Free Chasing Victory (The Winters Sisters) by Joanne Jaytanie Page A

overhaul.” Turning away from Victory, Dave lifted the bench top on the other side of the boat and began digging around inside it. “Great, I thought he said that he put it in here,” he said as if talking to himself.
    “What are you looking for?” Victory asked, beginning to get edgy.
    “I had a couple guys take a look at the boat before I came to meet you. They said that if I heard that noise I should put a can of oil in her, but I can’t find the oil.” He closed the lid of the bench and looked at her. “Would you mind taking a look in that side, maybe they couldn’t tell their left from their right,” he said with a slight smile on his lips.
    Victory rose from her seat, turned and raised the lid. “What does this—“
    Before she could finish the sentence she felt a prick at the back of her neck. It felt like a bee sting. Instantly her world turned to black.
    Dave dropped the syringe and grabbed Victory before she hit the deck. Carefully he placed her on the closed bench. “Sweet dreams, Ms. Winters.”

EIGHT

    “Damn it, what is she thinking? Is she really going to get on a boat with that guy? Damnit,” Tristan sputtered to himself.
    “Wyatt.”
    “I’m here Tristan,” Wyatt responded almost instantly.
    “Victory left the meeting place. She got into a boat with Dave, one of the Biotec guys.”
    “She did what?”
    “You heard me. I’m going to see if I can get myself a boat. I need the team here now.”
    “I can send Logan in the helicopter stat. He can be there in two hours. You can’t lose sight of her Tristan.”
    “Tell me something I don’t know,” Tristan responded as he ran toward the docks. “Send Noah to keep watch on Payton. I don’t know what you want to tell her about what’s going on, but she is going to panic when Victory doesn’t return. And for all we know, they might go after her next as leverage.” Tristan said.
    “ You’re right. I’ll send Noah now and fill him in by the time he gets there. Keep me in the loop.” Wyatt said.
    Tristan was running down the docks when he saw the boat rental sign. A man was tying up a small speed boat that should do the trick.
    “Hi there, how much to rent by the hour?” Tristan asked.
    “No hourly rental, half-day or whole,” the man responded.
    “Fine, take this,” Tristan tossed him a credit card. “I’ll pick it up on my way back,” he said, as he pulled the line of the bow from the man.
    “Wait, I need to inspect it first, it was just returned from another renter,” the man said with exasperation.
    “I’ll take full responsibility, if I have any problems you can charge my card.”
    “Ok, buddy, it’s your dime.” He released the line and stepped away.
    The engine came to life and the boat was off. Tristan could narrowly make out the outline of Dave’s boat docked on the other side of the river. He estimated at his current speed, he should be there in less than ten minutes. Then the black Navigator appeared; Damnit. If she got into that vehicle he would lose them for sure. He saw Max get out of the SUV and go down to the boat. A minute later Dave got off the boat, followed by Max carrying something. Shit. Tristan grabbed his binoculars and took another look. He was studying the object when a leg along with a jade pair of shorts peeked out from under the blanket. Tristan managed to reach the docks as the Navigator was pulling away.
    “Wyatt run this plate: BY73397 it’s a Washington plate . I have lost Victory.”
    ”Got it.” Wyatt said.
    “Dave drugged her or knocked her out on the boat ride across the river. He had Max waiting for him in a black Lincoln Navigator. They loaded her up and took off. I don’t see any other vehicle right off hand, but I could keep looking.”
    “No. Head back to your car, the guys have left in the helo already. Call Jack as soon as you can, I gave him the plate number to research and he’ll let you know where the guys will be putting down,” Wyatt said.
    Tristan dug his