by Cherry Adair
The sensation of floating didn't dissipate, but the pain at least kept him focused.
"Damn it," she murmured, hidden from view. Wood scraped against wood "Where the. . .Yes!"
She returned to his side brandishing a lethal looking dagger.
"Jesus-"
"Side-arm for a knight back in the day. This will go back to Zane." She did a few parries. "But in the meantime, we have use for this beautifully preserved fifteen-century Rondel dagger, and its tapered twelve-inch steel blade. Too bad the wooden hilt got eaten underwater over hundreds of years." She used it to slice a strip of cloth covering a nearby crate. "Woo hoo, and still wicked sharp." She wrapped the strip off the cloth around the bare steel of the hilt and secured it as she'd done with her hair. "I can do a lot of damage with this."
Unless someone took it from her- Fuck. "Make sure you have a sure grip on it," was all Finn offered. "Tell me where and what to expect when the door opens." He hoped to hell there weren't a dozen men waiting for them.
Peri readjusted her fingers on the fabric wrapped hilt. "Opens into a wide tunnel. Turn right. Walk twenty-five feet, first opening turn right again, enter cavern where Sea Witch is docked. Two ties. Then about a hundred feet straight out into open water."
"Weapons on board? Núñez was in the helicopter. There's every chance they'll spot us out on open water and he'll alert his people to give chase. "
"A Taurus 9 millimeter under the dash. A semi-automatic in the top left dresser drawer in the master cabin. Same in the guest cabin. All fully loaded. And of course, a galley full of sharps."
Finn smiled. "Better than I hoped." The elevator stopped with a small jolt. Show time. "Ready?"
TWENTY-FOUR
So tense her jaw ached, Peri doused the elevator lights seconds before the heavy door slid open. Cool, salt-scented air almost masked the metallic tang of blood. Finn's blood. She tightened her fingers around the hilt of the dagger as she wedged her way to stand beside him to peer into the near darkness. She cocked her head and after a few throbbing moments of silence, whispered, "I don't hear anything. There's no one here."
"That doesn't mean they aren't lying in wait for us," Finn's cautioned, voice low, breath warm against her cheek. "Move fast."
There was no way anyone could be waiting to jump out at them in the dark narrow tunnel, but she was braced for a Jack-in-the-box anyway. "Another fiftyish feet and we'll reach the dock," she said as softly as she could. The ceiling was low enough that Finn, while able to walk upright, had to bow his head.
There wasn't a soul around when they emerged from the tunnel into the cave. "Holy shit." Peri sucked in a breath, and then wished she hadn't. Evidence of a well attended, and bloody fight was everywhere. The stink of blood - and worse - choked off the fresh air. Bile rose in the back of her throat at the evidence of carnage that greeted them.
"No bodies?" she whispered, staring aghast at pools of dark blood, smears as though something - or someone- had been dragged across the rock floor. Some of her once neatly stacked supplies, under tarps along the wall, ready for loading, had been knocked over. Spewed dry goods like rice and beans crunched underfoot as they moved quickly to reach the dock.
"Looks as though the Good Guys came and went." Finn urged her to move more quickly with his hand on her back. "Or the Bad Guys came and went."
"God, there was plenty of bloodshed here, but where are the bodies?" Was Ry one of those bodies? God, she prayed not. She grabbed Finn's hand. "Let's get on board before the bad guys decide to come down here to look for us."
The wide opening in the cavern led out to the sea, and the vast expanse of moonless, star-studded black sky. Weird. It felt as though they'd been inside the caverns for months instead of hours. Shocking to discover it was still night time.
Peri breathed a big sigh of relief seeing Sea Witch right where she'd left her. Apparently undamaged.
"She's a beauty," Finn said, admiring her ship as she gently rose and fell on the incoming tide. "Same sleek lines as Blackstar, same black hull. They're a matched set."
The smell of fresh air and salt spray made Peri's shoulders un-hunch and allowed her to take a few cleansing breaths. "2010 Sunseeker Predator, sixty-four feet," she told him, proud and happy to show her off, even under these circumstances. "Twin inboard. Diesel. Cruising speed twenty-eight. Let's crank her open to her max speed of thirty-two and get the hell out of Dodge."
