Risking it All (A Hawk Brothers Romance)

by Cami Checketts

  “Today won’t be near as bad as the other days,” Ramsey said to Avalyn.

  “So you’re not going to try to kill me today?” She planted her hands on her hips and glared at him.

  He chuckled. “I hope not. I really want my chance to stay with you.” He winked.

  Bridger growled low in his throat, “Ramsey.” It was a warning that would terrify most men.

  Ramsey simply laughed. “Man, I like you two. But I sense some tension today. I take it the kiss under the waterfall wasn’t as romantic as you’d hoped?”

  Avalyn felt heat flush her face. She glanced down the mountain. “So what’s the challenge?” The anticipation was torture, and she just wanted it to be over.

  “Ooh, so quick to change the subject.” Ramsey whistled. “Sorry, brother. I guess she’s gunning for me to win today.”

  Avalyn spun to glare at him. “You stay away from me.”

  Ramsey roared with laughter. “We’ll see, sweetheart. We’ll see.” He pointed down the slope. “Have you done this before Bridge?”

  Bridger shook his head.

  “Not a lot of skill to it, but it’s dangerous and fun. They usually wear protective gear, but we don’t care about that. More dangerous the better, right?”

  Avalyn rolled her eyes at him, wishing she could slug him again, but she felt the least fear she’d had since this crazy competition had started. She’d ridden plenty of sleds down snowy slopes. This was steep, but even if they went faster than she’d ever gone on a snow sled, it was nothing compared to being drowned or thrown from an airplane. The chances of survival were infinitely higher, especially if she had her own sled.

  “Now you sit or lie on the sled,” Ramsey continued, pointing back down the slope they’d climbed up. “The lower you get your body, the faster you’ll go. If you want to slow down, just put your feet down—but not too hard, or you’ll flip yourself, and this volcanic rock can leave a mark.” He pointed to a scar on his chin.

  Avalyn waited for the punch line. “That’s it? I just have to ride this sled down the volcano? You’re not going to drown me or sacrifice me in the volcano?”

  “Not today, sweetheart.” He winked, then gestured. “You go first. We’ll be catching you soon.”

  Avalyn glanced at Bridger. He gripped the sled tightly, staring at her. There was something in his eyes she didn’t like. This wasn’t his usual event, and Ramsey had done it before. Would this be the day Ramsey won? She couldn’t let herself think that. At the moment, she was simply relieved this didn’t seem as bad as the past two days.

  The helicopter hovered in the air a short distance away with a cameraman standing in the open doorway. She sat on the sled and looked at the camera. “What’s a challenge, and where do I find it?” she said jauntily.

  The other men laughed, and Bridger cracked a smile at her. “You got this,” he said.

  Avalyn nodded to him, then pushed off, sitting up. The sled gained momentum quickly, and it would’ve been a fun ride if she wasn’t worried about Ramsey catching her or tipping the sled and ripping her face and arms apart. She glanced over her shoulder and could see the men were coming now. They were both lying down and angled right at her.

  Avalyn wondered if she could steer to the left so Bridger could reach her more easily, but then she wondered if she shouldn’t lay down herself and try to go faster and have neither of them catch her. She’d demand Bridger get his own bedroom, and she could sleep in peace tonight.

  She lay back and the sled sped up, but as she looked back, the men were still gaining on her and there was a lot of mountain left. She needed to try to steer the thing to the left. As frustrated as she and Bridger were with each other, she couldn’t risk Ramsey winning this challenge.

  She could hear the whoosh of their sleds coming closer and closer as she sat up and tried to pull at the handles to guide her to the left. It didn’t work. Shoot. She put her feet out and pushed her right foot in, thinking she could shove herself to the left. The sled veered to the right instead, like she’d dug a rudder in.

  She glanced back and saw Ramsey shove Bridger’s sled to the left with his foot. Avalyn cried out and tried to pull on the handles to avoid him. Ramsey grinned, angling closer. He was almost upon her. Bridger was too far to the left. He would never reach her first. No, oh no!

  Ramsey was only a few feet away. She prayed and tried to turn the stupid sled somehow. Going to the right would take her farther from Bridger; turning to the left would let Ramsey run right into her. She couldn’t escape. Ramsey edged nearer, nearly touching her sled now.

