Page 71 of Mountain Trial

Finally, the helicopter was back on the ground.

“Smooth landing, as always, Kat,” Gael said, tipping an imaginary hat in her direction. “What do you say we go get a beer? I’d say we’ve earned it today.”

Kat smiled, patting the helicopter’s instrument panel. “I need to check her in first. But let me know if you hear anything else about the young man?”

Jens shook his head. “We’re not leaving you here alone, Kat. We’ll wait with you until Jean comes. And then, I think you should come out and grab a drink with us. Drake and Isolde will join us as well.”

Kat smiled gratefully. She’d felt skittish, but thought she was hiding it better. It was just like her team to notice.

“Thank you, both, I can drop you off in town afterwards if you like, but I won’t be joining you for joining you for drinks. Luc and I are spending the evening in―he’s bringing cheese and saucisson, and the wine is already in the trunk of my car.

“Well, that sounds even better. I don’t suppose you’d like to invite us over?” Gael asked, his mouth curling up into a lopsided smile.

Chapter 27

Kat

The wine bottle, which had spent all day in the trunk of her car, was probably a couple degrees colder than the local wine store would recommend―Kat didn’t care, and she hoped it wouldn’t make a difference to Luc either.

She walked up to Luc’s doorstep, fishing in her pocket for the key he’d given her that morning. He’d offered it in an offhand manner, in case she arrived home before he did in the evening―the gesture so intimate, she’d come close to refusing, except instead she’d found herself extending her hand for it. She’d expected to spend all day in a panic about it, but had actually all but forgotten until just now.

What does this mean?

Am I finally ready to have a real relationship?

Although the light was on inside, there was nobody in the living area and kitchen. Kat took off her coat and gloves and placed the wine bottle carefully on the table, where it joined a small bag of groceries.

Hopefully the cheese and saucisson.

“Luc? Hello?”

The bedroom door was ajar. Kat knocked briefly before entering.

“Luc?”

What greeted her inside the bedroom was a scene straight out of one of her nightmares. Luc was sitting on his wheelchair on the opposite side of the room, gagged and handcuffed to the sides of the chair. As he saw her, he redoubled his efforts to speak through the gag, though only a muffled groan came out.

Dogfish was lying on Luc’s bed. He’d taken his shoes off and looked for all the world like he was preparing to take a nap.

Kat froze for an instant―which turned out to be an instant too long. She felt, rather than heard, the muzzle of a gun being placed against the back of her head.

Bull.

“Bull, Dogfish,” she said, struggling to project a calm she didn’t feel.

Bull walked out from behind her, keeping his gun trained on her. He looked exhausted, like he hadn’t slept in days. She wondered where they’d been hiding.

“Ah, so you still don’t know our real names. I knew the team would hold together.”

“It’s only a matter of time, you know, until they start talking,” she said.

“I know,” he said affably. “That’s why we’re here tonight.” His eyes dropped to her breasts. Even wearing her light blue uniform fleece top, she felt naked.

“You know,” Bull said, conversationally, “your boyfriend here had me going for a while, with that story about you being a whore.”

“She’s certainly pretty enough,” Dogfish piped up from the bed, roughly rubbing his cock through his pants.

He was turned on, Kat realized, suddenly sickened. She felt a bout of panic so strong, vomit rose up to her throat and it was only by sheer force of will that she forced it back down.