Page 6 of Viper

He returned to his vehicle and locked the door, hiding the key on the top of his tire. Then he reached into the open truck bed and pulled out the paddleboard he’d rented that morning. He jogged to the beach, sand kicking up around him, and stepped into the surf. He trudged through the cool water until it was up to his thighs. Flopping on the board on his belly, he began paddling, his gaze locked on the yacht like a laser.

He’d show that bastard what a predator really was.

Paige tried to hide her disgust as Craig’s fingers curled around her bicep. He led her back through the living room and down the steps to the yacht’s outdoor lounge. His touch felt slimy and cold. Pinpricks of angst zinged her scalp and warning bells screamed in her ears.

On the deck, he stopped and turned her to face him. The boat rocked, creating a sensation that’d once been calming but now only enhanced the apprehension slamming against her chest.

His lips curved in a smooth, charismatic smile, and mischief sparked in his eyes. If she weren’t already put off by him, she’d have fallen for the charm all over again. “Where were we?” he asked.

She shook her head, chewing her bottom lip. “I suggested I stay a little longer.”

“Ah.” He nodded. “We’ve had a great couple of days together. Wouldn’t want it to end on a shitty note, would we?”

“What shitty note?” Fear roared through her ears.

His gaze hardened. “I’ve seen that look more than once. You’d run if you could. Am I right?”

She forced a smile. Her breath spiraled in her chest. “Of course not.”

“Good.” He cradled her cheek with his hand. “You’re too pretty to look so worried. I thought you felt at home near the ocean.”

She flung her gaze to the side, taking in the stretch of sea. Nothing but miles and miles of rippling water that way. At least if she looked toward shore, she could see life buzzing on the beach, which lessened her fear a little.

“I’m not worried. I guess you just threw me off a bit.” She flashed him an innocent grin.

He frowned. His fingers circled around her neck to rest at the front of her throat. “Now that’s an idea.”

Panic skittered over her flesh.

He tightened his grip and drew her face close to his. “Let’s see if we can find that bull shark.” He lifted her by her throat and tossed her backward.

A scream caught in her mouth as she soared over the edge of the boat. Dark waves closed over her face and cold, salty water rushed into her nose.

Terror clawed at her as she breached the surface. She sucked in a breath then opened her mouth wider to scream.

“Stay quiet, my little starfish.”

Craig’s calm, sadistic voice made her shiver. She swiped water from her eyes. The cutesy nickname he’d given her the first time they went diving now sounded sick and twisted.

She could swim to shore. It was far, but she could do it. Only Craig’s boat stood in her way.

Then her gaze landed on a rusted bucket in his hands and her stomach dropped to the bottom of the ocean. “W-What are you doing?”

He swished the bucket from side to side. “Oh, come on. You know what’s in here.”

“Why are you doing this?” Her voice shook. Pressure expanded against her aching lungs.

He was a monster. What exactly did he want other than to terrify her? A bucket of chum in the ocean would bring sharks. They could arrive in seconds.

And she didn’t want to be in the water unprepared while they had dinner. She needed to swim away. It was her only option.

Her gaze darted to the other boats in the water. Some were almost a mile away, others much farther. Shore was closer, but if he threw the chum in the water and a shark came after the fish guts, she was a goner.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he crooned. “You think you can get away. That didn’t work for Annamay, though she wasn’t as strong a swimmer as you, I bet.”

Annamay.

The woman whose body had washed up on shore. A terror-stricken whimper escaped her lips, and she prayed he couldn’t hear her.