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Only the Strongest Survive
Only the Strongest Survive
Only the Strongest Survive
Ebook304 pages3 hours

Only the Strongest Survive

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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The novel opens with a hair-tingling scene, as two men kidnap Emely Donnovan, one of the wealthiest women in America, and bury her alive. What is behind this horrific crime?
Raised in a strict religious institution, Emely never knew her parents. Fearing a life of poverty, she starts up a small business that deals mainly with buying and selling stocks. Thanks to her extreme dedication and knowledge, the company grows over time into a major conglomerate. In her desire for ever greater financial security, this beautiful, ambitious CEO has accumulated a number of enemies.
But now she finds herself locked in the basement of a remote house in the middle of a forest, watched over by one of her captors who makes her buy and sell stocks for him so he can get rich. Her challenge to survive becomes even more complicated when Emely’s captor falls in love with her. ...

LanguageEnglish
PublisherIan Fox
Release dateNov 20, 2011
ISBN9781465896452
Only the Strongest Survive
Author

Ian Fox

Ian Fox was born in Slovenia (EU), and has also lived in the U.S.A., France, and Germany. He is fluent in English, French, and German. Because of his extensive international experience, his books are set in the U.S.A. or Europe. Ian’s books have enjoyed great success in Europe. He has published three crime (mystery) novels that have sold very well and been ranked among the top 100 most borrowed library books in Slovenia. He is currently working on two new novels. Enthusiastic readers write to him, saying they can’t put his books down and read them in a few days. Individual libraries have ranked his works among the top ten, sometimes even the top five most-borrowed books.

Read more from Ian Fox

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Reviews for Only the Strongest Survive

Rating: 3.730769230769231 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Only the Strongest Survive was a very different type of mystery/thriller. Most mystery/thriller books/novels spend most of the time on the introduction of how it happened, the back story of the individual(s), possible suspects, and so on. Only the Strongest Survive dives right into the kidnapping of Emely Donnovan and very little time is spent on the back story, or even trying to actually find Emely for that matter. In some instances I felt things were a little off because no one was looking for Emely, but as I kept reading it didn't matter. The whole of the book [to me] was what happened between Emely and her captors after she was kidnapped, and most of the characters in the book were well developed and memorable; others, not so much.I received this book free from the author and was asked to give my honest opinion. I did enjoy reading Only the Strongest Survive and would read other books by Ian Fox.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    The story was very, very unbelievable and people don't talk like that.
    The prose was not good.
    I couldn't get through this way too farfetched book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Only the Strongest Survive was a very different type of mystery/thriller. Most mystery/thriller books/novels spend most of the time on the introduction of how it happened, the back story of the individual(s), possible suspects, and so on. Only the Strongest Survive dives right into the kidnapping of Emely Donnovan and very little time is spent on the back story, or even trying to actually find Emely for that matter. In some instances I felt things were a little off because no one was looking for Emely, but as I kept reading it didn't matter. The whole of the book [to me] was what happened between Emely and her captors after she was kidnapped, and most of the characters in the book were well developed and memorable; others, not so much.I received this book free from the author and was asked to give my honest opinion. I did enjoy reading Only the Strongest Survive and would read other books by Ian Fox.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Only The Strongest Survive by Ian FoxThis book starts out with a kidnapping of the CEO of a huge company that is worth billions in the stock market.Although I don't normally read thriller books this one held my interest because of the many aspects of it.The book concentrates on those who now run the company and the decisions they make with Emeily gone-they are still not sure if it was a kidnapping or she just needed a week away from things.Love the story line and learning about the stock market.Her life is spared, brought back to life and must now live where she has no outside contact with others but has transferred 2 million dollars to John. She had taken over his familys company several years ago and now John wants what the company was really worth-10 million.One brother, Ronald has no idea she is alive again, last he left her was in the ground in a coffin, buried.I am caught up in the moment of reading this and I can't seem to read fast enough to find the answers I want.John leaves many nights and from her basement room she can hear the alarm that sounds when one comes and goes into the complex.The story goes back in time as to how she got the position she held at the company and then to the present: She does get to spend some time with John as she advises him what to buy and sell and they get to talk about the past. She gets to know him.Love the explanations of how to buy and sell and why.Journalism during war or earthquakes was a new one for me.I am totally petrified for her and then he announces he will set her free.There is some sex and at times it appears to be rather brutal and at other times it's just a passion for sex.

