No Strings Attached novel (Clara and Ian) novel Chapter 429

A canister of gasoline toppled over behind her, its contents gushing out slowly.

Clara knew this was Heidi’s doing. It wasn’t just her child’s life that Heidi was after. It was hers too. She stumbled backward, recklessly, but with hands and feet bound, her movement was painfully slow. It was so slow, in fact, that Heidi had time to pick herself up off the ground, while Clara had barely moved a yard.

Heidi fished a lighter out of her pocket. With a “click”, a blue flame sprang to life before Clara’s eyes. She knew that once the lighter hit the ground, the whole boat would be engulfed in flames, and she’d be trapped with no way out.

Desperate, she called out, “Heidi, I know you want me dead, but if you start this fire, you won’t make it out either.”

Heidi sneered, “Let me clue you in, sweetie. Our guys have it all figured out. When this baby lights up, there’ll be a helicopter swooping in to whisk me away. They’ll take me to some foreign haven. And you? You’ll be left here to fry.”

“When Ian finds you, you are just a pile of ash by then.” she laughed wickedly.

“Heidi, you’re living in a dreamland. They won’t save you. You’re expendable, a pawn. My guess? Ian’s already locked down all the escape routes. You’re not going anywhere. They’re just stringing you along.” Clara was working the ropes on her wrists as she kept Heidi talking, desperate to save herself and her child.

Heidi raged with the lighter in her hand. “You’re full of it! They wouldn’t lie to me. They promised rescue!”