Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Dana Mentink (good fiction books to read .txt) 📕

“See? What’d I tell you?” Frank asked, almost cheerfully. The gun in Frank’s hand pointed lazily at the middle of Nora’s back. Henry’s heart ran into overdrive, his neck burning. How could he so much as point a gun her way—

Beside him, Nora’s face paled and her eyes widened. “His head. He’s bleeding. What’d you do to him? You said you wouldn’t touch him if I cooperated.”

The wiry man gave a shrug to Frank. “Had to get him here first.”

“That was before our deal, Nora.”

The wiry man shoved Henry, clearly trying to force him to the raft waiting at the dock. The black SUV and another vehicle Henry didn’t recognize blocked any would-be passerby from seeing the dock and their predicament.

Nora’s pleading eyes met his. For all his time guessing at her thoughts, now the message seemed crystal clear. Please cooperate. He took a deep breath and almost asked if Frank had Maya as well, but something told him he’d likely get a sarcastic or threatening remark, so he remained silent.

“You want me to take you there this close to dark, then I need your word,” Nora said. “If I take you to the drugs, you leave Henry and Maya alone.”

“Fine,” Frank said, too easily. “Time is ticking to sundown, though. Lou and I were both river guides, so we’ll know if you try to flip the boat. We know all the tricks. One wrong move and the deal is off. Are the drugs still at the site?”

“Yes,” Nora said weakly.

Frank ordered Nora to the back of the raft and sat at her side. He instructed the man he’d referred to as Lou and Henry to be placed at the front half of the raft. Within moments, they hit the water. Nora shouted instructions with a fierceness Henry’d never heard from her before. Even Lou had a paddle while Henry sat in the front of the raft, helpless, with his hands tied. At least his feet were free enough to hook his toes in for additional support.

“Henry, grab on to the side handle.”

He had to twist his torso as far as he could go, but managed a two-fisted grip as a large wave slapped at his chest. He sputtered but Nora kept shouting, taking the hardest currents, the ones that would catapult them down the river at top-notch speed. If not for the danger, he would marvel at her abilities, the kind of praise he should’ve been giving her all the while. His stupid pride seemed to only be able to handle giving compliments when he was on top of the world. Now, completely and utterly helpless, he finally understood what Nora had been trying to tell him. He set up walls for all the people closest to him, even his parents and brother. If he could finally set his ego aside, he could love with vulnerability. Not that he’d ever have a chance to test his theory. Too little, too late.

The river truly was wild, constantly changing. It didn’t matter the training or equipment or planning, he had no control over the currents. So how was he supposed to help Nora get out of this alive? Especially while bound at the wrists. The river channel straightened, and the sun hovered at the horizon, sending blinding sunlight directly in their path.

He glanced over his shoulder. Nora seemed unfazed. Even in the calmer portions of the water, she pushed the gunmen to paddle harder, faster. They both had holstered their guns, and were squinting and sweating, but they never argued with or questioned her commands.

If Nora was trying to wear them out on purpose, she was doing a fine job. He’d have an easier time taking them down if they were tired. Except, exhaustion seemed to have seeped into his own bones after the day they’d had. Rapid after rapid, stroke after stroke. With each inch the sun dipped, Nora’s voice grew weaker in authority.

Before he knew it, the sun had disappeared, leaving behind a mixture of oranges, pinks and blues. Nora’s sharp inhale directed him to follow her gaze to the site where they’d tried to look for evidence about Tommy’s murder just earlier that day.

“You murdered Tommy,” Henry said, only half realizing he’d said the words aloud. He whipped his head around to look at the man in question.

Frank’s good-natured-politician smile disappeared. The sunset’s golden light reflected off the sheen on the top of his lip. “Mistakes were made in the early years.”

“So, you admit it.”

“That was before I realized I needed to manage my own rafting company, my own guides.” Frank shrugged, confirming Henry’s suspicions. The man would not talk so freely about murdering someone if he intended to let Nora and Henry walk away. “Using guides was a good idea with just a few problems. Tommy taught me I could only use guides that were local, from poor families they wanted to protect. In many ways, Tommy helped me become a success. Those in my business knew what his death meant.”

Nora stopped paddling, her face slack. “Why? Why kill him?”

“He wanted out,” Henry ventured. That would explain why Tommy had turned jumpy and nervous. He’d wanted out of drug running and was scared but not scared enough to admit what he’d been part of. Henry’s gut churned with understanding.

“Except he tried to stiff me. Said he’d already sold my drugs to someone else and there was nothing I could do about it.” Frank sighed. “Being a business owner can be tough. You have to know when to cut your losses.”

“Is that how you viewed Dexter?” Nora asked, horror lining her features. “A cut to your losses?”

“Dexter should’ve never been on your rafting crew. I don’t know how that happened.” Frank practically spat the words.

The last colors on the horizon disappeared, leaving behind a dark blue. The canyon walls added shadows, making any light harder to see within. Nora slipped her paddle into the water and shifted the