    1 person found this helpful

Book preview

Only the Strongest Survive - Ian Fox

Chapter 1

_________________________

Emely Donnovan, the CEO and major shareholder of Donnovan Corporation, was driving with a smile on her face, along the wide avenues of the Chicago suburbs, glancing at the various buildings. She had moved to the largest city in Illinois because of the rapid growth of her company and because Chicago, as the third most populous city in the States, offered her numerous business opportunities.

Just over twenty minutes later she reached the highway leading to Rockford, where she was meeting a realtor. While she was mentally drawing up her negotiating strategy, a black truck suddenly appeared in front of her. It cut in so quickly she had to jam her foot on the brake pedal in order to avoid smashing into the truck. Emely blasted her horn at the driver.

She needed to move to the outside lane to overtake the truck. As soon as she turned on the left turn signal, another truck appeared on her left, also black, stopping her from changing lanes. She waited patiently for the vehicle to go past. She kept looking ahead and to her left, gripping the steering wheel.

It seemed as if the two transport vehicles were connected in some way. They were both gradually slowing down. Emely lost patience. She hit the steering wheel and blew five longs blasts on the horn.

The two black masses were slowing down, moving toward the hard shoulder. She felt trapped. She was forced to play their game.

Suddenly she noticed that both trucks had their right turn signals on. The two vehicles were slowing down and so was she.

When her car stopped completely, she opened the door and got out. What the hell?

Since she was fearless and decisive by nature, the thought of being in danger never crossed her mind.

Two masked men wearing black coveralls jumped out of the backs of the trucks. She realized immediately the fix she was in and ran back toward her car. After only a couple of steps she felt a hand grab her neck and she cried out in pain, Who are you? What … do you want from me? Help!

However much Emely shouted, no one could hear her. The noise on the highway was so loud due to the heavy traffic that her desperate cries for help carried only a few yards. The man holding her by the neck took no notice of her screams. With his other hand he lifted her like a feather and carried her to his truck.

She resisted with all her strength, trying to free herself, kicking her legs in all directions. The other man immediately came to help the first and grabbed her hands. He took two pairs of restraints from his pocket and first fastened her hands and then her ankles.

They pushed her into the back of the truck and slammed the heavy door. Emely lay helplessly on some damp cardboard, trying to get out of the restraints that were stopping her from getting up. She looked around in the darkness and saw numerous stacks of empty boxes.

Oh no, this can’t be true, she thought. I’m being kidnapped and now they’ll ask for a huge ransom.

*

She had a feeling they were driving forever. At least four hours, she guessed. After a while she began to be thrown about more. She felt that they must have turned onto a dirt road. In spite of the cardboard on which she lay, she was getting bruised because of all the shaking. After what was probably about twenty more minutes, the truck stopped. Her heart began to beat faster.

The door opened and a man jumped up. He was holding something black in his hand.

On seeing a mask covering his face, Emely shuddered. She began thrashing around so much that her head hit the floor a number of times.

Keep still, lady, or you’ll only make it worse, he warned her. He put the blindfold over her eyes, lifted her, and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

Let me go! Please! she shouted. Tears came to her eyes. I’ll pay as much as you want.

Of course you will. When the time’s right.

How much? I’ll dial a number and in an hour you’ll have the cash. Just let me go.

She heard him open a door. The helpless Emely was still folded over his right shoulder.

Let me go!

We’re not interested in money, he said.

He opened the door to a room and placed her on a metal bed.

So what do you want? Tell me, please.

The man took no notice of her questions. He slowly removed the restraint from her left hand and fastened her right wrist to the metal frame of the bed. Then he did the same with her ankle, only this time he fastened her left leg.

Why don’t you answer? Please, tell me what you want from me, she said in a more demanding tone.

She felt a prick in her right arm and realized she must have been given a sedative.

Why? No, please … stop! she shouted as loud as she could.

