Chapter Two

The Captor

Tucker Bowman

"What?" Her eyes widened as her wrists rose to her chest. "What do you mean?"

Rising to his feet, Tucker considered his initial judgment of the hapless girl. She was older than he'd imagined, but that was because in the years since he'd last seen Alexander Bennett, he'd lost track of time. He'd expected the girl Bennett had promised to be barely legal, but the woman slumped before him now appeared to be in her twenties.

Still far too young for me.

Tucker hadn't known what to expect when he'd come to collect her. Bennett had provided no photographs of the woman, but Tucker had come regardless. Her aesthetic, he realized, was irrelevant anyhow. He wasn't there to pick up a piece of art. She was bartered stock between the two men.

Collateral.

He didn't know how he felt about taking another human being. Or perhaps to be clearer, he didn't give the ethical issue any thought. Ella Bennett was a surety, the closest thing to a guarantee Tucker had that her father would cough up the money he owed. It had been years, after all, that Bennett's debt had stood.

It was time for Tucker to be paid.

He didn't intend to hurt the girl. He'd feed and keep her warm, but she was his until her father paid his debts, and Tucker had little in the way of a conscience left to pity her fate.

"You heard me."

He had no intention of playing games with his new property. It was bad enough that instead of amassing the cash he was due, he was now responsible for the woman panting in front of him. He hoped she wouldn't be more trouble than she was worth, though judging by her panicked responses, he already knew the answer to that riddle.

Women were always trouble.

"No." Shaking her head, she sent her dark blonde hair flying. "You said I was yours, but that's ridiculous. I don't belong to anyone. I don't even know who you are!"

"So, you did hear me." He blew out a breath.

Her theatrics were exactly what he'd feared. Tucker had a good solitary life in the wilderness. He didn't need anyone, let alone a member of the so-called fairer sex, to complicate things.

Frustratingly, though, Bennett had left him with little choice. The man was a ghost and damn near impossible to find, but when Tucker had finally pinned him down, his foe's finances were in a heap of trouble. The four million in adjusted currency that Tucker was due was nowhere to be found in Bennett's bank accounts or available from his other assets.

That absence had led Tucker to the inevitable conclusion—if Bennett couldn't pay up, then he'd pay another way. Tucker had been in favor of breaking half the idiot's bones, one by one and in chronological order, but the groveling man had instead presented the idea of his daughter.

Watching her frightened green eyes, Tucker recalled the conversation with the sniveling man.

"Where's my money, Bennett?" Tapping the toe of his huge black boot against the flooring in Alexander's office, Tucker's finger caressed the gun's trigger. He didn't like guns anymore and had no intention of shooting the bastard, but using Bennett's own weapon against him was too good an opportunity to miss.

"It's like I said." Bennett gasped for air. His bloodied and broken nose made the usual route for air all but impossible. "I don't have it yet, but I will get it, Tucker. I promise."

"Oh, you promise?" Tucker laughed at the shallow vow. Bennett's promises were worth less than his failing businesses. "Well, why didn't you tell me before? I could have saved myself a journey here."

"I mean it." Bennett threw his head back in an attempt to stem the flow of blood from his nostrils. "I'm good for it. I just don't have it yet."

"Then my original plan continues." Tucker chuckled as he waved the gun over Bennett's head. The advantage of having already knocked him to the ground was that it wouldn't take much effort to keep him there. "I'll break a bone for every thousand you owe me, but don't worry, when the pain gets too much for you to tolerate, I'll pistol whip you to sleep. We can start again when you're ready."

"Wait!" Lifting his palm, Bennett urged for patience. "I have a contingency plan."

A contingency plan? This ought to be good! "Go on…" Tucker could do with a laugh.

"What about my daughter?" Bennett met his eyes, finally giving up on controlling the blood loss. His white shirt was already completely ruined.

"What?" Tucker snapped. Why was the man who owed him bleating on about his family?

"You could take her as a warranty." Bennett's breath was ragged as he implored from his knees. "An assurance that I'll get you your money."

"Your daughter?" Tucker couldn't believe how low Bennett was prepared to stoop to save his own sorry ass. "Why would I want to take your daughter?"

"She's all I have."

If he didn't know him better, Tucker might have thought Bennett's voice wavered with emotion, but he was sure that wasn't true. Bennett was a worm. Only a spineless piece of trash would offer his own child to a man like Tucker Bowman.

"You want me to take your child as collateral?" Even Tucker couldn't believe Bennett's lack of ethics.

"Just for a while." Bennett shrugged, spitting out a mouthful of blood behind him before he turned back to his antagonist. "Until I can get the money to you."

