The boat motored alongshore, too far away for anyone on board to be recognized, and disappeared from view.
“I don’t think he’s coming,” Farren said.
“I don’t, either.” He pulled a handheld radio from their beach bag and put it to his mouth. “Travis, we’re heading back. We’ll meet you on the yacht.”
Farren helped him pack up their things and got into the dinghy without his help.
“Why didn’t they fall for it?” she asked as they headed back to the marina.
“I don’t know.” His jaw hardened as they came back to the marina. She followed where she thought he looked and saw that the Sea Minstrel was still moored where it had been. But Lucky wasn’t.
Had the congressman left early?
She boarded the Rapture ahead of Elam and entered the salon. The rest of the team hadn’t returned yet. She spotted a knife sticking in the paneling. It held a white piece of paper with black handwriting on it. Foreboding crawled up her spine as Elam passed her and yanked the knife free. He read the note and looked at her.
Just then, the other three entered the salon.
“We had company while we were away.” Elam handed the note to Travis, who took it and swore after he read it. Haley and Keenan read it next.
“They must have seen Farren go to Shay,” Keenan said.
Farren took the note from him.
Three million, or your father dies.
There were latitude and longitude coordinates written underneath that.
She raised her head and found Elam with her eyes. Imaad and his men must have forced him to reveal the reason she’d sought him out late at night and alone.
“We’ll get him back,” Elam said.
How? Imaad wanted money. Only she could give it to him. She went into her cabin and dug her token ID key out of her bathroom bag. It would give her a random code every sixty seconds that would allow her to access her account. She brought it in case she needed more cash, but she could also use it to transfer money wherever she wanted. All she had to do was find a computer and log on.
“Farren.”
She turned to see Elam standing there.
“It isn’t your fault.”
“Yes, it is. If I hadn’t gone to him, Imaad wouldn’t have had a reason to use him against me.”
“Imaad came here to kill him.”
She bowed her head and stared at the token ID key in her hand. What if Shay was already dead?
“What are you going to do?” Elam asked. “Transfer the money and then go tell Imaad?”
“He wants money.”
“And once he gets it, he’ll kill you.” He walked into the bathroom and reached for her hand. Cupping it in one of his, he took the key from her. She looked from their touching hands to his face. Sympathy mingled with strong determination in his eyes. He wouldn’t let her leave the yacht without him. There was something arousing about his protectiveness.
“I’ll get him back for you,” he promised with a murmur.
“Elam…”
He moved closer, reaching past her to drop the key into her bathroom bag. Then he lifted her hat off her head and dropped it to the floor beside him. The way he looked down at her melted the rest of her resistance. Right now, she’d do anything for this man.
Burying his fingers in her hair, he gently pulled her head back. She flattened her hands on his chest and parted her lips to take in more air, falling into his hard resolve and heated passion. He dipped his head until their mouths touched. His warm breath floated into her mouth. She breathed it inside her, wanting all of him inside her.
He curved his hands around her waist and lifted her onto the bathroom counter beside the sink. She opened her knees and he moved between them. He kissed her harder.
The yacht began to move. It wouldn’t be long before they reached the location Imaad had given them, but Farren couldn’t think about that now. She looped her arms around Elam’s neck and kept kissing him.
“I can’t take the thought of anything happening to you,” he rasped. He kissed her neck. “Farren.”
He was afraid of losing her to tragedy. But more than anything, he was afraid he cared too much.
He held her head with both hands and kissed her ferociously. She exulted in it, absorbed the full impact of his emotion.
“Farren,” he rasped again, sounding amazed and anxious and urgent. It scared him to lose control like this.
She coaxed him to keep kissing her. With a gruff sound, he did, making love with her tongue. He dragged up the hem of her netted yellow sundress. Then his hands were on her, sliding up her legs.
She held his face while he kissed her, so lost in this passion that it made her dizzy. He pulled down her bikini bottoms, leaning back so she could bring her knees together to let it drop to the floor.
