HERO Force Boxset Books 1-8

by Amy Gamet

  Cowboy’s eyes went wide. “Why did you leave them alone?”

  “Because I had to go to the bathroom! I waited as long as I could, but you didn’t come back and I couldn’t call you.”

  “Son of a bitch.”

  “I’m sure they’ll turn up really soon. I’m sorry, Leo.”

  “It might not be that simple,” he said. “The Wi-Fi and cellular service going down was no accident. Somebody did it on purpose, probably the same somebody who disabled the ship’s radio.”

  “The radio is down, too?”

  “I can’t believe you left them alone. Someone was killed on this ship already.”

  “But you said that wasn’t a big deal! That it was a crew member fighting with another crew member or something.”

  “That was before all this other shit hit the fan.”

  Cowboy opened a drawer and withdrew a handgun, stopping to put on a holster beneath his shirt. Were there other weapons on this ship? He and Abby had bypassed the scanners the other passengers went through, but he had to believe their enemies were armed, too.

  “Get your weapon,” he said. “We no longer know what we’re up against. Go back to the pool deck and look for them. Don’t leave there no matter what. I’ll check in with you within the hour.”

  “What about you?”

  “I’m going to check their cabin.”

  “The prince and princess? They’re not supposed to know we’re watching them.”

  “So if they answer I’ll tell them I knocked on the wrong door. Jesus, Abby. It’s more important that we find them.”

  He took the stairs two at a time and made his way to the Lido deck. It was faster to walk outside than through the ship.

  It wasn’t looking like Abby was going to have a future career with HERO Force, after all, but Jax was right. They needed some women on the team. Calling in someone like Abby when they needed a female was downright dangerous.

  He told himself to calm down. The royals had probably retired to their cabin for some honeymoon sex and a nap, for Pete’s sake, but Cowboy's mind had already taken a turn toward the dramatic and he needed to see for himself that they were okay.

  He made his way past the towering slides of the waterpark and a fenced-in basketball court on his way to the private elevator. He took it to one of the ship’s most expensive suites three floors below, where the prince and princess were staying on this journey.

  He pounded on the door, but there was no answer. He pounded some more. When he was satisfied no one was inside, he withdrew a key card from his pocket — which Harrison had given him when he boarded the ship — and opened it himself.

  His eyes took in the chaotic scene, even as his mind refused to process it. A fight had taken place here. A very physical fight, from the look of things. A painting was askew on the wall, pillows from the couch thrown this way and that. A glass coffee table was cracked.

  He drew his gun, clearing first the kitchen, then a small study and a master bedroom and bath. The suite was empty.

  He walked back to the sitting room, where he’d entered, swearing mightily as he kicked a couch. The royals he was hired to protect were gone.

  He needed backup, and he had no way to send word to HERO Force. He was supposed to check in with them twice a day. Would Logan take his missed check-ins as the sign of trouble they were?

  He liked Logan. The kid was smart — smarter than almost anyone else Cowboy knew — but he’d yet to prove himself to be the highly valuable member of the team Cowboy knew he could be.

  Come on, Doc. Figure it out for me, or we’re all dead in the water.

  Literally.

  12

  Jax stared at the picture Jessa just texted him of baby Emily sleeping in her arms and gently touched the screen. He never knew he could love so much, be so fulfilled by a woman and a child.

  His daughter wasn’t even a month old and already he knew he wouldn’t miss his role at HERO Force half as much as he thought he would. He was ready to be another kind of hero now.

  A father.

  Soon he’d be a husband, too. He’d already picked out the ring and was just waiting for the right moment to get down on one knee and ask Jessa to be his bride.

  They’d talked about it enough that it wouldn’t be a surprise. Hell, he’d practically begged her the whole second half of her pregnancy. Now that the moment was almost here, he couldn’t wait to officially become a family.

  Cowboy would take good care of HERO Force when Jax wasn’t around. Yes, Leo was ready for the responsibility, had already proved himself along the way. If there was anything that gave Jax pause about handing over the reins, it was his own fixation with the company, not Cowboy’s ability to handle it.

  HERO Force was in need of some staffing additions. A woman or two — for sure — maybe another man. Someone who could take the abilities of the team to the next level. And with the long-term assignment he’d just agreed to send Matteo on, he’d need another pilot.

  He leaned back in his chair, which squeaked beneath his weight. He should probably let Matteo know about his upcoming job. It wasn’t the kind of assignment Jax usually accepted, but an old friend was in need.

  In need of a husband for his daughter.

  A pretend husband, to be exact. Jax would just keep that little nugget to himself until it got closer to the time Red would be going undercover. No need to give one of his best men the wedding day jitters prematurely.

  He laughed to himself and looked at the clock. He would call Jessa quickly and see how she was doing. Better yet, he’d head home early. There was nothing going on at HERO Force headquarters that was more important than his new family.

  The door to his office opened and Logan walked in, looking disheveled. “Sir, we have a problem.”

  13

  “Is your hand broken?” Jax asked, raising one eyebrow and looking back at the door pointedly.

