“Are you apologizing to the sexy Yank?”
“Uh. Yeah. Just finishing up.”
Her sister giggled. “I got this. Take your time.”
The sun had just dropped below the horizon when Maya picked up her binoculars again. In front, hundreds of tiny sparkling lights lit up the perimeter of a strange yacht. On the side, it read, ‘THE EUCALYPTA.’
At least fifty people mingled on the main deck and their laughter floated over the ocean. Glasses clinked at the outside bar.
Josh threw a line into the hands of a deckhand at the stern. They helped them out, then, like water-world parking attendants, drove the boats to places unknown. Maya glanced at her boat’s gauges. Her anchor rope was just long enough.
But if she could see the yacht, they would spot her soon, if they hadn’t already.
Best to be safe. She reached into the ocean and focused. A familiar thrill ran up and down her spine when she channeled her energy. Wet swirls of dampness curled into the air until thick fog blanketed the whole area.
To mask the noise of her engine, she followed another boat in closer, then dropped the anchor.
“Stay.” She pointed a finger at Willy, who gave a small whine, then lay down on the steel floor with paws over his nose.
“I’ll be back soon.” A pat had him wagging his tail again.
Quickly, she stripped to her bathing suit. Her clothes and a rope with a grappling hook went into a plastic bag. Then she swam the few yards to the yacht. One side of the boat was darker, and with the right timing, she was up and over the edge.
From there, she snuck into tiny rooms with bunk beds, no doubt the help’s sleeping quarters. Locking herself in, she rummaged under the bed until she found a dark polo shirt with a logo and a stretchy black spandex skirt. She tied her hair back and covered it with a cap having the same logo.
At a party this big, certainly all the caterers wouldn’t know each other. She prayed she was right as she stashed her bathing suit into a small dresser drawer, and exited into the narrow hallway.
Her heart raced, and for a moment her more logical mind took over. She was no sleuth. Crikey, as a kid, she was always the first one found at hide and seek.
This was a terrible idea.
Before she could undo her stupidity and jump back into the ocean, a man shouted, “Hey you.”
Shit.
He was about fifty, with the same logo on his shirt and dress black slacks. “I’m not paying you to lounge around down here. What’s your name?”
“Ah. Mary.”
“Well, Ah-Mary. Get your ass on deck. There’s a shitload of glasses that need refilling and the hors d’oeuvre are piling up in the kitchen. Jesus. Never seen a lazier staff in my life.”
Given no other choice, she nodded, and headed down the dark hall in the direction of the noise and lights. Behind, the man waited, to make sure she did.
Once out of the staff’s living quarters, she found the galley.
The harried chef didn’t even glance up as he shoved a tray of caviar and crackers into her arms. “Go. Go. Now.”
She increased the fog around the boat as she made her way above deck, and kept her eyes downcast. That would have to do. But already her energy was waning.
Soft music began from a guitarist. The crowd oohed at the swirling light show upon the clouds. An alto voice crooned out ‘Girl from Ipanema’ in Portuguese.
With everyone so engaged, Maya’s heart stopped racing and she took a deep breath. As a teen, she catered many times for extra cash. She could do this. Pulling her cap low over her face, she circled the crowd and listened.
“Can I get you gentlemen anything?” She raised her tray at three men who were speaking Russian.
The largest brushed her away with a wave of the hand. Then his eyes shot up and narrowed, as if he sensed her paranormal presence.
Witches.
Hurriedly, she backed away into the crowd, memorizing his face. The air all but buzzed with power. Fuck. She’d been so preoccupied she hadn’t noticed.
Before she could recover from the shock, a familiar voice spoke to her left side from out of the fog. She inched forward, then cursed bitterly under her breath.
It was him. Her ex, dressed in an Armani suit with yet another boob-alicious blonde on his arm. Ken and Barbie on a Barbie-Yacht. Like always, everywhere she turned, Chris was there, looking handsome, put together, and like a million bucks. Wonder where his wife was?
He wore his women like a Rolex, or the latest iPhone. With cleavage busting out of a ‘V’ almost to the navel, the woman must’ve duct taped the dress to her skin.
Maya cringed. Chris had offered to pay for a boob job. Always complaining that her breasts were too small.
Asshole.
Despite the danger, she backed up to listen in on their conversation, while offering the tray to another set of couples.
“I want to go now,” the woman whined.
“We just got here, luv-dove.” Chris’ term of endearment made Maya fume. How many times had he called her by the very same name?
Apparently the bimbo didn’t buy it either. “But it’s foggy and damp. This isn’t what you promised.”
“Just a couple more hours, then we can go.”
“But why?”
“I got some people to meet with. C’mon, now, I’ll get you another drink.”
Ducking her chin into her neck, and tucking her cap over her forehead, Maya headed back into the kitchen for another tray. She nodded at the chef and grabbed some scallops wrapped in bacon.
On the way out, a warm hand clasped around her upper arm and another covered her mouth. Energy zapped through her, a heavy dose of pain and pleasure.
Josh.
Shit, shit, shit.
She worked to hold onto the tray of food, as everything slid to one side.
