Page 67 of Vanishing Legacy

But if Trejo was dead…why…

Memories tumbled back. He was in the parking garage with Juliette. She pushed him. The crackle of the stun gun. A jolt of electricity. A hood. A needle. And everything went black.

What had they drugged him with? Prop…propo… The word wouldn’t take shape in his sluggish brain. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog. The word came to him. Propofol. They’d probably injected him with propofol or another sedative like benzo…benzodiazepine. That explained his brain fog and weighted limbs.

How long had he been here? He still didn’t know where he was. He tugged against his restraints, trying to get a better view of his surroundings. The room was small, with only a twin-sized bed and the chair he was in. But the walls were strange. Made of gleaming teakwood instead of painted sheetrock. There was a strong chemical odor in the air, and the only light came from a dim glow beneath the cabinets.

He was on a boat.

That smell was wood polish, and beyond that, the air was thick with the smell of salt and dampness. He could make out the faint sound of water lapping against the hull.

What was he doing on a boat, and where were they taking him?

Penny!

Cash prayed that Alana had Penny. That she was safe. And if this was some sort of ransom exchange, Alana would refuse to let anyone near his daughter. He didn’t care what happened to him so long as Penny wasn’t harmed.

He pulled against the ropes again and again, but they held firm. His chest heaved with effort. Okay, he had to calm down. Slow his breathing and think if he wanted to get out of this alive. But first, he needed to figure out where he was and who had put him there.

His ears perked up as he forced himself to listen for sounds beyond the thick silence of the cabin. He focused all his attention on his surroundings, desperate for any clue that might reveal his location or captors.

Then he heard it. Faint, muffled voices coming from beyond the walls of the cabin. Heavy footsteps thudded outside the room. The hair on the back of his neck prickled. He couldn’t see who was approaching, but considering his situation, it couldn’t be good.

The footsteps stopped and the cabin door creaked open. A man with dark hair and dark eyes stood in the doorway. Acne scars marred his skin in a constellation across his face. His short hair receded at the temples, and his thick eyebrows hung low over his eyes. He had a silver gun resting at his thigh. “Good, you’re awake.” He had a heavy Latin accent.

Cash struggled against the ropes binding him to the chair. His eyes darted around, searching for an escape. “Who are you? What’s going on? Where am I?”

“My name is Ramón, and you’re on a boat, my friend.” He stepped into the room. “And you’re a long way from home.”

“What do you want?” Cash demanded.

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Ramón’s throaty laugh resonated through the cabin and sent shivers down Cash’s spine. “I’m going to give you a little freedom, but don’t even think about trying to get away. Trust me, it won’t end well for you.” He tapped the gun on his leg.

Cash nodded. At this point he’d do almost anything to be untied. His muscles ached from being bound for so long. Ramón untied his hands and feet and grabbed him by the arm. He jerked Cash up and dragged him toward the cabin door.

In the hallway, Cash’s eyes went wide in awe at the sight before him. This was no fishing boat or cargo ship. This was a luxurious superyacht.

“Move.” Ramón jammed the gun into his back.

Cash followed the narrow hallway at least forty feet before it opened into a lounge that flowed into the aft deck. The cream-colored walls contrasted with the dark wood floors. A white semicircular sofa sat in the center of the room, adorned with plush cushions. The coffee table in front of the sofa was made of gleaming stainless steel, with intricate designs etched into the surface.

Along the walls, floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the expansive ocean. The bright blue water stretched out as far as he could see.

Ramón walked to the center of the room and picked up a remote control. With the press of a button, the glass wrapping the aft end of the deck slid away. He shoved Cash’s shoulder. “Outside.”

Cash walked through the open transom and marveled at the endless expanse of sea and sky that stretched out before him. Smooth white lounge furniture was arranged around a stunning swimming pool that ran the length of the deck. The pool’s clear blue water appeared to merge with the boundless ocean.

“Hello, Cash.” A feminine voice broke his thoughts.

His heart skipped a beat as he recognized the voice. He whirled.

“Long time no see,” she said.

EIGHTEEN

Gridlock on the bridge was the last place Alana wanted to be in a situation like this, but the traffic began to move again. Through the rearview, she stared at the blue sedan. Still there. She drummed her thumbs on the steering wheel and glanced at the speedometer. They were crawling at fourteen miles an hour. Really? “Hurry up. Hurry up.”

“Hurry up!” Penny echoed.