  “Oh, s-s-sorry.” Logan ran a hand through his hair.

  “What is it?”

  “Cowboy's in trouble. We just got a call from the headmaster at the Academy, who was just notified by the New York PD that Abby Granger was found dead in her hotel room this morning two miles from the cruise ship terminal where she was supposed to board the Gem of the Seas with Cowboy.”

  Jax stood up quickly. “I thought you said she was already on board?”

  “She was. Cowboy told me she was there in his first briefing yesterday. But according to police, she was dead at least twelve hours before they boarded the ship.”

  “Son of a fucking bitch,” said Jax. “It isn’t her.”

  “No, and it gets worse. Cowboy hasn’t checked in today.”

  Logan swallowed against the tension in his throat. He should have realized then. He should have known something was wrong before he found out about Abby. “After the call from the Academy, I immediately tried to call Cowboy. He doesn’t answer his cell phone.”

  “So try the satellite phone.”

  “I did. I also tried to reach the security director on his cell and his direct line. And I tried his assistant. Nothing.”

  Jax leaned forward and braced his arms on his desk. “So radio the ship’s captain, for God’s sake.”

  “I did. He said everything was fine.” Logan took two steps farther into the office, facing Jax across the desk. “But I don’t think I was talking to the real captain.”

  Jax eyed him sideways. “What are you saying?”

  “I think the cruise ship has been hijacked, sir.”

  “Hijacked.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Exactly what did the captain say that convinced you he was an imposter?”

  Logan shifted his weight. “It wasn’t anything he said, exactly. When I identified myself as being from HERO Force, there was a pause on the line.”

  “A pause? People occasionally hesitate in their speech. You can’t assume that an entire goddamn cruise liner has been taken over because of an awkward fucking pause.”

  Log
an clenched his teeth. He’d been afraid Jax wouldn’t listen to him. None of the guys took him seriously, and this was too important to be ignored. “Think, sir!” He knew when he did it he was crossing the line. A line that needed to be crossed if it meant Jax would take action.

  “We know Abby is an imposter,” he said. “Is it that much of a stretch to think there’s more than one?”

  Jax just stared at him.

  Hell, at least he’s listening.

  Logan lowered his voice. “However it happened, Cowboy does not have access to a phone. The ship's radio should only be answered by the captain, the first mate, or someone on the security team, all of whom know we have an agent on board. None of them would have paused. Not for a second.”

  “Have you checked with the cruise line? Seen if they think anything is wrong?”

  “I did. The crew has reported a problem with their navigation system. They're more than five hundred miles off course and counting. I’m telling you, someone else is running that ship. The prince and princess are in danger.”

  “If you’re right, Logan, everyone on that boat is in danger.” He sat down heavily in his chair and brought his hand up to stroke his chin. “Tell Red to get the bird ready. I’ll call the Coast Guard. We’ll need their help to rendezvous with the ship.”

  Logan puffed out his chest, turning to leave the room.

  “That’s good work, Doc.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “But next time, you better knock on my fucking door or I’ll throw your ass right back out of it.”

  14

  The bridge of the cruise liner was eerily empty, save for its captain and first mate, their presence much like that of mourners at a casket. A long row of monitors reflected the view of the security cameras that were still online, the randomly placed black screens between them foreboding and strange.

  The captain stood tall with his back to Cowboy, staring out the bridge windows to the thick gray sky beyond. “You’re telling me this is mutiny. My own men taking over my ship.” He turned around. “And they’ve done it so quietly I barely even noticed.”

  He moved to the helm and touched some buttons.

  “I’m afraid so, sir.” Cowboy hated to see him like this, the same man who’d appeared so confident and proud when they met in New York.

  “This is my last voyage. Did you know that? One final sailing to top off a thirty-year career, and they gave me their flagship vessel to do it with. I was in the navy before that. A sailor. Not a frogman like you. All I ever wanted to do was sail boats.” He frowned. “She isn’t responding.”

  “Who?”

  “The ship. She isn’t responding. We’re off course and I’ve been trying to correct it manually, but it’s not taking the new heading.”

  Cowboy moved to stand behind the captain and look over his shoulder. Sure enough, the captain was unable to make any changes to the ship’s course.

  “They’ve taken control of this, too, haven’t they?” asked the captain. “A marvel of engineering stolen right out of my grasp.”

  “There might be a way to get it back, but I need your help. I believe my men from HERO Force will try to intercept the ship.”

  The captain turned around to face him. “Intercept the ship how?”

  “You tell me. They need to board us. How will they do it?”

  “If they’re coming by air, they will land on the helipad. If they’re coming by sea, they will need to get our attention somehow.”

  The first mate stood. “We can’t slow down, much less stop. Landing a helicopter on a moving vessel is extremely challenging for the most highly trained pilots in the world.”

  “Don’t worry. Our pilot is one of them,” said Cowboy. “If anyone can do it, Red can.”

  The captain turned to the first mate. “Beaudreau, ready the cabling and clear the helipad.”

