Risking it All (A Hawk Brothers Romance)

by Cami Checketts

  When she opened the door, Bridger was waiting in a fitted T-shirt and cotton shorts. He extended his hand to her, giving her a forced smile. She walked to him, wanting to be strong, but the tension inside her and around them grew with each second. Yesterday she’d almost drowned. What did Ramsey have planned today? She blocked it out. If she allowed herself to think about it, she’d crumple to the floor and sob.

  She took Bridger’s hand, his warm fingers surrounding hers, giving her the security she needed to put one foot in front of the other and keep her spine straight.

  “You look like my dream woman,” Bridger murmured. “Have you met her?”

  Avalyn laughed. “What?”

  Bridger gave her the infuriating smirk that had always drawn her in. “Yeah, her name’s Avalyn Shaman, but I like to call her Ava Baby.”

  Avalyn shook her head at him, grateful he could still tease and somewhat distract her from their impending doom.

  They followed the guards down the hallway, through the main areas, and outside. A tropical island rose out of the water maybe a quarter mile away. They ascended the stairs, the whir of the helicopter blades growing louder and louder. Avalyn’s stomach churned. She enjoyed being in the water, and look how horrific yesterday had turned out. She was absolutely terrified of heights. Maybe they were flying to that island for some kind of challenge. She prayed desperately, Please let it be better than yesterday. She had to trust Bridger and he’d said he didn’t think Ramsey wanted her dead. It sure felt like he did, though.

  Bridger helped Avalyn into the helicopter. Ramsey was waiting in a seat, grinning at them. The helicopter door shut behind them, and Avalyn glanced around at the four guards and the pilot.

  “Welcome.” Ramsey spread his hands wide. “Take a seat.”

  They obeyed, strapping lap belts on. The helicopter rose into the sky, and Avalyn’s stomach took flight with it.

  “You’re going to love today.”

  “What I love and what you love are very different,” Avalyn said.

  Ramsey chuckled. “Obviously. You love Bridger Hawk.” He wrinkled his nose. “Me, not so much.”

  How did Ramsey know she loved Bridger? Was she that transparent?

  Bridger held on to her hand, looking pointedly at Ramsey. “Call this craziness off, Ramsey. You’ll never get away with it. You’ll be hunted down by the U.S. Government, the U.N., my brothers, Sutton Smith …”

  Ramsey’s grin grew. “Will I, now?”

  Bridger glared at him. “Come on, Ramsey. You don’t want a repeat of yesterday.”

  Avalyn shuddered.

  “Let’s do a competition,” Bridger continued. “You and I. Anything you want. Just leave Avalyn out of it.”

  Ramsey’s blue eyes focused on her. “But then I wouldn’t get the chance to spend the night with her.”

  Avalyn’s heart dropped to her stomach. The only thing worse than dying would be spending an entire night at Ramsey’s mercy.

  “You will never spend the night with her,” Bridger growled, his hand tightening around hers.

  “Never say never, my friend.” Ramsey threw back his head and laughed. “Isn’t that your line? Never say never.” He stood. “We ready?”

  “Yes, sir,” the pilot said.

  The guards threw the door open and wind rushed in. No, no, no. Avalyn looked around wildly. The island was far below them. She could barely make out the ridges of mountains and the sandy beaches touching the blue water.

  Two of the guards set down their weapons and strapped on parachutes, then picked up camera equipment. The other two guards ripped Bridger away from her. Avalyn screamed.

  Bridger fought wildly. He kicked and clawed and punched. Just as Avalyn hoped he might get free, she felt hands grab each of her arms and rush her to the edge, and they plunged out of the plane.

  “Bridger!” Avalyn screamed, stomach acid clawing at her throat.

  Then the men released her and she was free-falling through the air, her body being flung around. She screamed and her stomach dropped like the worst horror ride she’d ever been on. She tried to see the helicopter and Bridger coming for her, but it was only blue sky and then the island below, blue sky and then the island below. The island was rushing up to meet her much too fast, and her head and stomach were spinning. The roar of the wind in her ears added to the terror.

  She was going to die. She’d never feel Bridger’s arms around her again, never bask in his smile. Why hadn’t she just kissed him last night? She closed her eyes shut tight and prayed desperately, Let Bridger catch me. Please let Bridger catch me.

