated Brick completely.
He was obviously obsessed with the bitch, and taking him out would be the smartest option.
The others would be so shocked and alarmed by the death of their friend, it would probably take hours for them to discover Alaska was missing. If they even cared.
She was homelier than he’d thought. The Russian had lied a bit when describing her.
But it didn’t matter. Yong had paid for her, and he had way too many clients lined up and too much money on the line to abort his plan now.
If needed, he’d just put a bag over her head so his clients couldn’t see how average she was.
Yong grinned. He’d worked so hard, for so long, and the time was almost here. He’d been outraged when he’d found out his property had been intercepted. But this was the most fun he’d had in years.
“Soon,” he murmured as he paced. “Soon you’ll be mine.”