"Yeah, let's."
After quickly untying her, they climbed on board and Peri started the engine. "Want to pilot her out? I'm going below to put on some pants and get my first aid kit. I don't want you bleeding to death when we're so close to help."
Finn took the wheel, but snagged her arm as she walked past him. "I need a kiss to keep going."
She stood on tiptoe, kissing him hard and fast. "That's going to have to hold you for a bit."
Finn gave her the number for Blackstar. "Tell them we're coming in. I'll try McCoy on the comm to get an update."
Peri stayed where she was for a moment, to call the Captain of Blackstar to inform him of their location and eta, and that they were both alive, but Finn urgently needed treatment for his gunshot wound.
Finn settled into the comfortable Captain's chair, spoke briefly to McCoy via however he was communicating with the others.
"Everyone is okay. They have your tablet. Núñez left it with his men in the house. Your brother retrieved it. The bad guys have been rounded up, the authorities are on their way."
"What about Theo?"
"They have people watching for his chopper," his voice was grim, his jaw set. "They'll find him and bring him to justice." Finn headed out of the mouth of the cavern into open water. His smile was a little strained as he turned to find she hadn't moved. "You don't have to stay. I've done this before."
"Not with a bullet wound, you haven't. I'm going down to check my security cameras etcetera. Don't pass out before I get back." She reached over and kissed him again before going below. As she passed through the galley, the fragrance of her shampoo and soap lingered in the air. Odd. She hadn't been on board for days. Peri frowned as she walked through her midship salon toward the master stateroom, then stopped as the hair stood up on the back of her neck.
Someone was in her cabin. She heard them moving around. A soft footfall on the carpet, a drawer opened, then softly closed.
She darted into one of the guest cabins. It was empty of furniture other than the built-ins. Slowly, carefully, she slid open the top drawer of the dresser where she kept her log books and a sem-automatic pistol. The black polymer grip S&W compact rimfire fit her hand nicely. Her brother had trained her on one similar years ago, warning her of the dangers of sailing alone unarmed.
The magazine was already inserted. She was always prepared to fend off pirates and thieves, and she wasn't fooling around. If she picked up any of her guns, Peri was prepared to shoot.
There was nowhere to stick another magazine, and she hoped like hell she wouldn't need it as she eased open the cabin door. With a two-handed, grip she padded into the middle of the short corridor, the barrel pointed at the open bedroom door. "Come out with your hands up."
Theo stepped into the doorway, not looking in the least surprised to see her. Dressed in a pair of her sweatpants which were too short on his hairy legs, and an old sweatshirt of Ry's she liked to sleep in. He pointed the business end of a black gun at the middle of her chest as he casually rubbed his hair dry with one of her favorite purple towels. No wonder she'd smelled shampoo when she'd come downstairs.
"Did you just shower in my bathroom?" Thank God he was dressed, but still. "You're wearing my damn clothes?
"What is yours is mine." His eyes scanned from her face down her bare legs. His look felt like spiders crawling on her skin. His gaze lingered on her unfettered breasts, then tracked down her body. He frowned. "Why aren't you wearing any pants?"
"What are you doing here, Theo?"
"Where do you think you're going, Ariel?" The gun pointi
ng at her didn't waver. "Gallagher's fancy ship was destroyed hours ago. Bombs. Such a big ship, it took several to do the job. And since my people were never able to break into his helicopter, because he made sure anyone touching it detonated explosives, all we have left of Blackstar's prophecy is your tablet. It's time to introduce you to my people, Ariel. We'll tell them what the tablet says, and start the New World Order. Put the gun down, novio.."
"Will you put yours down?" As exhausted as she was, her arms didn't waver either. Like Ry had taught her, she watched Theo's eyes for any telegraphing that he'd pull the trigger. "No? Neither will I." She was by no means a crack shot, but she couldn’t miss at this range. But since his gun was bigger, his determination stronger, she figured she'd try talking first. If nothing else it would distract him until she shot him.
"I have serious issues with that ridiculous speech. Let me enlighten you, Theo." She stood her ground. Wondered why she'd never noticed how close-set, and reptilian his eyes were.
