***
It wasn’t the sun that woke him up, but something warmer. And softer. And deliciously curvy.
His brain didn’t need any more information. With a jolt of surprise, he opened his eyes to find Kara snuggled up next to him, her back against his chest and her head resting on his shoulder. His right arm was tight around her waist, betraying him, and their fingers were tangled together.
Despite the fact that this felt like the sweetest paradise a man could ever find, he knew he had to untangle himself from her. But when he tried to move his arm, her fingers tightened around his.
“Don’t move,” she said, her voice sounding much more awake than he expected.
“You’re not asleep?”
“Not even a little. How do you think we got like this?”
“I…I don’t know.”
“You’re much more amenable to cuddling when you’re asleep—easy to persuade, in fact.”
“Kara, what are you doing?”
She let go of his hand and turned over, catching his arm again when he started pulling it away. “Convincing you that my feelings are real.”
He absolutely could not think like this, not when every instinct drove him to ignore his good sense. He pulled away from her, though it took everything he had, and strode over to pull open the curtains. But instead of flooding the room with sunlight and a healthy dose of reality, there was only thick white mist outside.
“You can’t trust your feelings right now, Kara. They’re too likely…skewed…by what you’re going through.”
“No they’re not. I lo—”
“No. Don’t say anything else. You might regret it later, and that would destroy me.”
Chapter Seventeen
“Why would I regret it?”
“Because right now you just need comfort and distraction and human connection. You may not even realize it. But whatever you think you’re feeling right now is driven by those needs and not by how you would feel if none of this had happened.”
“That’s stupid. I know a lot more about how I feel than you do.” Kara got out of bed, threw one look over to the crib to ensure that Aiden was still asleep, and stalked toward him. “So, I’m not allowed to have real feelings now, just because I’m going through a hard time?”
“It’s not that they aren’t real, I guess, just that they may be driven by needs you have right now and not actual feelings. No, you’re too vulnerable right now. I won’t take advantage of you.”
She glared at him. “I appreciate your help with Derrick—with keeping me and Aiden safe. But you don’t need to protect me from myself. I’m a grown woman, and whatever choices I make are my responsibility. And if I decide that I’m in love with you and have been for far longer than you could possibly guess, who are you to decide you know what’s best for me?”
“Whoa, Kara. That’s not what I was trying—”
“And what about what’s best for you?” She was yelling at him now, and it felt good. All of her stress and frustrations and terrors welled up within her. She’d never broken down like this over anything. Maybe she’d needed the release for a long time. “Why don’t I get to worry about you? Because you know what? I think you need me as much as I need you.”
He took a step forward, but stopped, obviously wrestling with himself. His shoulders and chest heaved with his labored breath. But before he could speak, a dark shadow emerged through the mist outside the sliding glass door.
Kara screamed and pointed. In a flash, Warren turned around. “It’s okay,” he called over his shoulder. “It’s Abe.”
He strode over and pushed the button that opened the door, and his hulking bodyguard stepped in. “There are boats coming in. Fast. We can see them on the radar, but they aren’t responding to us over radio.”
Warren turned, his movements sharp, and went to the crib. He picked up Aiden, who immediately began to cry. He grabbed the diaper bag from the floor next to the crib and put his arm around her. “We need to get you in the safe room. Now.”
She went with him but cried out, “What’s going on?”
“You need to stay in there no matter what you hear. Do you understand me?”
“I don’t understand.”
But he just kept walking, pulling her along almost by sheer force of will. “And do your best to keep Aiden quiet when you get there. If any of them get on board, it will be best if it takes them a while to discover the safe room.”
“If who gets on board?” Finally, determined to have answers, Kara ran ahead and stopped him by pushing both hands against his chest. “Warren. Tell me.”
He sighed. “Derrick’s people hacked into our GPS. They’ve known our location for two days now. With us being this close to shore and the fog coming on, I think they may be making an attempt to kidnap Aiden.”
Kara’s stomach clenched as panic rose in her chest. She reached for Aiden, needing to hold him. Warren gave him over and then led them the rest of the way through the ship. Several stewardesses were already inside, with one outside holding the door open, clearly waiting for her.
Warren stopped Kara and turned her to face him. “Remember what I said, but don’t worry. I’m going to take care of this.”
“No, stay with us,” she begged, desperately afraid of what might happen to him.
He took her face in his hands and kissed her, hard and fast. “When this is done, I will stay with you, I promise. I have no intention of ever letting you go, love.”
Warren stepped back into the hall, his eyes clinging to hers as the stewardess closed the door and typed in a code on the panel next to the door. A series of electric locks clicked shut with heavy clanging sounds, and a beep sounded.
There was nothing for Kara to do but nurse Aiden back to sleep so he’d be quiet and pray that her whole world wasn’t about to shatter.
Everything was quiet for a really long time. It was so unnerving sitting in a dim metal box with five other women that she was grateful for Aiden’s hungry gulping as he nursed. But then she heard the sound of the ship’s engines starting, the vibrations carrying through the exterior walls. The ship began moving, slowly at first and then faster.