  He turned back to Cowboy. “It’s usually open to visitors as an observation area, but we’re expecting inclement weather.” He turned back to the horizon. “Do you know when HERO Force is coming?”

  “No.”

  “Hopefully soon. This storm isn’t going to hold off much longer. Your friends might not be able to make it through.”

  15

  Cowboy took the elevator down to the Lido deck, instantly aware that he should have walked inside. The gray drizzling sky was being pushed aside by an angry purple storm that was quickly engulfing the cruise ship, and thunder rumbled in the distance as lightning reached down from dark clouds, striking the water.

  The captain was right. HERO Force might not be able to make it to the boat after all.

  He moved quickly, careful not to slip on the wet decking as he ran half the length of the ship. The wind whipped across the deck, throwing rain into his face.

  He reached the covered shelter of the elevator bay, pushed the button, and looked down at his drenched clothing before another crack of thunder brought his eyes back to the sea.

  Their isolation was more apparent to him in the storm, the lack of any other people as far as the eye could see. There was only him, an unknown enemy, and whatever fate awaited them all.

  And Charlotte.

  He couldn’t forget Charlotte.

  His stomach clenched. As much as he was enjoying her company, this easy mission was turning into something sinister, and he wished furiously she wasn’t here. The sense of foreboding he’d experienced since the murder scene was discovered had only gotten more intense. The last thing he needed was Charlotte getting into any of the trouble he felt swirling around the Gem of the Seas.

  If she weren’t on this ship, you wouldn’t have gotten to be with her at all.

  It was only supposed to be sex between them, but if he was being perfectly honest, he knew had feelings for her. How could he not? She was a bold, brassy woman with her heart on her sleeve, and everything about her called to Cowboy.

  Maybe he could see her sometime when they got back to Atlanta. Dinner and a movie, that kind of thing. It had been a long time since he’d tried to seriously date anyone, but for Charlotte, he just might give it a whirl.

  He thought of Logan and frowned. Nothing good could come from that dynamic, especially now that Cowboy was going to be in charge. It would be better to enjoy their time together and let it go than have it ruin his relationship with his men.

  Wouldn’t it? He shook his head, determined to put the topic out of his mind.

  He needed a plan to find the prince and princess and figure out who had taken control of the ship. The elevator doors opened and he walked inside. He needed to find Harrison, Abby, and Charlotte. They were the only people he could trust to help him on this mission.

  16

  Charlotte sank down deeper into the bubbles of the big, jetted tub and turned off the underwater lighting with her toe. She was grateful for every stinking penny of Rick’s money she’d spent on this over-the-top suite.

  And you’re sharing it with Cowboy.

  At least during the night. She picked up her glass of champagne and took a hearty sip. They’d only been at sea for two days and already she was having the time of her life.

  It was nearly dinnertime and she was hoping Cowboy would join her for the meal.

  What, like a date?

  She’d had a lot of time to think today — maybe too much time — and she’d spent the better part of it thinking about how much she liked Leo Wilson. Dangerous shit for someone who’d only been looking to get laid.

  She was on the rebound. That was it. The contrast between Rick and Cowboy made the latter look like a knight in goddamn shining armor. It wasn’t like she had actual feelings for this man. Did she? She rolled on her side in the tub, letting her hair fall in the water.

  So what if he was patient and kind? Funny, too. Sweet. It didn’t mean she had to glom onto him like he was a life preserver and she was drowning.

  I was just going to ask him to dinner. I was definitely not glomming.

  Hell, if Cowboy didn’t work with Log
an, she might go for it and try to see him after this week, but as it stood now she didn’t want to make things complicated for her brother or Leo. She would enjoy this week to its fullest, no regrets.

  A distant knock and she sat up, the movement making her light-headed. The water was hot, and she’d been in here quite a while. She stepped out of the tub and wrapped herself in a big, fluffy towel before opening the door.

  Cowboy stood on the other side and she felt her cheeks warm. This was her lover, the man she’d been more physically intimate with than any other in years, and her body responded to him like an animal recognizing its owner.

  She stood back for him to enter. “I was just thinking about you,” she said. “Wondering what you’re doing for dinner. Would you like to join me?” She held her breath, waiting for him to answer.

  He turned around, his face crestfallen.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “The prince and princess are missing, someone sabotaged the ship’s communication systems, and there’s been a murder below deck.”

  “What?” She put her palm on her chest. “That’s crazy!”

  “We need backup. I haven’t checked in with HERO Force, so I’m hoping they’ll realize there’s a problem and come to the ship, but with this weather that might be impossible.”

  She sat down on the edge of the couch. “Why would someone do these things? What could they want?”

  “Five thousand innocent people at their mercy. What does it make you think of?”

  She met his eyes. “Terrorists.”

  He nodded.

  Fear settled on her like a weight. Terrorists didn’t care if they got hurt. They didn’t care if they took innocent lives. They thrived on the very things that served to keep evil in check.

  “What can I do to help?” she asked.

  “Get dressed and come with me. I need to find Harrison and Abby and figure out what we’re going to do.”