As if unable to hear her, the man took off her shoes and put a soft pillow under her head. Emely felt her eyelids grow heavy and fell asleep instantly.

*

Good morning, Ms. Donnovan.

She jerked as if she had received a jolt of electricity. She had slept like a log.

What do you want from me? she asked fearlessly. Her head was throbbing and she was parched. As she could not see anything, she opened and closed her eyes a few times and then remembered she was blindfolded.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Ronald Langdon and this is my brother, John.

She frowned, trying to remember where she knew their names from.

The man waited a while and then said, I see our names don’t mean anything to you. What about the company, Spark Sports?

She remembered instantly. She took such a deep breath that a sharp whistle emerged from her lungs.

It’s been nearly nine years since you took over our company, Ronald said.

She remembered it well. It had been a wonderful financial opportunity that was impossible to resist.

Over thirty years ago our father opened a large store specializing in sports equipment. The store was so successful that soon he opened another one on the West Coast. Within a few years he became the owner of a chain of stores around the country, Ronald said. He paused for a few moments. Due to the company’s fast growth and an urgent need for new capital, its structure had to change. My father turned it into a joint stock company and as the CEO he kept a 40 percent share, putting the other 60 percent on the market. That is how he acquired capital.

Emely was listening carefully. She knew exactly where this was leading and it made her feel sick.

A sudden accident in which our father died put me and my brother at the head of the company. We led it successfully for five years.

John added sharply, Until we invested in a megalomaniac franchise, which turned out to bring nothing but loss. Our company got into serious trouble.

Ronald said, We needed an enormous financial loan. We asked a number of banks, but none of them would lend us anything. There was nothing else to do but put a number of series B shares on the market.

Emely’s throat tightened. She wanted to say something in her defense but was unable.

Ronald told her with reproach in his voice, And then you turned up. At an incredible speed you began to buy all the shares that were on the market, regardless of the price.

She could feel and smell his bad breath and had to hold her own breath.

Within three weeks you bought most of the shares and became the majority holder! He was shouting now, spraying saliva over her face.

That’s how the market works, she said, hissing. Everyone has the right to buy shares—

You weren’t satisfied with your own company, Ronald said. You wanted more and more. Later we found out it was your slander that had stopped banks from giving us a loan.

But you retained your share, she said in her defense. You did sell it later, but—

Yes, we had the right to vote, but you took on the leadership. Of our company.

Which is still doing good business, she had to add.

You took something our family had struggled for. What right did you have?

Emely was losing her temper. But that’s how the stock market works. The strongest wins. Everyone has to fight.

What you’re trying to say is that it’s like nature. Only the strongest survive.

Emely did not know how to respond.

Ronald said, I’m afraid you won’t survive, Ms. Donnovan.

She shuddered. Emely wanted to say something, but because of the huge lump in her throat all that came out was a mumble.

We didn’t want to work for you so we sold the shares. We bought a small computer hardware company. Because of the strong competition and speculation over software licenses we had to shut it down after three years.

John said, And so we were left with nothing. Because of you.

But you didn’t have to sell the shares of Spark Sports, she said, defending herself like a child.

Shut up. How dare you talk to me like that? The fact is that if you hadn’t turned up with your greed, Spark Sports would still belong to us.

But—

No buts. There’s no excuse for what you did.

What do you want from me? Emely asked, sobbing. Only now did it occur to her that she was in serious trouble.

What we’re still able to take from you, John said coldly. Your life.

Use your head. We can come to a deal. I’ll pay you as much as you want.

Both men laughed loudly and their laughter reverberated around Emely’s head for a long time after they had left. When she was sure that they were gone, she started crying and trembling with fear.

*

The same afternoon, John entered her room.

I’ve come to accompany you to the bathroom. You’ve got exactly ten minutes to do whatever you need to. Have I made myself clear?

She nodded humbly.

John undid the restraints, took her by the hand, and led her down a long corridor to a small windowless room.