"How long?"

Why was he even considering going along with the absurd plan? The last thing Tucker needed was another person at the cabin, let alone a whining, spoiled princess raised by Alexander Bennett, but something about the plan chimed with him.

What better collateral was there than the swine's own flesh and blood? Surely, holding his daughter hostage for the cash would lubricate Bennett's greasy wheels and ensure Tucker's millions ended up where they needed to be—back in his hands.

"A couple of months?" Desperation flashed in Bennett's eyes, as if he'd just realized what he was saying, but it was too late. Tucker's interest had been piqued. Perhaps he could use the daughter as a means to pile on pressure—a type of added interest to the loan. "I'll pay for her bed and board."

"Too bloody right you will." Why should Tucker be any further inconvenienced by Bennett's delays? "And that cash you can give me upfront. I'll need extra food and timber for heating."

"You will make sure…" Bennett's voice trailed away.

"What?" Tucker could scarcely believe the jerk had any demands in light of his arrears. "Make sure of what?"

"You'll take care of her, won't you?" A deep crease appeared in Bennett's already-aged brow. Tucker didn't recognize him at all anymore. "She's still my daughter."

"Oh, yeah." Tucker didn't deny his sardonic tone. "I'll treat her like royalty. You have my word."

Staring down at Ella now, Tucker could see why Bennett had been concerned. The woman looked terrified, her chest rising and falling so fast, he wondered how she hadn't passed out.

It might have been easier that way,Tucker mused. I could have just flung her over my shoulder and taken her home.

As it was, the logistics would be a lot more complicated. Bennett had stashed her away in a sleeping bag, and based on her shocked expression, Ella had known nothing of her fate before she'd woken up in the forest. Bennett had probably drugged her to guarantee compliance.

What an awful father…

"I think that's for me." His tone softened as he reached for the phone in her hands and took it for himself.

"It's not mine," she managed as she drew her bound wrists closer to her chest. "It doesn't even make sense."

He didn't know whether to applaud or condemn Bennett's attention to detail. The guy had used some of the strongest-looking ropes Tucker had ever seen on his own daughter. If her ankles were fettered the same way as they'd discussed, it meant her escape was all but impossible.

"It's not mine, either." He flicked on the device and devoured the missive.

Interesting.

Bennett had crafted a rudimentary skip code. Tucker hadn't read one of those since his days in the military, but it only took a few seconds for him to decipher it. The message included irrelevant words, but if he only read every third one, it made perfect sense.

Bowman.

Don't contact me again

Until we agreed.

Tucker scoffed. Bennett needed psychological help if he thought he could instruct Tucker about when to contact him. They'd agreed Ella would stay for two months while Bennett got his cash. As far as Tucker was concerned, the clock had already started ticking.

"But the message is for me."

"So, you're Bowman?" She swallowed, her gaze expectant as she craned her neck to meet his.

"The name's Tucker." He had no reason for formalities.

Her brow furrowed as she presumably tried to make sense of what was happening. "Do I know you?"

"No." Slipping the device into his back pocket, he assessed her again. She looked to be about five and a half feet and didn't seem to be overweight. His plan to haul her over his shoulder might still be the best one. That way, she'd stay bound until he decided otherwise.

"Will you untie me, Tucker?" She lifted her trussed wrists toward him. "Then I'll be on my way."

"I don't think so." The little lady wasn't going anywhere. "I already told you, you're mine."

"Stop saying that." Withdrawing her hands, she shivered. "I don't know why I'm here."

Trust an asshole like Bennett to leave the explanations to him.

"Listen." He lowered himself to her eyeline, suppressing the urge to laugh as she recoiled and almost slid down the side of the tree. "I understand this is strange for you." He was sure that was an understatement. Ella was about to discover that dear old Dad had bartered her in exchange for a loan extension.

"What do you want with me?" It appeared to be taking every ounce of her courage not to burst into tears as he knelt beside her.

"You're coming with me." Hadn't he already told her that?

"Wh-what? Where?" Her focus flitted around him as if a cozy cottage was going to materialize from thin air.

Tucker had news for her. His cabin was miles away from where they were and could only be reached on foot.

"Back to my place." Turning, he stared in the direction he'd come. If he started the journey now, he'd have them back by supper time, though with no one at home and no time to hunt, menu options would be limited. Perhaps he'd start work on the pie he'd made. His stomach growled at the idea.

"Your place!" She edged away from him as far as the sleeping bag allowed. "Look, I appreciate I might not like the answer to this question, but why do you want to take me back to your place? Are you going to hurt me?"

Hurt her? His gaze drilled into her flustering face.