With heavy breaths, he pushed down his trunks and stepped out of them. She pulled the sundress over her head and let it fall to the floor, parting her knees as he stepped toward her.
He kissed her, roughly again and again, pulling the tie behind her neck, then the one at her back. Her top dropped to the floor. He looked down at her breasts as he held her rear and pulled her to the edge of the counter. The tip of him found her. He pushed into her, kissing her long and deep as he did. Holding her firm, he pumped back and forth. The quick, hard rhythm drove her to an instant peak. She came with a cry that matched his deeper one as he did the same.
Farren kept her eyes closed and nestled her face next to his neck, aware of their breathing and the warmth between them. After a moment, he kissed her jaw and then her neck. He moved his hands up her back, a warm caress. She sank her fingers into his soft, chocolate hair and kissed his rough cheek. Her pulse slowed to contented beats.
He moved back and his gaze took hold of hers, his face showing no emotion. But she sensed he felt much the same as her right now. Confused. Unable to explain what this meant for them.
She slid down from the counter and went to dress in jean shorts and a white tank top. He found a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved shirt, which he buttoned after putting on his gun holster. They didn’t say anything.
Opening the armoire across from the foot of the bed, he pulled out a black case and put it on the bed. When he opened it, she sucked in a surprised breath. Black polished components of his sniper rifle were neatly packed inside.
He glanced at her, his eyes hard. She folded her arms in defiance. Did he think she couldn’t handle this side of him? It surprised her to discover she could.
Lifting the rifle out of its molded holding place, he attached a part on the end and a telescope on the top. Then he loaded the mean-looking thing. His hands worked surely and efficiently. The same hands that had held her bare bottom while he pounded into her. She would never understand why that appealed to her so much, hands that had touched her while making love now handled a deadly weapon. Maybe it was knowing those hands had saved her. More than once.
He left the cabin and she followed him to the sundeck, where Travis stood at the controls in the flybridge and Keenan and Haley loaded their pistols. No one seemed to notice the extra time it had taken her and Elam to join them.
A few minutes later, the yacht Lucky came into view.
“Go below deck,” Elam ordered.
She looked at him. “No.”
“Farren.”
“Elam, I’m not a helpless female. Quit treating me like one!”
Travis looked over his shoulder, smirking. Haley often sounded like that with him.
“I don’t want you to get shot,” Elam said, pinning her with an unrelenting gaze.
She marched over to him and ripped open his shirt, sending buttons flying. He looked down at it and then up at her. She pulled his pistol out of its holster, then stuck her face close to his.
“If I have to, I’ll use this,” she said.
His eyes lowered to her mouth and the look in his eyes softened. He took the pistol from her and showed her the safety. “Keep this on unless you need
to fire.”
She took the gun back from him and went to a bench seat that would keep her out of view except for her head. Elam sent her a frustrated look and went to position himself on the sunbathing pad beside her, aiming the rifle at the other yacht. Waiting.
Haley and Keenan went to lower the dinghy into the water while Travis brought the yacht closer to Lucky.
“That’s far enough,” Elam said, sending Farren a pointed look. “I want to stay out of range of their guns.”
Travis slowed the yacht but didn’t drop anchor. “You ready?” he asked Elam.
“Yeah.” He looked over at Farren. “Don’t move from that seat.”
“Yes, sir.” She saluted him.
Travis disappeared down the stairs.
Elam glanced down at his pistol in her hands and then back up at her face before he peered through the scope on his rifle.
He watched the other boat. Imaad and his men were away from the marina and innocent people, so as soon as he had a clear shot, he could start firing. The team had wanted to take Imaad and his men out. Now they had an opportunity. She just hoped they saved Shay in time.
Two men holding automatic rifles walked along the deck, eyeing Rapture. Still, Elam waited.