When he closed the door, she removed the blindfold and had a long drink of water. Her neck was hurting and she quickly massaged it. Then she used the toilet and splashed her face with cold water in order to help her think more clearly. I must find a solution, she thought. There’s always a solution. She sat on the toilet cover and put her head in her hands. Ronald Langdon is a very principled but revengeful guy. His brother John seems different. I may be able to persuade him. She lifted her head slightly and looked around. The purple-rimmed tiles were dirty and the shower cubicle also in bad shape.

She heard knocking on the door, a sign that her ten minutes were over. She covered her eyes again.

When she was fastened to the bed again, she said, John, I’d like to talk to you.

Yes, he said drily.

You seem like a very smart guy, unlike your brother. She stopped for a moment and forced a little smile. In fact, I think you should have been in charge of your company instead of him. As far as I know, you were his assistant. I have a feeling you’re much more capable than he is.

You don’t have to flatter me, he told her.

I only wanted to say that you seemed like a very reasonable man. Not as stubborn as your brother. I understand that you’re filled with a desire for revenge. If I’d known that your company meant so much to you, I would never have—

Shut up and stop blabbering. You should have thought of it then, you greedy bitch. His voice sounded more and more tense.

I just want to mention that I have two million dollars in my personal account in Switzerland. No one knows about it. If you give me the number of your bank account, I can transfer the money with a single phone call. No risk involved.

Damn it! You talk too much. He got up and banged the door shut.

*

In the evening Emely heard footsteps approaching the room. Her heart started racing and she fearfully waited to know who would open the door. She got the feeling it was John. By his irregular movements she concluded that he was drunk.

I came to ask if you wanted to use the can, he said. He was so close to her that she was able to smell his breath, which reeked of alcohol. She recoiled from him as much as she could.

Next she felt him remove the blindfold.

Hmm, not bad, he mumbled. My big brother has gone somewhere and there’s no need for you to have your eyes covered. It was his idea, but I’m not sure what for. You can’t go anywhere anyway.

Yes, I’d very much like to use the bathroom, Emely said in order to change the topic of conversation, which she didn’t like.

She examined him from head to toe. He was about ten inches taller than she and had an unshaven, symmetrical, elongated face framed by short, blond hair. Emely was surprised by his gleaming white teeth, clearly visible because of his wide grin. She thought he must be around thirty years old.

He took off the restraints and accompanied her to the bathroom. When she was finally alone she felt relief. I need a cold shower, she thought. In a rush she took off her clothes and turned on the cold tap as far as she could. Thousands of ice-cold droplets covered her feverish body. Instead of it being a shock, it felt incredibly liberating. She was ready to explode.

For more than ten minutes Emely kept turning around under the cold water, breathing deeply. When she started feeling cold she soaped her body, rinsed it quickly, and rubbed herself down with a towel. She looked at her wrist that was red from the restraints. Again her stomach began to churn. Oh no, I must think clearly, she told herself.

She quickly got dressed. She fixed her hair a bit and then knocked on the door to say she had finished.

The door opened and she saw John staring at her breasts. Pretending not to have seen anything, she said in a calm, deep voice, Have you thought about my proposal, John?

He said nothing.

We could make a deal. Emely said this as if it were a completely normal, everyday business discussion.

Unexpectedly he grabbed her neck and held her like that all the way to her room.

John, please don’t! she shouted in pain.

He pushed her so hard that she fell roughly onto the mattress. Before she was able to defend herself, he grabbed her left hand and fastened it to the metal frame.

About that proposal I mentioned—

Shut up, you bitch. Keep that poisonous tongue of yours still.

I just wanted to say—

John slapped her hard with his right hand. It was so unexpected that she bit her tongue.

He tied the blindfold over her eyes and she heard him slam the door as he left.

*

Emely cried for a long time, until there was no strength left in her. She felt she might have gone to sleep for a few minutes, when someone grabbed her arm.

What’s happened? she asked, confused.

As if he had not heard her, he unfastened her and made her stand up. He fastened her hands behind her back instead, then he took her by the elbow and dragged her downstairs. She had to run in order to be able to keep up with his long strides.

She heard the front door open and felt the fresh morning air. I was right, it must be three or four in the morning. Where are they taking me? she wondered.

He opened the back door of a vehicle and pushed her in violently. He sat next to her.