  “Bridger!” she yelled.

  “Ava!” Bridger was closing in on them, but he’d never reach them in time.

  Ramsey leapt from his sled and landed right behind her on her sled. He spread his arms wide and stood behind her like he was surfing. “Yes!” he hollered. “Yes!”

  Avalyn’s heart slammed against her chest. “No,” she whimpered.

  Ramsey sat down behind her as the sled whooshed down the hill. “Isn’t this fun?” he asked.

  Avalyn didn’t answer. Her heart was thudding against her rib cage and her grip was so slick she could hardly hold on to the handles.

  They coasted down the last of the incline as it leveled out. Ramsey jumped up and extended his hand to her. Avalyn ignored his outstretched fingers and stood on her own. Her legs were shaky, but there was no way she was relying on Ramsey. Fear clawed at her throat and her stomach turned over and over again. Even being pushed out of an airplane wasn’t as terrifying as the thought of fighting him off all night long. If she even could.

  Bridger’s sled came to a rest and he stood. Avalyn looked at him. His proud shoulders were bent forward and a look of misery clouded his handsome face. He said nothing, and that scared her as much as anything, as if he were resigned to her fate.

  “I finally won!” Ramsey punched a fist in the air and jumped around a few times. “You guys ready for lunch?” he asked as if Avalyn’s world wasn’t crashing down around her.

  Ramsey led the way to a covered picnic area. There was a large lunch spread on the table, sandwiches, salads, sushi rolls, veggie and fruit platters. The entire group was somber, except for Ramsey. He didn’t rub anything in, which surprised her, but he just had this perma-grin on his face as he ate and chatted with one of the guards about a heli-skiing competition in Switzerland that he and Bridger had competed in last year. Bridger had won, but that didn’t bother Ramsey. Nothing seemed to bother this guy.

  Bridger ate methodically, not looking at any of them, even her. Avalyn couldn’t stomach food right now. She pushed some around on her plate and drained a couple of water bottles, but that just made her stomach more squeamish. If only Bridger would glance at her, somehow reassure her that it would all be okay. But they both knew the truth. It wasn’t going to be okay.

  Bridger felt the pain of his failure rounding his shoulders, weighing him down like no burden he’d ever experienced. The unthinkable had happened. He hadn’t won. Avalyn would be subject to that monster Ramsey tonight. How could he have failed her? He wanted to yell out his anguish and pound at his chest. Instead he ate slowly, forcing food in as his mind scrambled for an option, any option.

  They finished lunch and Ramsey said happily, “Let’s go, boys.” He gestured toward the helicopter.

  Bridger was having an out-of-body experience as they trudged back to the chopper. He wanted to grab Avalyn and shield her with his body as Ramsey’s men pumped him full of bullets, but what would that accomplish? Then Avalyn would be subject to Ramsey every night instead of just tonight. Pain lodged in his chest. Ramsey touching Avalyn. It was too horrific to allow his mind to go there.

  Avalyn was going to hate Bridger even more for failing her. Why had he fought with her last night and this morning instead of holding her close and begging her to not think about the other women he had kissed, to concentrate on how much he loved her and only her?

  He stewed through the chopper ride, but no brilliant ideas
to protect Avalyn hit him. They arrived back at the yacht in the late afternoon. How was he going to survive when Ramsey took Avalyn to his room? He cast a guilty look at her. Her eyes were closed and she’d wrapped her arms around her abdomen like she was praying. He should pray too, but there wasn’t much hope or faith left in him. He’d tried so hard, and he’d failed her.

  They walked down the steps from the chopper, stopping on the rear balcony. Ramsey spread his hands wide. For once, his perma-grin was nowhere in sight. “This is where we part ways.”

  Bridger knew he couldn’t fight them all, but he had to try something. He stepped up to Ramsey and said, “Please don’t do this.”

  Ramsey’s blue eyes glinted at him. “Why not? I’ve earned my night with her.”

  Bridger swallowed, but the lump in his throat stayed firmly in place. “Ramsey. We’ve competed for years. We respect each other. We’ve been friends a long time.”

