One Good Reason by Nicole Salmond Read Free Book Online Page B

second thought, Hayden ran over and
grabbed Aran around the arm with his left hand, and then used his right to
punch him square in the face. Aran fell flat to his back. Daw let go of Ava
quickly, standing to his feet. Hayden grabbed the scuff of his shirt around his
neck and lifted him off the ground.
    “What
the hell do you think you’re doing?” Hayden yelled at him.
    Daw
looked at Hayden fearful of what he was about to do.
    Hayden
heard Aran’s voice behind him. Holding tightly onto Daw, he looked over to see
Aran holding his nose, bright red blood spilling from it. Aran started
screaming at Hayden, Hayden didn’t know Thai very well, but he could make out
the obscenities good enough though.
    “What’s
going on?”
    Hayden
turned his head to see Aun standing at the door.
    “I
found your men in here abusing her. I want them gone NOW, Aun ,
or so help me God, I will kill them with my bare hands!” Hayden was dead
serious. Never in his career had one of his captive’s been physically abused.
Hayden Price had a unique way of getting the information he needed, and it
never involved physical abuse.
    Aun ordered the men to come with him. Hayden
watched and waited until they were all out of the room and he was left alone
with Ava.
    He
crouched down next to Ava who was staring up at the ceiling, tears staining her
cheeks. He carefully untied her wrists and looked over her body, relieved to
see her dress had only ridden up her thighs slightly, her underwear still on
and intact.
    Ava
let her hands drop to her sides. Hayden expected her to say something, or even
look at him, but she didn’t. She only kept her eyes focused on the ceiling.
    “Are
you okay?” he asked. “Did they hurt you?”
    She
turned her head towards him; he could see her bruised cheek in the light. He
held his hand up over her cheek. She looked so vulnerable, so innocent. In that
moment, all he wanted was to protect her.
    “Get
away from me,” she whispered, tears falling from her eyes.
    Hayden
withdrew his hand and stood, shaking himself out of the trance he’d been in.
He’d been staring at her eyes, her face, her hair. He’d lost himself in that
moment, thinking he was saving and protecting her from harm. That she would be
safe with him, when really, he had put her in this situation. He’d organized
her kidnapping. He wasn’t her saviour or her protector. He was her captor.
    He
made his way for the door, turning only once to look at her again, but she had
already turned her body away from him.
    He
closed the door behind him and locked it, taking the key with him this time so
no one else would bring any harm to her. Then he walked towards the front door,
ready to give the Thai men all that he had. They needed to know that behaviour
like that was unacceptable. Any harm against Ava would be punishable.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    5 PASSING MOMENTS
     
     
    Day 13
     
    Two weeks had nearly passed since Ava’s kidnapping. As everyday passed,
her hope for being rescued faded a little bit more.
      After the incident with Aran and Daw, Hayden was the only one
allowed in and out of Ava’s room. He was the only one to take her to the toilet
and shower as well. She never saw Aran and Daw again, but judging by the looks
that the Thai men gave Hayden, he must have done something bad to them.
Although she could tell they had respect for Hayden before, they were now
terrified to disappoint him.
    Hayden
hadn’t asked her again about Thornakorn , but she
could tell he was warming up to ask. He had given her the luxury of a brush,
shampoo, and conditioner. He had even given her hair removal cream in the
shower, a shaver was too much of a risk apparently.
    It
didn’t take much for Ava to figure out Hayden’s interrogation technique. He
made you rely on him to live. He provided food, water, and safety. He’d also
given her treats like the toiletries and food snacks as a way of making her
feel good. He wanted her to feel safe with him. That he was her