The sound of the dinghy starting preceded Elam’s first shot. Farren saw a man drop on the deck. Elam fired again. The other man dropped. A third man ran out of the salon and started firing at the dinghy as it raced away from Rapture. The bullets fell short of their mark. Elam fired a third time. The man dropped. His sniper rifle could shoot at a greater distance than the guns the men on Lucky used.
The reality of what she was seeing disturbed her. It wasn’t like watching a movie. Those were real people Elam killed. She looked at his profile. He didn’t flinch. He stayed still, watching through the scope, waiting for his next target.
The dinghy carrying Travis and Haley and Keenan sped toward the other yacht. Movement on the other yacht made her look there. She gripped the rail as Shay emerged from the salon, held by Imaad, who pressed a gun to his head.
Imaad yelled something in Arabic. Probably a threat.
“Elam.”
Elam ignored her. Another man came out of the salon and aimed an automatic rifle. He started firing at the approaching dinghy. Bullets sprayed the water.
Elam fired once and the man dropped.
Imaad swung Shay with him as he turned to see the fallen man. Her heart flew with fear and worry. Would Imaad kill Shay now? She glanced at Elam but he didn’t fire. He didn’t move. Just watched. Aimed.
She looked back at the other yacht. Imaad had moved Shay in front of him again. He shouted angrily at the approaching dinghy. Shay chose that moment to make a move. He rammed his elbow into Imaad’s sternum and gripped his gun arm. They fought. The gun fell to the deck.
Farren glanced at Elam. He didn’t fire. Shay and Imaad rolled on the deck. Shay tried to keep Imaad from reaching the gun, but the other man punched him in the face and he fell backward. Imaad crawled toward the gun. Picked it up. Rolled onto his rear. Shay tried to run for the stairs leading to the swim deck. Imaad fired before Shay moved out of Elam’s aim. She watched in horror as he fell. Elam had a clear shot now. He fired. A hole sprouted in Imaad’s forehead and he fell backward onto the deck.
The dinghy approached Lucky.
Elam didn’t move from his position. He kept aim and watched through his scope as Travis tied on to the stern of Lucky. Travis climbed aboard and Keenan and Haley followed. Weapons drawn, crouching, they moved toward the open salon door. Then disappeared inside.
A flurry of gunfire sounded and then silence settled over the sea. It happened so fast. The three reemerged on the aft deck. Haley waved over at Elam. Travis and Keenan lifted Shay and put him in the dinghy. He wasn’t moving.
“No.” Farren gripped the rail tighter and watched them race the dinghy toward Rapture. Just when she may have found her real father, would he be taken from her?
She laid the pistol down on the seat beside her and stood, still holding the rail. Elam put his rifle aside and climbed off the sunbathing pad. He went to her.
She turned from the rail and let him take her into his arms.
“He was shot low and to the side,” he said.
A sob broke from her. She gripped his open shirt and dug her forehead against him. He didn’t think Shay would make it. She heard it in his voice.
“They’re here.” He moved her back from him and searched her eyes.
“No matter what happens, you did what you promised. You got him back for me.” He’d killed Imaad as soon as he had a clear shot. There was nothing else he could have done.
Elam’s disagreement, his self-doubt, showed in his eyes before he grimly turned away and went to the flybridge.
Wiping her face, Farren jogged down the stairs and hurried to the aft deck. Haley climbed aboard first. Then Travis lifted Shay and Keenan helped him get him aboard. Elam started the yacht moving.
Travis laid Shay on the deck and Haley ran into the salon. Blood stained Shay’s white shirt. Farren knelt beside him. Haley reappeared with a towel and pressed it on his bleeding abdomen.
“Is he alive?” She was afraid to hear the answer. She touched his cheek. “Colin?”
“He’s alive, but he’s lost a lot of blood,” Haley said.
She leaned over Shay. “Don’t you die on me now.”
Chapter 12
Farren stopped pacing the plain and sparsely furnished waiting room of the Ahu Hetman Hospital when she saw a nurse approach. Haley stood from the chair where she’d been sitting. Travis and Keenan leaned against the wall to her left. Elam stood from the chair beside Haley and came to stand beside Farren.