A sharp but distant crack made her gasp. “Was that a gunshot?” she asked, afraid to hear the answer.
“I think so,” one of the other women whispered. “But it sounded like it came from here. They have lots of guns, you know. The deckhands all have military training, and they run drills for this sort of thing.”
Kara didn’t know if she was trying to reassure herself or others. “Are they trying to outrun them?”
“No, they couldn’t. It’s hard to get a ship of this size moving at any speed. But it will be harder for them to board the boat if it isn’t a sitting duck.”
Aiden finished eating, but luckily, with the dim light and a full tummy, he went back to sleep again. Kara looked down at him and wiped the drop of milk spilling out of his mouth. Then, leaning down, she kissed his soft, sweet forehead three times.
The shots outside increased in frequency until it sounded like the ship was sailing through a hailstorm.
“Now they’re shooting at us,” someone said.
Chapter Eighteen
Warren stayed in the control room with the captain, cursing the fact that they couldn’t make out further than ten yards beyond the ship. “Did this have to happen in the middle of a cloud,” he yelled.
“They’re crafty devils,” Captain Fitch said, his eyes on the radar. He was driving the ship blind except for his instruments.
Warren paced, eyeing the man at the radio who was calling for help. “There has to be someone close by who can help.”
The captain shook his head. “Even if there is, the fog would make any transport difficult.”
A sharp, cracking ping on the window made them all jump. A webbed circle of crushed glass now marked the ballistic window on the starboard side.
Warren stared at it, his heart sinking. “I guess the warning shots didn’t scare them
off.”
A shower of shots pelted the ship from both sides. They pinged off the steel hull and sent sprays of glass across the decks. Warren didn’t know what size rounds they were shooting, but he was confident that the ballistic glass would hold against it. Even though the front side of the glass was webbed and shattered, so far, nothing had penetrated through the four-inch-thick windows.
The man at the radio turned around. “The Marquessa is only 10 miles away to the southwest. It belongs to the royal family of Cristonia. They say they have higher visibility where they are and are willing to send a helicopter once the fog clears over us enough to allow for a safe landing.”
“To say nothing of the gunshots,” Warren said. He growled and went to look out the window. “Captain, get this ship moving at full speed to the southwest. Maybe we can break out of this fog bank and get some assistance. In the meantime, tell the crew to unleash every anti-piracy weapon we have on board, short of lethal force, unless they board the ship.”
Captain Fitch nodded and made the announcement through the telecom. For the next half hour, the crew defended the ship with stun grenades, sound guns, water cannons, and nets that they launched toward the ships. Finally, one of the nets did its job and got caught in the propeller of one of the boats, rendering it useless. But everything was more difficult with the low visibility. At last, the fog began to thin until it was nothing more than a haze. A superyacht three times the size of the Salt Fish lay ahead, dominating the horizon.
The Marquessa was not just built for pleasure. It was a fortified ship for long-range sailing, and from the looks of the decks, the Cristonia Royal Navy was on security detail. Warren looked on the ship with relief. He had known Prince Alexios for several years through different business ventures. The relief he felt at having such an ally close at hand was immense.
The man at the radio contacted the ship, and in no time at all, Warren saw a helicopter lift from the deck of the Marquessa and turn toward their ship. “I’ll go get Kara. We’ll get all the women off board and then, Captain, we are going to take one of these pirates prisoner.”
The captain’s face was taut with the stress and pressure of the situation, but he gave a quick smile at that. “Yes, sir. It would be a pleasure.”
Warren moved through the empty ship as fast as he could, running when the space allowed for it. When he got to the safe room, he entered the code on the panel that opened up a video link to the inside. “It’s me. It’s safe to open the door. We have a helicopter coming to move you all onto another ship.”
He waited impatiently while the electric locks slid back and the door slowly opened. Kara flew at him from the inside. He caught her in his arms and held her for several precious seconds with Aiden between them. He kissed the top of her head and then pushed her gently back. “We need to hurry. The helicopter will be landing any minute, and I want you and Aiden on it as soon as possible.”
He took Aiden from Kara and put a gentle hand on her back. As he prompted her forward, he called back over his shoulder. “All of you will be moved to the other ship, so make your way to the main cabin so you’ll be close to the helipad.”
When Kara first saw the glass in the upper deck, she stopped abruptly, staring in horror around her. “Warren, your ship!”
“Better my ship than my people. Come on, love. They’re waiting for you.”
Abe and Ronin, both holding automatic rifles, met them at the door. They moved beside them, keeping their eyes focused out to sea and stood guard while Kara climbed into the helicopter. Warren kissed the top of Aiden’s head and passed him up to her. He had to yell to be heard over the chopper. “I’ll see you soon!”
Kara’s eyes were bright with tears. “You’d better!” she yelled back.
Warren waved at her and stepped back with Abe and Ronin. The helicopter had just lifted off when the last boat came flying in from the north again. A shot rang out, and the three of them hit the deck. The boat zoomed by again. Warren stood and ran for the cover of the cabin. Abe and Ronin came right behind him, taking up positions inside the door.
