by Cat Johnson
He had to wipe the sweat off the keycard he’d had in his pocket before sliding it into the door. He found Darci outside, sitting at the table laden with plates that must have contained her room service order.
“I’m back.”
She spun at the sound of his voice. “There’s food left, if you’re interested.”
“I’m gonna take a shower quick, then I’ll be out.” He forced himself to look away from what appeared to be a plate of bacon and headed into the bathroom.
He was quick to shower and dress, but he probably should have taken his time. He realized that as he wandered outside and was faced with the expanse of Darci’s bare back in a halter dress.
When she turned and smiled, he forgot all about how he’d come outside to investigate her breakfast leftovers because the fruit he’d eaten wasn’t cutting it. His mouth was watering for another reason.
“How was your run?”
“Good. Thanks.” He reached out and grabbed a strip of bacon.
“You’re back sooner than I thought you would be.”
“Yeah, I thought maybe you and I could go to the pool for a bit before we get changed for the boat thing.”
“Okay.” Her bare foot was up on the chair in front of her, causing the skirt of her dress to fall away and expose a good amount of leg. “Do you want to go now? I’ll have to put on my bathing suit.”
The thought of Darci in a bathing suit pushed him over the edge.
“No. We’ll go in a little bit.” He reached down and braced one hand on each arm of her chair, putting his face close to hers.
“What did you have in mind until then?” Her gaze dropped to his lips, before raising to his eyes. She smiled, as if she knew exactly what he had in mind but just wanted him to say it.
“Let me put up the Do Not Disturb sign and I’ll show you.”
“Do we have time for that?” she asked.
He snorted. “I’ll make time.”
She smiled. “Okay.”
Chris grabbed her hand, pulled her out of the chair and kissed her hard. She kissed him back with an enthusiasm to rival his own.
Darci pulled back from the kiss. “I like you like this.”
“Like what?”
She shrugged. “Playful. In a good mood. When you left this morning you were kind of serious.”
Pissed was more like it. Mad over her not wanting to be his girlfriend even though she was willing to have sex with him. But then again, he’d never actually talked to her about him wanting more, had he?
Her not knowing how he felt, what he wanted, was on him and he couldn’t blame her for it. Either way, now was not the time or place for deep discussions. He’d think about that after they were home. Now was the time to take advantage of that big bed.
“It must’ve been the run. All those endorphins. Or maybe it’s just this dress.” He grinned and reached behind her head to unhook the halter.
CHAPTER 14
“This is one nice boat.” Darci looked around them at all the polished wood and brass on the deck.
Chris agreed it was nice, if you didn’t mind being on something so small and getting tossed around like a toy boat in a bathtub. Personally, Chris preferred having a destroyer beneath his feet. Of course, most Navy ships he’d been on didn’t have wait staff distributing appetizers and alcohol.
“For what I’m sure it cost, you might want to call it a yacht and not a boat.” He glanced down at Darci as the wind whipped her hair. He watched a shiver run through her. “You didn’t bring a jacket?”
“I didn’t have anything that matched my dress.” She said it as if it made all the sense in the world.
Women and their fashions. He’d never understand them.
“It’s going to get cold the minute the sun sets. And you know I can’t give you my jacket.” He widened his eyes and hoped she got the hint.
“I know. Because it’s hiding your hardware.”
“Yup.” He laughed and shook his head, not bothering to correct her that he never referred to his weapons as that.
Why she insisted on doing so, he didn’t know. She must be watching too many bad cop shows on television.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” Even as she said it, he noticed she leaned a bit closer to him.
He turned them both so his back took the brunt of the wind and she was sheltered by his body.
Lucky for her, they probably wouldn’t be out on deck for long. His sweep of the yacht had revealed that the caterers had set up tables, chairs and a long buffet inside so at least they could get out of the wind later. This time, she’d get away with forgoing a jacket because it didn’t match her outfit and not have to suffer too long for it.
The yacht looked filled to capacity. It was owned by the resort and therefore outfitted specifically for catered parties lasting only a few hours. Without the need for overnight accommodations, there was space for a decent-sized galley, a bar and a dining room.
At least the biting sea breeze seemed to be keeping Darci from worrying about people talking to them. He’d found so far most folks were happy to talk to the people they already knew. They weren’t all that interested in meeting anyone new.
Fine with him. It made it easier for him to do his job. And speaking of the job . . .
Now that they’d left the dock, and were heading out to sea, he checked his cell phone. As he’d anticipated, he was down to one bar. That flickered away and the words No Service appeared on the screen.
He shoved the phone back into his pocket and drew out one of the two comm units Jon had purchased for him to use. He leaned in and whispered, “There’s no cell signal. I’m going to slip a communicator into your ear so we can talk to each other when we’re not in the same room. Okay?”
Her eyes widened. “Okay.”
He turned toward her and cupped her face. Moving in for a kiss, and with his body blocking anyone’s view, he pressed the ear bud into her ear. When he pulled back he nearly laughed at the expression on her face. Her eyes darted around and she didn’t move her head even a bit.