The nurse stopped before Farren. “He’s going to be fine. He made it through surgery and his vitals are very strong. We will keep him here a few days and he will then be able to go home.”
Farren collapsed against Elam and fought the tide of emotion pushing tears forward. He held her, thanking the nurse.
“That’s great, Farren,” Haley said, rubbing her back.
Farren sniffled and leaned back. Elam’s mouth curved in a slight smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Sensing him withdrawing from her, she lifted up onto her toes and kissed him.
“Thank you.” She smiled into his eyes.
He looked over her head at his teammates.
“You might have saved your future father-in-law,” Keenan said.
Travis chuckled. “Better not corner him, Keenan. You know how he gets.”
“Looks to me like it’s time to give up on military women, Elam,” Haley said.
Elam stepped back from Farren. “We need to get the yacht back to Bodrum.”
“We’ll take care of that. You make sure Farren gets home.” Travis gestured with his head to Haley and Keenan. “Come on. We can make a minivacation out of it.”
Haley waved at Farren and Elam as she followed Travis out of the hospital. “See you two later.”
“We’ll make sure your luggage gets to the Maritim Grand Azur Hotel,” Keenan said. “Odie made reservations. You can stay there until you arrange to fly home.”
When they left, Farren looked up at Elam. He turned from the door and didn’t say anything.
“I’m going to wait for him to wake up,” she said.
He nodded. “I’ll go get your luggage. Save them a trip back into town.”
She nodded, growing more anxious over his mood. Now that his mission was definitely over, there was nothing stopping him from leaving. She wanted to ask him if she’d see him when they returned to the States but refrained. She didn’t want to be desperate anymore. This time, the man she wanted would have to come to her.
He started to turn. “I’ll see you later.”
As she watched him go, a weight descended on her heart.
Farren left the hospital after Shay’s wife arrived the following day. The woman had stayed away since talking to Shay after he regained consciousness. He’d told her wha
t happened. He told her about Farren. He also told her about Carolyn, too. Pauline hadn’t taken it well, but she’d suspected something was wrong and that was why she’d hovered so close all the time. She’d been trying to learn what was wrong. They’d have a long road ahead of them if they stayed together, as Shay hoped they would.
Farren went to the Maritim Grand Azur Hotel. There were no messages from Elam. He’d checked in the same time as her, but she hadn’t seen him. He was avoiding her. Withdrawing. Maybe he’d already left Marmaris.
Her flight left in four hours. He hadn’t told her his plans. Along with the sting of hurt, she also felt a good dose of anger that he hadn’t even said goodbye.
Rolling her luggage behind her, she left the room. As she rode the elevator down to the lobby, she wondered what it would be like to go home. She felt different. Emptier. If that were possible.
The elevator doors opened and she stepped out. Walking into the lobby, she passed the reception desk. Stone pillars lined the open gray-and-terra-cotta tiled area. Someone rose from a gray chair in front of a planter with a palm tree. She stopped when she recognized Elam.
Dressed in a short-sleeved black shirt and faded jeans and black boots, he looked more gorgeous than ever. Those captivating blue eyes didn’t waver from her face, as he searched for any sign of her mood. She kept it hidden from him.
He moved toward her, taking the handle of her luggage from her hand.
“I’ll drive you to the airport,” he said.
“I can take a taxi.”
“It’s no trouble. I’m meeting the others at Osman’s. You’re flying from Bodrum, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” How did he know she was leaving today?
“Odie checked your flight for me,” he said.
It was annoying how easy it was for him to predict her thoughts. She started walking toward the front entrance, holding the door for him to wheel her luggage outside.
He led her to a black sedan parked under the front entrance canopy. She sat in the passenger seat. He shut the trunk and lowered his tall form behind the wheel. Tension hummed in the small space between them. She was too aware of him, his broad shoulders that took up the entire width of the seat, his long thighs. She wondered if he wore his gun under his shirt.
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