Chapter 34

Sam's Point-of-View

As I grab the door handle, a bullet flies past my head into the door.

I scream!

Taking my hand, I put it up to my ear. It's then that I hear the ringing from the gunshot. It starts to hurt.

"I was actually aiming for your head!" Max says angrily and out of breath. He gets up from the bed slowly. You can tell he's in pain, grabbing onto his balls. "Get the fuck over here, Sam!"

As I turn slowly, the table behind the door hits my back.

It's then that I feel it!

Benjamin's gun!

Ryder had tucked it into my pants.

I look at Max, holding my breath. He has an evil sneer on his face. I can't believe I actually cared for this man!

One of us is going to die. I have to make sure it isn't me.

As I start to inch closer to him, I feel like I'm going to throw up. Everything about him disgusts me! I can't wait for the moment Ryder puts a bullet through him!

"Sam, get over here quickly, or I will shoot you in the fucking kneecap!"

I jump at his words!

When I am halfway near him, he walks up to me and grabs me forcibly. "I guess your boyfriend is out there killing my men! I will have to move my plans around. We're going on a little ride, honey! Meet some important people in Santorini."

My parents!

He lets go of my arm, opening the door to the balcony. He then grabs the back of my neck and yanks me towards him.

"We're leaving through here before Ryder comes in guns blazing! The guy is very theatrical, isn't he?"

I can't let him hurt my parents! No way will I let him!

We are about exit through the balcony door when Ryder kicks the bedroom door open and walks in. He has his gun and is aiming directly at Max.

Max looks surprised and then begins to laugh.

"Well, I was told you were good! I didn't think you would be able to take them all on. My apologies for underestimating you!"

Max uses me as a shield and puts the gun to my head.

Coward!

"How about you don't underestimate the fact that if you don't let Sam go, I'll kill you!" Ryder is furious.

Am I wrong for being turned on?

I reach behind me and grab the gun slowly. Ryder sees what I'm doing and smirks.

"If you think I'm skilled, Max, wait till you see what Sam does."

At that moment, I pull the gun out and shoot Max in the foot!

Max yells, instantly letting me go!

He pushes me to the floor and starts shooting at Ryder.

I curl into the fetal position; scared Max will shoot me as I lay there. As he fires his gun, Ryder returns fire, diving behind the bed.

I turn to look at Max when the gunfire stops, but he's gone!

Ryder runs to me, helping me up. "Did he hurt you?!"

I shake my head, no. I'm shaken, but I'm happy we are both safe.

"Why did you shoot him in the foot?" He asks, taking the gun from me. My hands are trembling violently.

"A mistake, I think! I wanted to shoot him in the head, but I put my finger on the trigger and..."

Ryder puts his gun up again and walks onto the balcony.

"Where did he go?!" He asks, walking back in and puts his gun into his holster.

I desperately wish this is the part where my prince has just rescued me, and we jet off into the sunset, but no.

"The balcony wraps around to the living room. Ryder, he's going after my parents. Please, we have to stop him!"

He looks around the room, furiously! He goes into the bathroom and comes out with a towel. He wipes the gun I had and places it on the bed, staring at me.

Squinting, he grabs my chin, examining my split lip. "What else did he do to you?"

I grab his hand. "Stop, please! We have to get to them. Max is going to kill Mom and Dad."

He grabs my hand, sighs, and shakes his head. He then looks toward the balcony.

"Alright! Let's go!"

"How did you get here so fast?!"

I am so happy to see Ryder again; however, there's an obvious tension between us.

"I arrived early this morning."

We are in a red BMW racing towards the airport. His private plane is waiting for us. He calls the pilot and tells him we have to get to Santorini and quickly.

Of course, he already knows their whereabouts, long before I tell him.

I have so many questions to ask. However, there is only one that actually bugs me! I turn and look at him.

"Was I joke to you this entire time?! You told me how you cared and how you couldn't kill me, but you used me?"

Turning away from him, I stare out of the window.

So many people out and about. Smiling, laughing, carefree! What I wouldn't give to feel that way!

Jealousy starts to consume, making me mad, but I don't want to fight with him. I want to understand.

"I'm sure after this, you will want me gone from your life, and that's fine," I lie as I look back at him.

Ryder grips the steering wheel tightly. His knuckles turning white. "I need you to focus and call your parents right now!"

Slapping me would've been more appropriate!