Good morning, Ms. Donnovan. The voice was Ronald’s. We’re taking you on a short early morning outing. I will be driving. I’m sure you’re going to like it.

Listen, you can’t do this. Where are you taking me? Please, tell me the price, everything has a price.

No, my dear Ms. Donnovan. We no longer care about money. We lost it all and learned to do without.

But …

No buts. All that’s left is hatred and a desire for revenge. And soon this desire will be fulfilled.

She began screaming and completely lost control. Never before had she found herself in a situation which she could not influence.

John placed one hand around her mouth and they drove like that for over half an hour. The vehicle swayed from side to side to avoid roots in the road. Feeling sick from fear or the bumpy ride or both, Emely didn’t know how much longer she’d last.

Where are you taking me? she cried when John took his hand off her mouth.

But she didn’t get a reply.

After a while she asked again. Please, tell me where we’re going.

Don’t worry, Ronald said, we’ve arrived.

The SUV slowed down. She felt John’s hand indicating she had to get out. She wanted to stay in the vehicle, but relented. With the blindfold still on, her only orientation was the outside noise. She could hear the faint hooting of an owl, and then a mosquito buzzed past her ear. There was a strong smell of pine trees. We must be in deep woods, she guessed.

John shoved her along for a short distance and tied her to a slender tree. He took off the blindfold and she was able to look around. Because of the trees that stood close together and reached high into the starry sky, little light reached the ground in spite of the full moon. Scared, she turned toward Ronald, who was watching her from the side. He was small, only about five foot seven, and considerably overweight.

Her heart was beating hard and she kept gulping down the saliva that gathered in her mouth as she looked at his round face. What are you going to do with me? she asked with tears streaming.

Ronald looked down, stood on a dry branch that snapped under his weight, and smiled. You’re gonna like it here, Ms. Donnovan.

John appeared with some wide tape and put it over her mouth. She was able to respond only with muffled screams through her nose. The men set off for the car, laughing.

In horror she noticed a coffin made from raw wooden planks on the roof of the SUV. Emely wanted to scream and run, but felt she was going to faint at any moment. The scene in front of her was real, even though she found it hard to believe that it was really happening. Why did they bring a coffin?

She felt dizzy. It was too much for her. She kept looking around for anyone who could help her. They are crazy, this can’t be true.

John and Ronald took the coffin off the roof and put it down next to the tree Emely was tied to. They went back to the car, opened the trunk, and pulled out two shovels.

They’re only trying to scare me. They can’t be serious, can they? In panic she tried to free her wrists, but got nowhere. She kept looking around to spot anyone, perhaps a woodcutter or someone picking mushrooms. She begged God to help her.

They began digging a hole in front of her.

For a while she stared at the shovels that kept pushing the soft soil so easily and she prayed for all this to turn out to be nothing more than a bad dream. But the longer she stared at them, the more certain she became that it was real. Finally, she could take no more and everything went dark.

*

When she opened her eyes, she saw in front of her an elongated hole, about five feet deep and next to her the two men, soaked with sweat and bent over from the effort.

So, Ms. Donnovan, Ronald said, even though it didn’t seem so at first, the ground was hard and full of stones. We had to work real hard.

He looked at John and jerked his head. John came nearer, unfastened her from the tree, and refastened her hands in front of her.

Emely suddenly began to resist like a wounded wild animal. She butted John in his stomach as hard as she could and he writhed in pain.

Then she grabbed a shovel and hit Ronald on the head. She ran like the wind. The men screamed in pain.

Running as fast as she could, breathing through her nostrils, she kept looking back. To her horror and surprise, John had gotten up and was running equally fast. Emely sped up and her breathing became loud. Ignoring the branches that struck her face, she ran for her life.

She tripped over a tree root and lost her balance, sprawling onto the thick layer of pine needles covering the forest floor. It was too late. John’s hands were already grabbing her leg. She struck at him like a snake, but he moved away in time. He grabbed her hands and soon had her under control. Ronald came and together they carried her back to the original spot. She kept struggling and making muffled noises.

When they put her in the coffin, her resistance doubled. She banged her head against the sides of her deathbed in the hope of the planks loosening.

The two men quickly put the wooden top on the coffin and fastened the

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