  Chapter Twelve

  Bridger fought to free himself from Ramsey’s ugly thugs. He landed a solid punch to one’s abdomen, then kicked the other. He was almost free when the two other guards sandwiched Avalyn between them and leapt from the plane.

  “No!” he screamed. His arms were released and he rushed for the door, looking down as the guards released Avalyn and her body twisted in an out-of-control free fall.

  Ramsey grabbed his arm and shoved a parachute at him. “Let’s do this buddy.”

  Bridger hated Ramsey more than he’d ever hated anyone in his life. He hurried to strap the parachute on. Ramsey leapt a second before him. Bridger dove out of the plane, angling his body straight at Avalyn. Ramsey couldn’t get there first.

  He could hear Avalyn’s screams being carried by the wind draft, and it tore at him. He prayed and he tried to focus, streamline his body, and dive quicker. Ramsey was just in front of him and they were closing in on Avalyn fast. The ground was rushing up faster. Would they be able to catch her and pull the chute in time? The thought of Ramsey touching her couldn’t take a back seat to saving Avalyn’s life.

  Bridger couldn’t let him win, though. Avalyn’s virtue was too important to him. They were feet from Avalyn when Bridger grabbed Ramsey’s foot and yanked him the other direction. Ramsey hollered out.

  Bridger slammed into Avalyn, wrapping his hands tight around her arm. She cried out in pain.

  “I’ve got you!” he yelled, clinging to her arm. He tried to maneuver her around in front of him. The ground was probably only a thousand feet away now. They had to pull the chute, but she’d be ripped from him if he didn’t secure her.

  “Pull it,” Ramsey yelled, and from the corner of Bridger’s eye, he saw Ramsey’s chute deploy.

  “Ava!” Bridger commanded. “Turn toward me and hold on.” He tugged at her, and she wrapped one leg around the back of his thigh and clung to his waist. “Hold on!” He ripped the chute cord.

  The parachute blasted out above them and they jerked. Ava screamed out as her grip around his waist slipped. Bridger held tightly to her arm. He wrapped his other arm around her waist and held her snug against his body. Her body trembled against him, and he imagined he was trembling worse. But he had her. He’d caught her and he’d beaten Ramsey to her.

  The peaceful silence that always came after traveling at terminal velocity didn’t calm him down like usual. The ground was coming up too fast. He yelled, “You gotta hold on tight to me!”

  Avalyn obeyed, clinging to his neck with her arms, both of her legs now wrapped tightly around his lower back. Bridger grabbed the chute handles and directed their descent toward the beach. Hitting the sand or the shallow water would be much better than getting caught in the tropical forest or slamming into a rock. It looked like a dozen men were on the ground waiting for them. Ramsey was just above him to his right.

  Bridger landed on the sand, trying to run with the momentum, but Avalyn’s weight against him threw him forward. They hit the sand hard and rolled together, getting tangled up in the chute. But they were alive and Ramsey hadn’t won.

  Bridger lay there with Avalyn clinging to him. He tilted her chin up so he could look in her eyes. “You okay?”

  She nodded bravely.

  He could hear men’s voices, and the parachute was cut away.

  Avalyn stared at him as if he were a hero or something. Then she leaned in a
nd kissed him right on the lips. Bridger savored the warmth of her lips. Sparks seemed to light the humid air around them. She pulled back much too quickly. “Thank you,” she breathed out.

  “The kiss was more than enough thanks.” Bridger gave her a confident wink, but inside he was reeling. The terrifying game of catching Avalyn took a back seat, for a moment, to her kiss. Avalyn Shaman had willingly kissed him. He had to remind himself it was in the middle of an intense, crazy situation, so he couldn’t place any value on it, but he wanted to shove the men away who were trying to help them to their feet and continue that kiss. Dared he hope she was changing her mind about him? Would she ever give them a chance?

  Mike helped him out of the chute and clapped him on the shoulder. “You did it. Great job!”

  Bridger acknowledged his praise with a chin lift, unsure how else to respond. This wasn’t some athletic event. The woman he loved had almost died, again.