Tears threaten my eyes with his total disregard of what I just said.

He pulls out his cell phone, and I snatch it from his hand. He swerves in and out of traffic, which makes me almost drop it.

I want to complain, but my parents' lives depend on us getting to the airport, as quickly as possible!

Mom's phone keeps ringing and ringing.

It's not like her, but she hardly picks up the phone when she goes on vacation. I try my dad next, but it goes straight to voicemail. Dread starts to fill within me.

"They aren't picking up! You don't think he had someone...?"

"I don't know! The plane ride itself is ten hours. That's not including the fact that we have to make a stop and refuel."

I throw my head back in disbelief. Just then, the phone rings.

It's Mom!

"Mom, it's Sam! Are you okay!?"

She laughs. I hear music playing in the background.

"Why wouldn't I be?! Sam, I'm vacationing at my favorite spot with my handsome husband. Shouldn't you be concentrating on making us grandchildren?"

This whole situation breaks my heart!

I don't know how to explain any of this to her. "Could you put Daddy on the phone, please?"

"Why? Is everything okay, Sam? You sound upset. What's wrong?!"

I hear my dad in the background ask what's happening. Mom replies that she doesn't know.

"Baby doll, what's wrong?!" My father is on the line now. He sounds worrisome.

I take a deep breath. "Daddy, listen to me! Okay?! You and Mom are in danger!"

I pause, not knowing how to tell him. All my parents want is for me to be happy. To be happy with Maxwell.

Closing my eyes, I begin to wish I'm somewhere else. Happily married and not bothering them.

Suddenly, I feel a reassuring hand on my lap.

Ryder.

I honestly want to slap it away, but I need his comfort right now. It will help me get through this devastating blow I'm going to give my parents.

"It's Max..."

"Is he okay?! What happened?"

I pause. Tears are sliding down my cheeks. "Dad, he tried to kill me, and he's on his way to you and Mom."

"What?!"

"I'll explain everything when I see you. I'm on my way to you with a friend." I look over at Ryder. His knuckles turn white on the steering wheel.

Did calling him 'my friend' make him angry?

"Tell them to stay on their boat! Stay out at sea. Make sure their guards are alert to Max. And I'm sure he won't be alone," Ryder says, running a red light.

"My god!" I hear Daddy whisper.

He must've heard Ryder's instructions.

"Daddy, please do what he says! I'll call you when we land! It won't be for another twelve hours, okay?"

"Please be careful, Sam!"

"What?! What's wrong, Tim? Is Max okay?!" I hear Mom ask Dad before he hangs up the phone.

We arrive at the airport a couple of minutes later. We enter through a private entrance, and Ryder drives straight toward the jet.

He jumps out and goes straight to the trunk, pulling out a small bag and a metal suitcase.

"Mr. Forñay! Miss Hallowell! Welcome back!"

It's the same flight attendant that pulled the bullet from Ryder's back.

She makes sure to put extra emphasis on the Miss part, and I appreciate it!

I walk towards her. "Thank you for not saying Crawford."

She smiles and winks at me. The three of us board and the attendant closes the door immediately. She walks to the cockpit and gives the captain the green light.

The captain comes on the overhead speakers:

"Alrighty, folks! Sit down and buckle in! We're jetting off rather quickly."

Ryder sits at his usual spot. The chair that has the table in front of it. I take the first seat and do what the captain orders.

Ryder looks at me, surprised. Almost hurt that I'm not sitting near him.

I am thrilled to be with him, but he has so much explaining to do. I'm glad I just hurt his feelings!

Ryder hurt mine when Max revealed the truth! That I was just a pawn to him.

An hour or two goes by, and I notice Ryder has fallen asleep.

"Miss Hallowell? Are you hungry?" The attendant asks.

I don't have to think about it. I'm starving!

"Yes! And call me Sam."

She smiles and nods. "Would you like to eat here or next to Mr. Forñay?"

I look over at him and see that he is starting to squirm a little in his sleep.

I sigh. "I'll eat next to him."

The attendant looks over at him, then back at me. She gives me a sympathetic look. "Okay."

I walk over to Ryder, who starts to moan in his sleep. I am about to touch his face when I pause.

Do I really want to comfort him? This is the same man that kidnapped and threatened me—the same man who staged another kidnapping. To bring me home, so Max could come out of hiding.

I feel like being near him only leads to disappointment.

And heartbreak.