  Ramsey nodded in acknowledgment.

  “Please,” Bridger repeated. “You can’t do this. I’ll do anything you want. Lose any competition to you. Shout all over the media how great you are.” He was desperately trying to think of anything that might convince Ramsey not to touch Avalyn. Money meant nothing to him, only fame and women. Women. Not Ava. Not the woman he loved. Please Lord, help us.

  Ramsey silently smirked at him.

  “Please,” Bridger tried again. He glanced at Avalyn. She was the picture of beautiful innocence with her dark hair trailing across her shoulder and her dark eyes staring at him with such tenderness and fear. He couldn’t let Ramsey hurt her. He lowered his voice and admitted to Ramsey, “I love her.”

  Ramsey’s blue eyes lightened. “That makes it even better.”

  Bridger let out a growl and lunged at Ramsey. A taser hit him in the back, and a shock of pain surged through him.

  “Bridger!” Avalyn yelled.

  His face slammed into the slick floor. He jerked and grunted in pain as his body writhed from the electricity. The taser finally released its agonizing grip on him, but immediately arms grabbed him from behind. The four men each took an arm and a leg. Gripping him tightly, they hauled him through the main area, down the hall, and into the suite he and Avalyn had shared. He could hear Avalyn screaming for him until they were out of earshot. They tossed him on the bed, and one of them secured his hands behind him with some kind of strap.

  Then they walked out, the door closed, and he was left horribly alone. His body slowly stopped quivering in pain, and Bridger slid to the edge of the bed and off. The pain had receded, but he felt exhausted and drained. He couldn’t let that stop him, though. He had to protect Avalyn.

  He ran and threw himself at the door. It quivered but didn’t budge. He backed up and rammed it again, leading with his shoulder. The door held and he heard grunts on the other side. The guards had to be pushing their weight against it, holding it closed. Why didn’t they just let him bust through and shoot or tase him again?

  “How long do you think he’ll fight?” he heard one of the guards ask.

  “How long would you fight if it was your girl?”

  “All night.”

  Bridger nodded. At least they knew he wouldn’t give up. If he stopped, it would be conceding the love of his life to Ramsey. Anger and hatred coursed through him. Today, somehow, someway, he was going to rip Ramsey apart.

  “Avalyn!” he screamed, slamming his body against the door again.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Avalyn followed Ramsey to his suite, climbing up a set of stairs above the main living room of the yacht. She felt detached and cold, so cold. She noticed details that didn’t matter. That his suite was bigger than hers. That the idiot never stopped smiling. Would the guards come into the room with them, or would she have a fighting chance with Ramsey alone? She knew he was strong, but this was her virtue she was fighting for.

  “Thanks, guys.” Ramsey nodded to the guards, then shut the door and turned the lock. The lock turning was like a death knell to her heart. “Why don’t you go shower?” Ramsey asked, pointing toward an open door.

  Avalyn didn’t want to do anything he said, but at least in the bathroom she’d be away from him. It was prolonging the inevitable, but at this point she’d take any reprieve she could get.

  She hurried into the bathroom, shut and locked the door, and dropped her dirty clothes on the floor. The shower was a huge granite enclosure. She let the warm water pound at her scalp for a while. What was she going to do? How was she going to escape? Her stomach rolled with apprehension and terror, but for some reason, her thoughts kept turning back to Bridger. Had he really begged Ramsey and said, “I love her”? Was that just his ploy to get her away from Ramsey? It hadn’t sounded or felt like a ploy. Tears mingled with the shower water. She loved Bridger, and there was little hope of her getting away from the psychotic Ramsey.

  She thought she heard the bathroom door open. She gasped and backed into the corner of the shower.

  “I set out some clean towels and clothes for you,” Ramsey called.

  “Get out!” Avalyn yelled.

  His only response was a deep chuckle and the bathroom door closing a moment later.

  Avalyn’s heart thumped uncontrollably. Ramsey forcing himself on her seemed worse than free-falling without a parachute.

