Riding Steele: Wanted (6 page)

Laurie locked gazes with Rip, hope flaring through her. Could it really be that easy? Drop off the necklace and she would be free? She’d get her life back?

“But he says the offer ends at ten o’clock tonight.”

“That’s crazy. We’ll never get back to Marin Falls in time,” Raven exclaimed.

“We might have if I’d checked messages sooner.” Rip frowned. “It’s been sitting on the phone since yesterday.”

Raven stroked his sleeve. “Don’t blame yourself. The guy had to know it would take time for Killer to get in touch with you. He’s playing mind games.”

Rip dialed the phone. “Killer? Yeah, I got the message. Look, there’s no way we can get back there by the deadline.” Rip glanced at Laurie. “Yeah?”

The conversation went on and Rip mentioned the small town they’d passed through a couple of hours ago. After a few minutes, he ended the call.

“Killer thinks he can work something out. He’s going to call us back.”

“Could he be doing this to keep us here?” Laurie asked, anxiety quivering through her. “Now that he knows where we are, he could be sending someone to pick me up.”

“I trust Killer with my life,” Rip said. “And yours.”

Laurie nodded. The phone rang and Rip picked it up.

“Yeah.” His gaze locked on Laurie. “Really? But that’s gotta be a five-hour ride from here.” His hands clenched into fists. “Yeah, I get it.
His
terms.” He listened for a while, clearly getting detailed instructions from his friend. “Okay. I’ll make sure I get her there in time.”

He stuffed his phone into his jeans pocket and turned to Laurie.

“Okay, we’ll have to boot it to get there in time. Laurie, you have to take the necklace to an Officer Parker, someone Killer knows and trusts. Your ex says if Parker confirms he has the necklace by ten p.m., he’ll drop the charges. And if we don’t make it, he’ll prosecute and demand the maximum sentence.”

Laurie’s chest constricted. And with his connections and money, he’d get what he wanted.

“Don’t look so worried, Laurie. If we leave now, we should be able to make it with time to spare.”

Raven stood up and pulled on her jacket.

“Laurie, where’s the necklace now?” Rip asked.

Laurie’s gaze darted to his, and her stomach tightened. “I … gave it to Steele.”

Also by Opal Carew

Bliss

Forbidden Heat

Secret Ties

Six

Blush

Swing

Twin Fantasies

Pleasure Bound

Total Abandon

Secret Weapon

Insatiable

Illicit

His to Command

His to Possess

His to Claim

Opal Carew is the
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author of fifteen previous erotic romances for St. Martin’s Press. To learn more, visit her on the Web at
www.opalcarew.com
.

RIDING STEELE
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