  “Whoo-hoo!” Ramsey yelled out. Men helped him out of his chute and he jogged across the sand to them. “What a ride! And you win again. Good job, brother.”

  Bridger couldn’t take it anymore. This man was not his brother. He stepped up to pummel the guy, but Avalyn dodged in front of him and slugged Ramsey in the gut. Ramsey grunted, surprise registering in his blue eyes.

  “You’re a psychotic monster!” she screamed in his face.

  Ramsey laughed as his men lifted their guns and pointed them straight at Avalyn. He waved them off. “It’s okay. I deserved that. You guys got lunch set up? I’m starving.” Ramsey slapped Bridger’s shoulder on his way past; Bridger pushed his hand away. “Good times, man.” He chuckled and strutted off.

  Bridger pivoted after him, but several rifles pushed into his face made him stop.

  The tall guy from last night, Klein, was behind one of the guns. He nodded to Bridger. “Good jump, sir. Lunch is this way.”

  Bridger pulled in a ragged breath. He turned and wrapped his arm around Avalyn’s shoulders. She was still trembling. They walked slowly in front of the guards up the beach to where some tables and chairs and a small lunch buffet was set up. Bridger looked around and could see the speedboat anchored in a shallow bay. The helicopter had landed in a clearing a little bit away.

  He bent down close to Avalyn’s ear. “You okay?” he whispered.

  She looked up at him, her dark eyes full of admiration. “Thanks to you.”

  He needed to lighten the moment. “So I’m getting a lot more kisses later? To say thank you, I mean.”

  She laughed, but then her eyes sobered. “I don’t give out my kisses easily, Bridger Hawk.”

  Bridger’s stomach dropped as he realized what she was implying. He’d kissed hundreds of girls. He couldn’t even remember most of their names. Yet if Avalyn would commit to kissing him for life, he’d never be tempted by any other woman. “Lucky me, then.” He gave her a smirk.

  She lifted her eyebrows. “Hopefully your luck hasn’t run out.”

  Bridger lost all humor as that statement hit him. His luck of getting a kiss from Avalyn, or his luck of saving her life and protecting her from Ramsey? He needed the luck of the Irish right now, but he’d keep praying and rely on blessings from above. Thinking of that, he said a silent prayer of gratitude that they’d survived another round.

  Avalyn made it through lunch without slugging Ramsey again, but only barely. He joked like they were all friends and laughed at Bridger’s dark, sarcastic comments about Ramsey’s mental instability and lack of sense.

  After lunch, Ramsey jumped up. “You two up for a hike? You have to see the waterfall. It’s only a couple of miles each way.”

  Avalyn glanced at Bridger. He shrugged at her. Avalyn loved hiking and especially waterfalls, but she hated this twisted reality Ramsey had trapped them in. He wanted to challenge Bridger and almost kill Avalyn every day, then pretend they were all friends who ate a delicious lunch on the beach and went for a hike after? What kind of a monster did that?

  “I … yeah, I like waterfalls,” she admitted.

  Ramsey clapped his hands together. “Let’s go, then.” He nodded to his men. “Thanks for everything, guys. Who’s coming with us on the hike?”

  Avalyn and Bridger exchanged a look. These men looked and acted like mercenaries, yet Klein had told Bridger last night that they were all committed to Ramsey. Why? He treated them like his friends, but there was a deeper reason that eluded her.

  Most of the men followed them up the trail past the beach. No one said much as they walked through the lush jungle. Avalyn focused on the beauty of the thick trees and birds twittering around, not allowing herself to think about her freefall an hour ago and what Ramsey might be scheming for tomorrow. She did let herself think about that moment when Bridger had caught her. Even though they’d still been plunging through the air, she’d felt safe. He was her personal hero. An amazingly tough and handsome hero.

  A stream trickled past them on their right. Vines hung down around it from the huge trees. She’d been in a lot of tropical places and was always amazed how the people in such areas could survive on very little and were so happy without worldly possessions. They’d fish for their dinner, pluck a mango off a tree for their breakfast, and get their water from the stream. Their focus was on relationships. Avalyn was in so many different areas of the world that she didn’t develop deep relationships often. What could she and Bridger develop if she let down her guard with him? Would it last beyond this nightmare with Ramsey?