“Darci, relax.”
“But I don’t hear anything.”
“There’s nothing to hear. I didn’t turn mine on yet.”
“Oh.”
He took the second device out of his pocket and, shielding it between them, powered it on. After glancing around, he pretended to scratch his head, when in reality he was pushing the device into his own ear.
“Chris, I can see it.” She’d hissed it low, like it was a secret.
“I work in construction. It makes sense I’d have partial hearing loss because of all the noise, so I had to get a hearing aid.” He lifted one shoulder in a shrug.
She cocked a brow. “You are frighteningly good at lying.”
“Only when necessary and never to you, darlin’.”
Of course, he’d never been completely honest with her, either. At least, not about his feelings. That wasn’t lying. That was self-preservation. No man wanted to give his heart to a woman and have her reject it.
Enough thinking about that shit. He had a job to do. “I’m going to walk over to the bar. You see if you can hear me.”
“Okay.”
He made his way across the deck, getting his sea legs and happy he had rubber-soled shoes on. Darci was going to have problems in those heels, not that he minded her hanging on to his arm like her life depended on it.
“What can I get for you?” the young male bartender with a slight accent asked.
“Two glasses of champagne, please.” It was a celebration, after all.
To blend in, they should look as if they were celebrating and he already knew she liked champagne. She’d probably drink both her own glass and his.
“Chris. I can hear you.”
His lips twitched as Darci’s low whisper came through his earpiece. He couldn’t respond. The bartender would think he was crazy. Instead, he thanked the man for the drinks and turned to make his way back to her, hopefully without sp
illing the champagne.
Arriving without mishap, he handed one glass to her and said with a grin, “I could hear you too.”
“This thing is amazing.” She frowned. “But it’s better when you were over there and not right here where I hear an echo.”
“I know. It’ll take you a bit to get used to it.”
She sipped at her champagne, and emerged from behind the glass with a wide grin. “I feel like a spy. Like a Bond girl or something.”
He laughed. This whole assignment was worthy of a James Bond movie, from the outrageously exotic setting, to the beautiful girl sharing it with him. The only thing missing was the mastermind criminal and his crew of bad guys, and Chris was perfectly happy with that omission from the scenario.
“So are you going to ask Jon for more assignments?” he asked her since she seemed to be enjoying this one so much.
“No. It’s all too nerve-wracking. Well, unless there’s another one here. I wouldn’t mind coming back. Though next time, I’d pack some sweaters.”
“Come here.” He pulled her to him.
She put her glass down on a nearby tray and snuggled against his chest. As she slipped her arms around him beneath the warmth of his jacket he knew he’d come back here in a heartbeat if Darci was with him.
Two sets of parents and the happy couple moved to the center of the deck. The man he’d learned was the best man followed. Someone clinked a spoon against a glass and the guests quieted. It must be time for some sort of a welcome speech.
By now, Chris had walked every inch of the yacht, including the bridge and the engine room. He’d had eyes on every member of the staff and all the guests. They were miles from shore. The weather was clear with no predictions for a change anytime soon.
Aside from some unforeseen issue—such as an unruly guest or engine trouble—Chris anticipated smooth sailing for the rest of the evening.
As Mr. Collins began to address the group, Darci turned in his arms just enough so she could see the man speaking while she remained pressed closely against him, right where he liked her.
Things were good. Chris allowed himself the luxury of taking a sip from the glass in his hand. Let the festivities begin.
CHAPTER 15
“Better?” Chris asked.
Darci had finally begun to warm up. “Yes, thank you. It’s much nicer inside.”
“You mean warmer.” Chris grinned.
“That too.”
He shook his head and laughed, but even as he kept up his half of the small talk, she noticed his eyes scanning the room.
A crease formed between his brow.
“Something wrong?” Darci asked.
“It’s probably nothing. But it feels like the engines just revved up.” He glanced out the window. “And we’re turning.”
“Maybe the captain is taking us back to the marina.” The sun had set and it was dark outside. They were about to put the food out for dinner. The trip would probably wrap up as soon as they ate.
“Maybe.” He pushed his chair back from the tiny corner cocktail table they’d claimed as their own. “I think I’m going to make a quick sweep. Stop by and talk to the captain. See what’s up.”
That didn’t surprise her one bit. He took his job seriously. What she didn’t understand was what he was worrying about. They were out in the ocean. Miles from shore. What could happen out there?
“Okay.”
He leaned low and brushed a kiss against her cheek. She thought he was feeling amorous until he hovered by her ear and said, “Earpiece still working?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Anything odd happens here, you let me know.”
“How?” She asked when he’d straightened to stand again.
“I don’t know. Talk into your napkin or go to the ladies room. You’ll figure it out. I have faith in you.” He grinned and was off, leaving her alone in a room full of strangers and with the job of keeping an eye on them all.