"They discovered the bombs on Blackstar. There was no explosion. The ship's perfectly intact."
"No." He shook his head. The towel in his hand dropped to the floor and he finger-combed his hair. "I saw the explosion with my own eyes from the helicopter earlier."
"I just talked to the captain. I'm pretty sure he'd have mentioned if Finn's billion- dollar ship had recently exploded." She let that sink in, while she tried not to hyperventilate. Did Theo have more men on board? Were they, as she and Theo spoke, with Finn? Or was he up there, slowly bleeding to death because she was down here, instead of with him administering first aid?
She was damn sick of having her heart knocking so hard she could hear it throughout her body. Sweat stung her eyes and she blinked them clear. The muzzle of her gun stayed pointed at his chest. "We have all the tablets. All five of them. Yes, Theo, five. Because when you and your band of dipshits were shooting at us in the cavern, we had to improvise. And guess what? We found your prophet. That's right. We found Blackstar. We almost fell over that poor little boy's ancient bones. He was clutching the fifth gold tablet. So you see, that cavern you were so intent on shooting up, was your Holy Lake, and he was on his High Altar."
Theo's eyes burned as if he had a fever. "I must go back."
"Sure. I have a dinghy I'll lend you. Oh, wait. You don't sail, do you? And the High Altar is sixty feet up. Ditto for your ability to climb since you don't like heights. Guess you're shit out of luck."
"You'll return with me. Retrieve Blackstar and all the tablets."
"Not to going anywhere with you. Now or ever. And you're delusional. Not only can Dr. Vadini corroborate what the tablets really say, dozens of people are witness to that correct interpretation. It's the Protector's that win for the correct reading of the prophet's words. Not the Chosen. Who, apparently were only chosen by you. Your version has been proven as bogus and filled with misinformation as you are. If necessary I'll put a full-page ad in the local paper to that effect and expose you for the fraud you are. Oh, and for the last damned time. My name is not Ariel, and I will never- I can't say this strongly enough- be your anything."
His gun wavered for a moment, then steadied as he brought it up. His eyes telegraphed his intention as he said, his voice silky, "If you have nothing to offer me, why shouldn't I k-"
His words were cut off by a muffled pop, and the sudden appearance of a small black hole in the middle his forehead, like a slightly off- center bindi. Peri let out a little shriek of surprise as Theo collapsed like a felled log at her feet.
"More often than not, certain negotiations go sideways, and we need to bring them to an expedient end." Finn said from behind her.
Body hot, then cold, then hot again, Peri turned. "Remind me never to negotiate with you!"
Finn gently removed the gun from her white-knuckled grip. "I have better ways to expedite a negotiation with you, darling. Want to go up and pilot your boat while I take care of the garbage?"
She liked the way he phrased that as a question. He was getting to know her. "Throw him in the dinghy, and light the damned thing. We'll give him a Viking's funeral. Not for the glory, but because I want to kill the son-of-a-bitch twice."
Dr. Gayle, a short, bald guy with skin the deep, golden brown of an acorn, and a strong Jamaican accent, called a couple of Finn's security people waiting outside to come in and haul an unconscious Finn onto his exam table. His arm hung limply off the edge, blood dripped sluggishly from his fingertips. He'd opened the wound again when he'd dealt with Theo's body on board Sea Witch.
God. How much blood did a person have in them? Peri was certain he’d lost at least half of it on the floor of the cave, more on her ship, more when they walked from the garage up to the infirmary.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
The doctor was wearing black, Hawaiian surf shorts with big pink flowers on them, and a black muscle shirt. He quickly and efficiently cut away Finn’s shredded, bloody shirt, clearly unfazed by the man she’d watch nearly bleed out. After examining and cleaning his wound, he set up an IV for a blood transfusion and turned to her.
"Are you really a doctor?" Peri eyed his outfit.
"Sure. Certificate over there cost me a hundred bucks. Extra for the gold seal." He cocked his head, eyes sharp as he looked her over. "You look like crap. Let's take a look at you then,” the less than charming doctor said. He examined her various scrapes and cuts and slapped four cartoon Band-Aids on her fingers then gently cleaned the raw, painful, red skin on her wrists where Theo's men had tied her. “Go take a shower. Get some rest. I’ll send word when he’s up and about. Want a tranquilizer? You've had enough trauma to warrant one. ”
"Never again, thanks." She shuddered. "They shot me with a sheep tranquilizer. I hope I don't start baa-ing soon."