"I've no plans to hurt you." Not unless her father reneged on their deal. "But I do need you to cooperate."

"I…" She exhaled with apparent exasperation. "I don't understand."

"It's your father." He might as well get straight to the point.

"What about him?" The crease in her otherwise flawless brow deepened.

"He owes me."

Time suspended as he watched the pieces of the puzzle fall into place in her mind. Tucker swore he saw the actual moment she started to comprehend her true position.

"My father owes you money?" Her jaw tightened as the blood drained from her face.

"That's right."

She was actually more attractive than he'd given her credit for, although her new ashen complexion wasn't especially flattering.

"He offered you as an indemnity." Rising to his feet, he glanced at the sky. The morning was slipping away. He'd need to get them moving soon, but he was keen to see how she'd react to her predicament.

Tucker knew from experience that betrayal wasn't an easy cross to carry, and there were few greater treacheries than exploiting your child for your own benefit. The way she dealt with the next few minutes would tell him a lot about the woman he'd agreed to babysit.

"What the hell?" She gazed into the distance between the trees, her mouth parting. "How could he do this?"

"Because he's a spineless piece of sputum." It was the kindest description of Alexander Bennett that Tucker could muster.

"Oh God." Her hands quivered as she hunched over. "I can't believe this."

"I bet." Tucker had never been one for family, but he couldn't imagine how he'd have felt in Ella's place.

"What will you do with me?" She blinked away tears as her gaze rose to meet his.

"Do with you?"

"Yes," she squeaked.

"I haven't thought."

That much was true. Tucker had only got as far as stocking up on firewood and ensuring there was enough meat to feed the two of them. Even though Bennett had indicated a longer stay, his plans didn't stretch much beyond the next few days.

"Then just let me go." She pulled in a breath.

"I can't." Wasn't she listening to him? Ella would have to learn to pay attention if this new arrangement was going to work.

"Why?" Her voice cracked as she glanced up at the enormous tree she'd been leaning against. Wiggling her feet up the sleeping bag, she forced herself upright.

He couldn't help but admire her determination as she finally managed to stand.

"You know why." He folded his arms across his chest, watching the way her attention darted around the tiny clearing.

What was Miss Bennett expecting to see? An escape route, maybe, or a magical portal that had just opened up in the forest? Surely, she understood what was coming. She was going with him, and there was nothing she could do to prevent the inevitable. She couldn't be foolish enough to think there was a way out. He couldn't contemplate being stuck with a woman that stupid.

"I already told you."

"But please!" Yanking at the ropes securing her wrists, her face reddened. "You don't need to do this."

"This isn't going to be easy." It was more a statement to address his own growing exasperation than an expression of solace for her. Ella would do as she was told whether she liked it or not, but he'd much prefer her cooperation. Or, at least, he'd rather not have to fight her all the way home.

"It doesn't have to happen." She employed what she probably thought was an imploring tone. "Just let me go. No hard feelings."

"I'm going to say this one more time." His patience was running out. A long trek awaited him, and his pace would only be slowed by her additional load. "You are coming with me."

"No." Her expression crumpled, her shoulders rolling forward as she lifted her hands to banish her impending tears.

"Yes." His voice deepened as he sought to be clearer. "You're mine, and that's a good thing. What do you think would happen if I left you out here?"

"Untie me, and I'll be fine." Petulance echoed in her tone, although he sensed even she didn't believe her words.

"You won't be fine." He wanted to laugh at her naivete. Maybe she was a fool. "I've done my homework on you, Ella. You won't survive another night out here."

That was a lie.

Tucker knew nothing about her beyond the little Bennett had told him and what he'd ascertained since they'd met, but he was willing to wager that he was right. She looked like the kind of woman who was more used to a six-star hotel than life out in the wild. Her decorated fingernails suggested she'd never done a day's work in her life.

"I'll be all right." She swallowed down her own untruth, no doubt like him, wondering why she was lying. "I can make it out of these woods on my own."

Good grief.Either she'd led such a cosseted life that she truly believed what she was saying, or she was intentionally spouting nonsense as false bravado.

"You have a choice, Ella." He wasn't prepared to talk about it anymore. The conversation appeared to be going around in circles.

"What choice?" Her watery eyes met his.

"You can come with me without a fuss." He arched a brow at her. "I'll take care of you and do my best to meet your needs."

"Or?"

The defiant edge to her tone goaded more than it had the right to. He didn't know her and shouldn't care what she thought, but somehow, her simmering insolence riled. He supposed he'd hoped she'd make his life easy, but obviously, that wasn't to be.

"Or…" He paused, hoping his gaze would convey how serious he was. "You come with me the hard way."