Wild Ride Read Free

entrance.  My God, girl, he is one sexy hunk.  You’re sure he’s dangerous?”
    “He and his friends killed a woman.  She was the girlfriend of one of the other gang members.  At least, she had been, then she’d broken up with him.”
    “Okay.  I get it.  I’ll be there in two.”
    * * *
    Marissa kept her head down while Lana pulled out of the parking lot.  She felt like a fugitive fleeing the police.  Once they were driving along the main road, far enough away from her apartment parking lot, she sat up and peered behind them.
    “Don’t worry.”  Lana smiled.  “There are no mad bikers chasing our asses.”
    “Thank you for coming and getting me.”
    Lana shrugged.  “That’s what friends do.”
    In Marissa’s experience that’s certainly not what friends did.  Friend’s ridiculed you for the mistakes you made, and told you to solve your own damn problems.  That’s why Marissa didn’t have any close friends.
    Until she’d moved here and met Lana.  In that, she realized just how lucky she was.
    * * *
    Marissa watched as Lana read the parchment invitation.  Lana’s eyebrows arched and she glanced at Marissa.
    “You’ve really had your ups and downs today.  Your murderous ex-boyfriend shows up to stalk you, and you receive a free invitation to the most expensive and elite resort in the world.”  She glanced at Marissa.  “You know they say the island knows what you need.”
    “You think I got the invitation so I could escape from Rip?”
    “Or maybe you’ll find yourself in the arms of that sexy ex of yours.  The magic of the island will fix everything and you’ll find you were wrong about being in danger from him and are really meant to be together.”
    Marissa’s stomach clenched.  “That’s not going to happen.”
    * * *
    “I expected something bigger.”  Marissa stared at the small plane, her lips pursed.
    “I’m sure it will be fine,” Lana said.
    “But a two hour flight in that tiny plane?”  Marissa didn’t like flying at the best of times, but that little plane promised a bumpy, unsettling ride.
    “Don’t worry, I’ll get you there in one piece.”  A young woman with light brown, wavy hair and green eyes, wearing khaki shorts and a black polo shirt with the word ‘Eden’ stitched on the pocket, walked toward them.  She stuck out her hand.  “Hi, I’m your pilot, Joely.”
    Marissa shook hands with her.  Joely’s firm grip buoyed Marissa’s confidence a little.
    Joely stowed Marissa’s luggage in the back of the plane and Marissa hugged Lana, then climbed inside.  Marissa clasped her hands tightly together as the plane taxied across the water, then Joely pushed the engine full throttle and the plane skimmed over the water.  Marissa held her breath as the plane lifted into the air, soon leaving the ocean far below them.
    She’d heard that takeoffs were the most dangerous part of any flight, so it should be clear sailing now, but she couldn’t seem to convince her frazzled nerves of that.
    About twenty minutes into the flight, Joely turned her head and said over her shoulder, “There’s going to be some turbulence ahead, but it’s nothing to worry about.”
    Marissa tensed in her seat.
    Joely smiled.  “Don’t worry.  I do this all the time and I’m still here to talk about it.”
    Marissa just nodded.
    “Just think about the great time you’re going to have on Eden,” Joely said.  “And you’re in for a treat this week.  There are lots of hot biker guys… and chicks… swarming over the island.”
    Marissa stiffened.
    Joely glanced back at her speculatively.  “Is there something wrong?”
    “I… uh… dated a biker a while back and… well, he’s sort of been stalking me.”
    “I’m sorry.”  Joely glanced back at Marissa with concern in her big green eyes.  “But you’ll be perfectly safe on Eden.  No one will hurt you.”
    It was nice of her to try and comfort her, but Marissa knew no one could make that