“It’s me. We good?” His warm voice whispered in her ear.
She nodded.
Josh let go, took her tray and thrust it at another waiter. Then, he shoved her into a bathroom and locked the door.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Chest to chest, adrenaline raced, and hormones coursed. She could barely breathe, let alone give him an explanation.
They stared eye to eye.
“Shit, Maya.” He tugged her into his chest and his lips covered hers. One hand went to the back of her head and the other clamped onto her ass, and pushed her tight against his hard cock.
When his tongue played at her teeth, she opened her mouth, and he kissed her deeper.
Her ears pounded with how he affected her. She’d been kissed, but never like this. Her body screamed for more. Begged. Her brain, somewhere in the background, sounded alarms, but she couldn’t react, couldn’t do a damn thing but kiss him back.
Without warning, Josh thrust her back at arm’s length.
A deep scowl marred his handsome features.
“What’re you doing here?” he hissed.
She touched her swollen lips and blinked.
“Answer me.”
Regaining what was left of her composure, she straightened her shoulders and glared. How dare he kiss her when he was doing God knows what with his professor. The man was unbelievable.
And a really good kisser.
Shit. Focus Maya.
She shook her head. “I followed you and your girlfriend. Nothing’s going on, huh? Could’ve fooled me.”
“Nothing is going on. I’m here to get information.” He combed his fingers through his hair, causing it to stand on end. “Do you have any clue how much danger you put yourself in coming here?”
Damnit, but she believed him. Still, it didn’t give him the right to go all alpha male on her. And what was with the kiss?
“I can take care of myself.”
“This boat belongs to Gregor Uragan.”
He paused, letting the name sink in. It took her brain less than a second to register who he was talking about. The man had been brought up on mul
tiple charges by the Council just last year. Something to do with human, or more precisely, witch trafficking.
She swallowed hard. “The Russian wind clan leader?”
Josh gave a hard nod, his jaw clenching. “The Eucalypta is registered under one of his many aliases. I don’t know if he’s here or not, but his men are just as dangerous.”
“Wasn’t your family involved in bringing charges against him?”
“Yeah.”
“If he knows you’re here, then it’s you who’s in danger.”
Josh’s expression confirmed her fears.
“Alex brought you here, right? She knows who you are. What if it’s a set up and–”
“I need to get back to the party and you need to get off this boat. If Gregor knows I’m here, I don’t think he’ll risk touching me. But if he catches you sneaking about on his boat…”
“I’m not leaving. Not until I find out what they’re up to.”
“Don’t be stupid, Maya. Go home, or I’ll tell your father what you’ve been up to.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I would,” he growled, unlocking the door. “Now go.”
She blew out an exasperated breath, then exited the tiny room, ignoring the raised eyebrows from the staff. She knew what they were thinking she’d been doing in there with Josh.
If only.
Josh disappeared down the narrow hallway. He was right. She needed to get off the boat. But not before she did one more thing.
Chapter 10
Josh grabbed two full champagne flutes and made his way back through the swirling mist and onto the deck.
“Where’ve you been?” Alex trailed her fingers down his silk sleeve when he handed her one of the glasses. “I was starting to think you ran off on me.”
“I’m a little embarrassed, but I’m starting to feel a bit sea sick.” He leaned over the railing and searched the night, hoping for a sign that Maya had made it safely back to her boat.
Perfectly sculpted red lips pouted. “You’re not going to abandon me, are you? The party is just starting. And I still want to introduce you to some people.”
Was she aware of who owned the yacht? At this point, nothing would surprise him. The woman was a viper, a cougar, and should be kept close. And, if she was working with Gregor, Josh had to find out their plans before night’s end.
He turned, sipping the excellent Dom, and tried not to flinch when her hand dipped low to cup his balls.
“Stay and I’ll make it worth your while.” With a wink and a Cheshire grin, she squeezed hard.
He gasped, saw stars, and choked back a retort that surely would’ve given him away.
Thankfully, before he could create a thought, let alone a coherent sentence, a robust, middle-aged man arrived and turned to Josh, “My apologies.”
With an imperial wave, he signaled for her to follow. “Dr. Williams, can I borrow you for a moment?”
Alex dropped her hand, paled, then stammered, “Of c-c-course.” She glanced over a bare shoulder at Josh. “Don’t leave yet. I won’t be long.”
He gave a noncommittal nod.
Alex disappeared inside, leaving him alone.
He took a quick survey of the well-dressed crowd. There didn’t seem to be any connection other than dirty money among the attendees. Witches mingled among humans and half-breeds. He recognized a few faces, and by the occasional raised eyebrows in his direction, they knew of him as well.
Maya was right, he was in danger. His family name could only protect him so far. He didn’t know what game Alex was playing, but he figured it was one of two things. Either the woman was using him as leverage or as bait.
Neither option sat well.
Angry voices drew his attention to the far side of the ship, where the lights were dim.
“…I didn’t hire her, sir. I’m not sure how–”
A deeper voice interrupted the treble. “I want her found. Someone said they saw the little water witch snooping around below deck.”
Fuck. He had no doubt they were talking about Maya.
