In Too Deep by Kira Sinclair Read Free Book Online Page B

men holding them hostage. That was good and bad. He appreciated her spark, but only to the extent that she could control it. The last thing he needed was for her to open that smart mouth of hers and land them in even more trouble.
    “Keep a grip, Avery. Don’t do anything stupid.”
    She glanced at him from beneath her lashes. “What’s your definition of stupid?”
    Oh, shit
.
    * * *
    T HAT FIRST SURGE of adrenaline faded, leaving Avery shaky and angry. The men standing guard didn’t waver, not even as their boat bounced over waves. The dark eyes of those barrels stayed trained on them.
    The longer they sat, the more tension she could feel winding through Knox’s body. The rock-solid curve of his thigh pressed her leg. Each time the boat surged over a wave his wide shoulder brushed against hers.
    At first, she’d been praying they would make it out of this alive. But after she’d calmed down and realized that if the man in charge had wanted them dead, they’d both be sinking beneath the surface of the Caribbean Sea right now, she’d switched her focus. From that point on, she’d prayed Knox wouldn’t decide to play hero and do something that would get either or both of them shot.
    About an hour later, dread dropped into her belly. She watched as a land mass materialized out of the unbroken blue. It didn’t take long to notice they were heading straight for the tiny island instead of passing by.
    “Knox,” she whispered.
    “I know,” he murmured back.
    Suddenly, the reasoning she’d used to convince herself they were going to be okay wasn’t nearly as sound. Was this where they were going to die?
    The boat sped up to the island, curving sharply about fifteen feet from the shore. As abruptly as they’d approached, the engine was throttled back. They idled, floating sideways, carried by their wake for several moments.
    Turning, the leader flashed them a pointed look. “This is where you two get off.”
    Avery looked over at the island. It was quiet and clearly deserted. “You have to be kidding.”
    The corners of the drug runner’s lips curled. “I’m not. Nor am I completely cruel. Miguel will follow with a few supplies. Matches, rope, alcohol.”
    “You’re all heart,” Knox said.
    “He’s been watching too many pirate movies,” Avery muttered.
    Another one of those roaring laughs erupted from deep inside the criminal’s chest.
    “So glad I could entertain you,” Knox said.
    “You’re going to have your hands full with this one, my friend.”
    “I’m not your friend.”
    The smile disappeared in a flash, making Avery realize just how much of a lie it had been.
    “No, but you’re going to be smart and not start anything. I’m leaving you both alive.”
    Knox spread his thighs and planted his feet firmly on the bottom of the boat. Avery could feel his muscles bunching, preparing for whatever was coming.
    “And why is that?”
    The corners of his eyes twitched, indicating that whatever he was about to say would likely be only half the truth. “You said yourself, I’m all heart. But if you push me, I’ll have no compunctions about leaving you on this island with a bullet wound while you wait to be rescued. And you will be, eventually.
    “This island might be deserted now, but fishermen come by here on a regular basis. It’ll only be a day or two before you’re discovered. Enough time for us to be long gone.”
    Avery could feel the frustration flowing off Knox’s body. It was ratcheting up her own tension to the point that she wanted to scream. And if she’d thought it might help she would have done just that.
    But she was afraid it would upset the tentative balance and cause a chain reaction that would end with bullets flying.
    So, instead, Avery stood. Knox turned, glaring at her.
    “We’ll go quietly.”
    Miguel followed, using the business end of his gun to indicate she should throw her leg over the side of the boat and jump into the water. She did as she was told, sucking