Gunshots waken Ian Tunbridge, an assistant curator of classical antiquities at the British Museum, on his first day on a dig in California. The only way to save his life is to run for it, but luck is not on his side. At least, not until he meets Lucas Arpini, the brash American photographer who seems to have some sort of clue what’s going on. Together, they’re supposed to be the tools in finding an artifact nobody believes is real -- nobody, that is, except Lucas and the man kidnaps them both.<br><br>Ian doesn’t know what to believe. His colleagues are dead, he’s injured, and he has no choice but to put his faith in a gorgeous stranger. Their escape should lead them straight to the police, but when Lucas shows him pieces of the puzzle they were meant to solve, Ian is too intrigued to walk away. He wants to solve the riddle as badly as Lucas does.<br><br>Unfortunately, they aren’t the only ones ...

Riddle Me Wicked

Lucas appeared at his side before he could fall. A strong arm looped behind Ian’s back, capable and constant, bracing him to stand again.


“I don’t think so.” Ian rolled his foot, grimacing as each movement shot slivers of pain up his leg. “I can move it. It just hurts like a bugger.”


“Well, lean on me as much as you have to. Hopefully, we won’t have to go too far before we figure out how to get out of this place. Here.” He passed over the torch. When Ian took it, Lucas repositioned himself into his side, looping Ian’s arm over his shoulder and grasping the wrist to help him stay balanced. “This should help.”


The first couple steps were awkward, but Ian quickly deduced how best to move to match his new partner’s strides without slowing them both down. He didn’t know how long he could manage like this. Just because his ankle wasn’t broken didn’t mean it didn’t require wrapping to keep the swelling at bay.


Chapter 6