  She shut the water off and carefully stepped around the shower wall. Ramsey was gone, and there were a couple of towels on the counter, next to a silky floral dress. Her clothes were nowhere in sight. So it was go face him in only a towel or put his stupid dress on. Avalyn let out a frustrated and terrified yelp and then forced herself to dry off, brush out her tangled hair, and slip into the dress. There was perfume and makeup on the counter also, but she ignored them.

  The dress was flattering with a V-neck and no sleeves. It came a few inches above her knees. She hated what Ramsey had dehumanized her to—a pretty face and a hot body. That wasn’t her. She hated him worse than any media person who’d made fun of her causes or politician who tried to block her efforts. She’d never loathed a person like she loathed him.

  Avalyn took a deep breath. She wondered what Ramsey would do if she stayed in here all night. She eyed the small window. Could she squirm out through it? She’d rather take her chances with the sharks than with Ramsey.

  The door swung open and Ramsey stood there. His dark hair was wet, and he was wearing a button-down white shirt and khaki pants. Had he showered in another suite? Could she have escaped while he was gone? Despair and frustration traced through her.

  He gestured out of the bathroom. “Let’s eat.”

  Avalyn drew in a breath, squared her shoulders, and stalked out to face him. No matter what, she would show how strong she was. She was Avalyn Shaman. He could take advantage of her body, but he would never kill her spirit.

  A similar rolling cart like the one that came into her and Bridger’s room was stacked with trays. Ramsey didn’t say much as he offered her food and ate himself, but his grin never disappeared. The awful tension made her jumpy, and her stomach twisted so badly that she could only eat a little bit of each dish. She prayed in her mind desperately for help and protection, but the heavens seemed as silent as this room.

  “Did you get enough to eat?” he asked, looking pointedly at her still-full plate.

  “Yes,” she muttered.

  Ramsey stood. He eased closer to her like a jaguar stalking his prey. Reaching down, he grabbed one of her hands before she could pull it away and tugged her to her feet. His smooth palms felt like a snake against her bare skin. He looked her over carefully.

  “Now.” His voice lowered. “I have to know the answer to one question before we proceed.”

  Avalyn could hardly breathe, let alone talk. “What?” she spat out, tilting her chin as if she were royalty. Her mind spun with which self-defense moves she should lead with. She doubted she could beat him, but she would try to hurt him like he was going to hurt her.

  “Our boy loves you.”

 
Avalyn had been touched deeply when Bridger had said that, but she didn’t know if it was a ploy to soften Ramsey or if it could really be true. Could Bridger Hawk truly love her and settle down to one woman? Why was she worrying about that when she was facing Ramsey?

  “The question is—do you love him too?”

  Avalyn’s eyes widened. She studied Ramsey. Why would he care? He was going to take advantage of her regardless. There was no reason to lie, though. She tilted her chin up and said, “Yes, I do.”

  Ramsey chuckled, bobbing his head several times. “That’s beautiful. It’s just beautiful.”

  Avalyn’s stomach swirled with nausea. Ramsey thought it was beautiful because he was going to hurt her so he could beat Bridger. He was so sick and twisted. She would fight to her last breath; that she knew for certain. He could possess her body but never her mind.

  He released her hand and gestured toward the door. “Go.”

  Avalyn backed up a step, eyeing him. She felt like a deer in a hunter’s spotlight, unsure which direction to run and ready to be gunned down at any minute. Was he being serious? A flutter of hope rose in her chest, but she didn’t dare trust it and especially didn’t dare trust Ramsey. Everything had been a twisted game since he’d kidnapped her.

  “You’re an impressive woman, Avalyn Shaman. I love your bravado and your charitable heart. I think you’re one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen.”

  Avalyn’s heart was racing out of control. She didn’t need or want Ramsey’s compliments, and she was terrified they meant he was going to enjoy hurting her.

  That twisted smile grew on his face. He looked her over, then chuckled. The sound scraped over her like the edge of a knife being dragged along her skin. “But I would never want to touch the woman who was truly in love with Bridger Hawk.” He winked at her.

  Avalyn’s breath rushed out. She still wasn’t certain what kind of ploy this could be. Ramsey wouldn’t allow Bridger to win, let her escape, would he?

  Ramsey walked to the door and pulled it open. Two guards were standing there. “Please escort Miss Shaman back to her suite.”