When the men walked past, he moved to the railing, keeping his head down.
The reckless, stubborn woman was going to get herself killed, or worse.
Another crewmember ran up from below deck and joined the other two. “We’ve searched the ship. She’s gone.”
The heavy voice growled, “How can she be gone? We’re in the middle of the goddamn ocean.”
“I don’t know, sir.”
Josh exhaled the breath he’d been holding. She had luck on her side, he’d give her that.
“Send the surveillance tapes to Anton. I want the witch identified and brought to me. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.” The man scurried away.
Damn. That luck may have just run out.
He needed to get off the boat, warn Maya and her family. Gregor’s men would have her image pulled off the internet and identified within the hour. She stepped in some serious shit, and he had a feeling he was about to be dragged into it with her.
Chapter 11
Maya paced between the widescreen TV and leather recliner in Josh’s rental. On the wall, the backlit clock ticked loudly, hands pointing to half past three. Damn. He still wasn’t back.
Her stomach turned, having a pretty good idea of what he was doing and who he was doing it with.
She wouldn’t even be here if she hadn’t found something on that yacht. Something he had to see. Maybe she should’ve brought it to her father, told him the truth of where she’d been, but her gut feelings had brought her here.
But then, when had her gut feelings ever been right?
A floodlight broke through the blinds, creating white lines that drifted across the dark room. She jumped, leaned over the back of the sectional, and gazed out the back window.
Willy barked beside her.
“Stop it.”
He gave a small snort and crouched down at her feet, bright eyes expectant.
How pathetic did she look, sitting there, waiting for Josh in the dark? But she couldn’t take any chances of someone else seeing her there.
She continued to peer through the slats as Josh tied the boat to the dock and sauntered up the dock.
Hell, even his walk was sexy.
She stood and hissed when the door opened, “Where’ve you been?”
A huge red ball of flames shot up out of his right palm, bathing the open rooms in orange light.
“Shit, Maya.” He shut his fist and the room went dark. “You don’t sneak up on someone like that.”
Blinking repeatedly to remove the streak burned into her retina, she said, “Sorry. I’ve been waiting–”
“Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re in?” The loose bow tie tore away from his neck and he tossed it on the kitchen counter.
With open palms, she inched forward. “Listen. I know I shouldn’t have gone there, but when you hear what I found–”
“I’ve spent the last three hours trying to track you down.” His hand raked over the stubble on his chin, and worried eyes regarded her.
“I’ve been here.”
He grabbed a bottle of Perrier out of the fridge, guzzled it down, and turned with furrowed brows. “And you don’t answer your phone?”
Her right hand went to the empty back pocket of her jeans. “I must’ve left it in my boat.”
“A boat that’s supposed to have a tracking device?” He put the bottle down, and her neck strained in order to meet his dark expression.
“I turned it off. Hid it in the mangroves. Wait. How did you know that?”
“Your father and I have–”
“My father? You told him?” A moan escaped.
“Yeah.” He took another step toward her, fire returned, this time blazing in his eyes. “When one of the most notorious Russian clan leaders is after his daughter, I thought it was a good idea to let him know.”
“What’re you talking about? No one saw me.” To reassure herself, she retrac
ed the night in her mind’s eye. She was certain.
“Cameras. Maya. They’ve got you on video sneaking around below deck. If they haven’t identified you yet, they will soon.”
Cold fear prickled her skin.
She sat and mumbled, “I was wearing a hat.”
It sounded lame, even to her own ears.
He sat beside her on the sectional, making her bounce. “It’s not a matter of if, but when they come after you. You need to get somewhere safe.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’m the next in line to become clan leader. I can’t run.”
“You can’t fight, either. These guys are strong.” His hand shot to her knee.
She ignored the sexual heat and countered, “So am I.”
He wouldn’t be able to imagine her strength, and she wasn’t about to tell him. Not now.
“So you’re going to fight the Russians alone?” Josh sighed, as fingers tightened around her leg.
“No. I’m going to fight them with you.”
He lowered his chin and narrowed his eyes. “You’re incorrigible, you know that?”
“I don’t know what that means, but I’ll take it as a compliment.”
“It wasn’t meant as one,” he grumbled and thankfully removed his hand.
She shrugged. “When I was below deck, I found a room where papers were scattered on a large desk and pinned on the wall. Most of it looked like gibberish. Russian probably. But there were diagrams. Maps. Bios. Hundreds of them.”
“That doesn’t tell us anything.”
When he rose and started to leave, she held him in place by his shirt tail. “Wait. But I recognized one of the profiles. Abigail Skinner. She’s a half-breed water witch. Her father is a member of my clan. Mother is human. I think I can get her to talk.”
A frown followed by a negative shake of his head indicated he didn’t buy anything of what she was selling. “If she’s hooked up with Gregor, she can’t be trusted.”
“I know her. She’s a good kid.” What is it with this bloke?
Josh’s lips tightened, then he nodded and sighed. “All right. We’ll go talk to her tomorrow. But right now I need to call your father and let him know you’re safe.”
He walked over to the counter where he dropped his bag, and pulled out a phone.
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