“I want that boat disabled before the helicopter comes back.”
The pirate boat made a wide arc to turn about and came at the ship again. This time, Abe and Ronin met it at the railing. They both fired shots, and though Warren couldn’t see where they landed, he saw the moment Abe and Ronin relaxed from their firing stance. He joined them at the rail and saw that the boat was capsized and bobbing in the ship’s wake, while several dark heads popped out of the water above it.
“What happened?” he asked.
Abe nodded his head toward Ronin. “He hit the driver, not a mortal hit, but enough that he lost control and collided with our hull. It flipped the boat. Threat eliminated.”
“Perfect. What do you say we go fishing for sea rats?”
Chapter Nineteen
Kara had never been so impatient in her life. She was wearing nothing but a thin, fluttery nightgown, but she refused to leave the deck until Warren was safe aboard. For what seemed like hours, she waited and worried. Even with the fog burned away by the sun and the beginning of a perfect, tropical day glistening around her, Kara could not relax until she had him safely beside her. At which point, he was going to listen to what she had to say. This had come too close to disaster to waste another moment not embracing the life so close to their grasp.
“He’s sent for the helicopter,” said a warm, masculine voice with a very slight accent—what kind of accent, she couldn’t even tell.
Turning, Kara nodded at Prince Alexios. She had to admit that his presence was reassuring. Maybe it was something in his relaxed posture or the strength of his personality that oozed confidence and assurance. Even dressed casually with sunglasses and bare feet, his royal bloodline was easily apparent in the way he carried himself. But even his easy nonchalance couldn’t overcome her need to just have Warren with her.
“Thanks for telling me,” she said, turning back to watch the Salt Fish.
“Your baby is very cute. My whole staff is playing with him. I know it has been some time since I have spoken with Warren, but I didn’t know he had started a family.”
When Kara tried to figure out how to answer, she had to laugh—though it had a sharp, tense sound to it. “Probably because he just started it five days ago.”
The prince raised his eyebrow. “Warren is nothing if not efficient.”
Now Kara really did laugh. “The baby is mine from a former marriage.” Growing serious again, she added, “We think the person responsible for this attack was my ex-husband.”
Prince Alexios’s eyes darkened. “I’m so sorry. Besides being evil, he must be very stupid to threaten anyone who is loved by Warren Drake. This is just the beginning, believe me. Your ex-husband will never escape the consequences of this morning. Warren will make him regret it the rest of his life.”
This was said with such surety that Kara shivered. Mostly because she knew the prince was right. She wouldn’t want to be in Derrick’s shoes for the fortune of the world.
At that moment, a whirring sound caught her attention. A moment later, the helicopter lifted up from the other side of the bridge. She followed its progress across the short distance to Warren’s ship where it landed as softly and elegantly as a seabird. A moment later, three figures made their way out to the helipad and got inside. As it took off again, Kara’s heart thundered with excitement. She watched it fly overhead, and as soon as it sank below the bridge where she could no longer see it, she took off running around the port side to meet him, not even excusing herself to Prince Alexios.
Warren jumped out of the helicopter first. He grinned when he saw her running toward him. She met him and leapt into his arms, holding tight while he swung her around. There was no way she was going to let him out of her sight again for a very long time.
Then Prince Alexios was there, motioning for them to go inside the cabin. Abe and Ronin were there, following behind them. Once they were inside, Kara broke
away from Warren to give them both hugs, which they accepted with awkward grace.
“Thank you for keeping him safe,” she told them.
They nodded, but before Kara could say another word, Warren’s arms came around her from behind, pulling her back against him. He kissed the side of her cheek. “As much as I appreciate you hugging my bodyguards, I’d like to steal you away for a bit. It seems to me like we need to finish our conversation that was so rudely interrupted this morning.” Warren turned toward the prince. “Well, Alexios…do you have a stateroom we could borrow?”
Prince Alexios grinned at them. “My ship is yours. Please, I hope you will be my guests until you can make arrangements for your ship.”
A woman in a white-and-navy-blue uniform stepped forward. “This way, if you please.”
Kara blushed as they followed her from the room. Whispering so the woman wouldn’t hear, she said, “Warren, you made it look like we needed a stateroom for a whole other reason.”
He shrugged and looked way too innocent. “We are married, love. Who cares what people think? Where is Aiden?” At least he kept his voice to a soft murmur.
“He’s surrounded by admirers somewhere. I’ve let the crew here take him as much as possible because I’ve been so worried about you.”
The woman opened a door and smiled before disappearing down the narrow hallway.
“Ah, perfect,” Warren said, leading her inside. He shut the door with a satisfied expression and turned to face her.
“You look extremely cheerful for someone who was just in a shootout with pirates.”
“Yes. Well, you’ll be happy to know that we have three recorded confessions from the prisoners we took that they were hired by a man named Fenton from Las Vegas.”
“So, it was Derrick for sure.”
Saved by the Billionaire Page 10