  The trail was barely wide enough for one person. Ramsey led the way, with Avalyn directly behind him. Avalyn appreciated the opportunity to be in nature and move her legs. It helped calm the anxiety over her impending doom. Bridger was walking behind her. She glanced over her shoulder, and he gave her a reassuring smile and a wink. Avalyn smiled back.

  How could he make her feel so special and safe when there was no reason to feel either? She knew she couldn’t be special to a man who would never settle down with one woman, and she was the furthest thing from safe—walking directly behind Bridger were men with guns strapped to their backs, and not because they were worried about animals in this remote jungle. They were worried about Bridger attacking their boss, and with good reason. It warmed Avalyn clear through that Bridger wanted to take Ramsey out for her.

  Water pounding against rocks reverberated throughout the forest. Ramsey glanced over his shoulder at her, his blue eyes lit up. If Avalyn didn’t know he was a murderous psycho, she’d think he was a fun-loving, happy guy. She’d seen him in different videos of Bridger’s and always thought he was funny and seemed like a good guy. How wrong perceptions could be.

  “Do you like to swim in waterfalls?” Ramsey asked.

  “Yeah,” she said slowly. Who didn’t like to swim in waterfalls?

  “You’re going to love this.”

  Bridger’s hand rested on her back, as if to assure her he was there and she wouldn’t be subject to Ramsey. He kept it there as they crossed the last fifty yards and then entered a small clearing.

  She stared up at the beautiful waterfall dancing over mossy rocks. It wasn’t as powerful as some she’d seen, but it was very pretty as it pranced from one boulder to the next before doing a freefall descent forty feet to a clear pool beneath. The water from the pool trickled out and down the stream they’d been walking next to.

  Ramsey ripped off his shirt and climbed up the boulders next to the waterfall. It was a precarious climb, but he moved like a mountain goat. When he was about sixty feet up, he yelled, “Watch this!” and pushed off and dove into the pool below.

  “Is that pool deep enough?” Avalyn gasped out. Then she shook her head. She shouldn’t care if Ramsey split his skull open.

  He surfaced, beaming at them. “Try it!”

  Avalyn shook her head. “No thanks. I’m afraid of heights.”

  Ramsey’s face blanched. Avalyn wondered if he actually felt remorse, if he was even capable of it. He seemed like he had multiple personalities or maybe was bipolar. />
  He swam to the edge of the pool and stood, the water about waist deep. His tanned body glistened with water droplets. Avalyn supposed most women would consider him attractive. Not her. His mouth worked, and he finally said, “Good thing we’re done with the parachuting, then.”

  Bridger wrapped his hand around her waist as Avalyn’s stomach churned.

  “You’ll do it, won’t you, Bridge?” Ramsey asked, like an eager child.

  “He really needs to find some friends,” Bridger murmured to her.

  Avalyn hid a laugh.

  The guards stood stoically, not taking off their shirts to swim. Their faces were impassive. She supposed Bridger was right. If these were Ramsey’s usual companions, he desperately needed some real friends. Maybe that was why he was so crazy.

  Avalyn hoped Bridger wouldn’t do the jump. If he got hurt, who knew what Ramsey would do to her? She could see him eyeing it as if he wanted to jump.

  “We’ll just swim,” Bridger said.

  Avalyn’s eyes widened. Bridger had turned down a quick thrill. For her?

  “Aw, c’mon. Bridger Hawk never turns down a challenge,” Ramsey taunted him. “‘What’s a challenge, and where do I find it?’ That’s the Bridger Hawk we all know and love.”

  Bridger tensed against her. He ignored Ramsey and looked to Avalyn. “Do you want to swim?”

  She nodded. She did want to swim, but the pool wasn’t very big and she didn’t want to be anywhere near Ramsey.

  “Come on in.” Ramsey splashed some water at them, a gleam in his eyes. He pushed his way out of the water and sat on a rock.

  Bridger directed her around the pool, twenty feet from where Ramsey sat. He let go of his grip on her to pull off his T-shirt. Avalyn took a moment to gape at his defined chest. She forgot Ramsey and his cronies were watching them and traced her finger along his muscular shoulder. Bridger gave her a smile that warmed her much more than the tropical sun.