"That's why I did the blood draw," he said, not smiling, but his eyes twinkled. "I'll let you know if you need to worry. If you need something to help you sleep, let me know. Now scat."
Peri didn’t appreciate being shooed out of the exam room while Finn lay pale and still, and she didn't appreciate the doctor's cavalier attitude. Lacing her bandaged fingers with Finn's, she lifted her chin, standing her ground. "Thanks for your medical opinion, but I'll stay until he wakes up."
"You won't be any damn good to him if you pass out, too."
"I won't pass out." Peri leaned her hip against the side rail of the hospital bed, tempted to hop up and stretch out beside Finn. A: she didn't have the energy, and B: she'd be asleep in about eight seconds. "I'm staying."
"The local police are waiting outside the door to talk to you. Go. Get that over with, I'm sure it'll take a while. Then rest." He opened the door to show her the two officers standing outside, gently pushed her out, then closed the door in her face.
She did need a shower, and crawling into bed, and closing her eyes, held a lot of appeal. But she had to thank the brothers, tell them what had happened inside the cavern. More importantly, she wanted to contact Ry to make sure he was okay. Then she’d go to Finn’s cabin, shower, and wait for him in his bed.
But first, the police escorted her to an empty conference room one deck up. Blackstar Group's business offices apparently. Peri told, and retold her story to several officers, and finally was allowed to leave. Her brother was waiting outside in the reception area to go in next.
Peri gave him a tight hug the second she saw him. "Thank you for coming to find me." Stepping out of his arms, she assessed his drawn features and filthy clothes. "Please tell me you're undamaged, I've had about as much bloodshed as I can handle for the year."
"Other than being pissed at you, at those fucking Cutters, and at that boyfriend of yours, I'll live." His voice was harsh with worry, and she saw the concern in his eyes. He softened his tone and touched the small nick on her bruised cheek. "I had a brief chat with Dr. Gayle. He says you have no serious injuries and should be one-hundred-percent after you get at least twelve hours sleep. Come back to Tesoro Mio with us after I'm done making my report. You've had a hell o
f a day. You can sleep for twenty-four hours if you like."
"Thanks for the offer. But I'm staying right here."
The door opened and an officer waved Ry inside. Her brother turned to her with a scowl. "With Gallagher and the Cutters? You're shitting me, Magma. Have you forgotten who and what these people are? The clusterfuck they embroiled you in today? You could damn well have died! Think about that so you can explain it to me later." He closed the door behind him.
She wasn't particularly looking forward to that conversation, but right now she needed to find the biggest, blackest cup of coffee she could wrap her hands around, and then thank the Cutters. Which was going to taste a lot more bitter than the coffee, or anything Ry could dish out.
Then she was going back to the infirmary to see how Finn was doing. It had been thirty minutes or so, he should be awake by now.
Finn cracked open his eyes. He lay in one of four hospital beds in Blackstar's infirmary. A half-empty IV bag dripped blood into him. Other than a sharp pain in his shoulder when he moved, he felt pretty decent.
They’d left Núñez where he lay and hightailed it to Blackstar. Since his people had already contacted the authorities, who were on their way, Finn had accompanied Peri down to the infirmary so they could both be checked out. He’d passed out before he made the introductions.
"Where's Peri?" he demanded of the doctor, who sat on the bed across from him, feet swinging off the floor as he keyed something into his iPad.
Finn had hired Arley straight out of med school, where he'd ranked top in his class, almost a decade earlier, and they'd become good friends. In the space of two weeks, his ship’s doctor had met, fallen head over heels, and married Blackstar's chief steward. Britt, a tall Norwegian blond, was a foot taller, and more than a decade older than her new husband. They were still blissfully in love.
Dr. Arley Gayle had the shittiest bedside manner Finn had ever encountered, and he didn't disappoint now. He glanced over at his patient, and said something - for sure something damned rude, in Patios, then translated in perfect English, "You fainted like a girl."
