Free Hush by Cherry Adair Page B

it,” he said, using his bound hands to brush a small green lizard off his shoulder. “Gideon and I will figure something out.”
    â€œThere are three of us involved here,” she pointed out. “But in the interest of full disclosure, I have to tell you why we’re here. It’s because—”
    â€œSave it.”
    Acadia understood the situation wasn’t optimal, but did he have to be so rude? She rubbed her cheek on her shoulder, retorting, “For what? Candles and dinner?”
    â€œUntil we’re alone or can’t be overheard. Get Gideon’s attention for me.”
    They were walking single file. With her hands bound at the wrist, Acadia used her fingertips to poke GideonStark in the back, but he turned around so fast, and with such fury in his eyes, she fell back a step and bumped into Zak’s chest.
    â€œEasy,” Zak said, steadying her with his forearm against her shoulder.
    â€œSorry,” she told Gideon. He wasn’t looking at her, but rather at his brother, who was right over her shoulder. Acadia could feel the tension coming off the two men in waves. Like her they were stressed; she just hoped they didn’t do anything stupid in this volatile situation.
    â€œLook. Don’t engage these people, okay? I’ll just tell them how to access the money, and I’m sure”— Not in a zillion years —“that they’ll let us go.”
    â€œHow could you … What money?” Gideon Stark scowled, then continued walking. A flying insect the size of Acadia’s fist landed on his back. The iridescent blackish green bug was a millimeter from the exposed skin of his neck. She shuddered.
    â€œThere’s a Godzilla-size insect on your—Yes. There—okay. It’s gone. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you guys for the past hour .” She hadn’t, but she should have. “I’m the reason they grabbed you. I’m really, really sorry.”
    â€œ You’re the reason?” Zak asked, sounding incredulous. “Who are you? Head of State? Rock star … Not an actress.”
    â€œI work—Why not an actress?”
    â€œBecause you can’t act worth a damn.”
    â€œFunny,” Acadia said lightly, “that’s not what Spielberg said.”
    His lips twitched. “Steven Spielberg?”
    â€œWho else?” Well, Michael Spielberg, her eighth-grade math teacher, who could never tell when she was fibbing, even when he knew she was. It hadn’t been a compliment as much as a statement about him.
    Acadia lowered her voice and slowed her steps so he could hear her. She hoped her voice wouldn’t carry. Though the kidnappers must have a pretty good idea how much she was worth; otherwise why bother kidnapping her? “I won five hundred thousand in the Kansas lottery two months ago.”
    â€œAh,” Zak responded. A lot less interested, or relieved, than she’d expected.
    â€œI still have most of it,” Acadia assured him quickly, just in case he was worried she couldn’t pay at least a portion of what the kidnappers were asking. “I paid for this trip of course, for myself and five of my friends, and—”
    â€œThis isn’t about you.”
    She tromped through a thicket of leaves and vines to give that a moment to sink in. A toucan high on an overhead branch tilted its yellow head to watch them pass. She stepped over a pile of branches and leaves that the men up ahead had sliced to clear the path. “Wow,” she finally said, surprised. “That’s pretty rude considering the circumstances. I know kidnapping is the national pastime here, but I suspect they knew who I was when they burst into my room instead of yours. Do you guys have half a million dollars?” she added sarcastically.
    Gideon chuckled and continued walking.
    â€œGid and I own ZAG,” Zak informed her.
    It took her a moment. ZAG ? The