This job was less fun than she’d thought it was going to be. Even the excitement of the James Bond earpiece had worn off. And it was starting to hurt her ear.
She watched out the window as one especially bright star shifted position. Chris was right. They were changing direction. Hopefully they’d be heading back in. Then tonight’s wedding events and their workday would be over, and it would be time for fun.
Darci smiled at the thought of watching Chris strip after they got back to the room, guns and all.
Yelling in a foreign language dragged her attention from the view outside the window and her fantasy, and back to the room. There were gasps and shouts, and one woman screamed.
A single gunshot silenced the people in room.
“Chris.” She whispered the word and hoped he heard.
“I hear you. I’m on my way back to you.”
“No. Don’t come in. They have guns.” They’d shoot him if he came busting back in with his gun drawn.
“Tell me exactly what’s happening. How many are there?”
“Three in here. Two of them are the waiters.”
“Fuck. That’s how they got on board. What kind of weapons do they have?”
“I don’t know.” Her eyes brimmed with tears. She didn’t know enough about weapons to answer him.
“Darci, stay calm. Everything is going to be fine.” His words were calm but he was out of breath as he spoke them, as if he was running.
She drew in a stuttering breath. She had to get a hold of herself. Chris was counting on her being able to do this. “Two have small guns, like yours. And all three have big guns, like in the war movies.”
“Are they wearing any sort of vests?”
“Like waiter vests?” She had to hiss the question softly. The men were making their way through the room, taking jewels, wallets, cell phones, anything of value they could get from the guests as they went.
“No. Vests holding explosives. Suicide vests.”
Her opinion of the situation went from bad to worse at that clarification. “No. I don’t see anything like that.”
They were near enough now she wouldn’t be able to answer Chris again. She reached up and pulled her hair over her ear so they wouldn’t see the device. The motion caught the attention of one of the men. He strode to her fast, yelling words at her she didn’t understand.
“I don’t understand.” The tears clouded her vision, making him just a blur before her.
He yelled again more loudly.
“I said I don’t understand you!” she yelled back, swiping away the tears with one hand.
The man took a step forward and backhanded her across the face, hard enough he knocked her off the chair. She fell to the floor, gasping for breath.
He turned to his fellow bad guy and said something to him. It was one of the men wearing a waiter’s uniform. He came closer. “He says to give him all your valuables.”
“Tell him I don’t have any valuables. We’re not all rich just because we’re invited on this damn yacht, you know.”
The waiter pressed his lips together, as if deciding what to do. Finally, he leaned low and picked up her purse from where it had fallen to the floor.
“Give me your earrings.”
She laughed. Near hysteria as she was, it seemed extra ridiculous that they were going to steal the fake diamonds she’d bought at a chain store for twenty bucks.
“Fine” She took off one and then moved to take out the other when she realized the earpiece was gone.
Panic hit her hard. The only way she had to communicate with Chris and it was lost. It must have gotten knocked out when he’d hit her. It must be on the floor. She’d have to look for it but she had to make these bastards go elsewhere first.
She thrust her fist at him, the worthless earrings in her hand. “Here. Take them.”
He grabbed the fake diamonds and moved on, but she didn’t see to where. Her gaze remained on the carpet searching for her one link to Chris.
CHAPTER 16
“Darci. Darc
i!”
She didn’t answer.
The last thing Chris had heard was them shouting at her to give them her valuables, and her shouting back. Damn, stupid, brave woman, yelling at men carrying what sounded like automatic weapons, judging by her description.
He still couldn’t grasp that they’d been boarded.
Un-fucking-believable.
It was the Maersk Alabama nightmare all over again. He had no doubt these guys were equally as untrained as the Somalis had been. Nothing more than a small group of pirates with guns and a skiff and nothing to lose. Just out to make a buck. Yet they’d taken control of the vessel.
And they had Darci.
The fact the compass on his watch told him they were heading the wrong direction told him a lot. Mainly that the three men Darci had seen in the dining room probably weren’t the only ones on board.
Someone was steering this boat away from the United States and he doubted it was the captain. The man he’d talked to had worked for the resort for nearly twenty years and was a Navy veteran.
Chris was divided, a single man fighting a war with two fronts—the dining room where there were three men and a room full of hostages, and the bridge where the captain was either incapacitated or navigating them farther away from the US and into international waters under duress.
He opted for the bridge. They’d probably only left one man to guard the captain. Once he took out that threat, he could radio for help and cut the damn engine before they ended up in Cuba.
Given that it sounded to him like the men were speaking a Spanish dialect, that could have been their plan all along—to take the yacht.
The guests and their valuables could be just a bonus to them. And Darci was there in the middle of it.
Chris blew out a breath and pressed his back against the wall as he made his way up the stairs to the bridge. He had his Glock out. The suppressor he’d decided to bring along on a whim was in place.
He’d heard that single burst of gunfire in the dining room over the comm. He’d heard the screams. Worst of all, he’d stopped hearing Darci’s voice. There was no doubt in his mind that these men were armed and threatening.
