Hidden Dane (Hidden Alphas Book 4)

by Victoria Pinder

  Around him, families, groups of friends, or complete strangers were all transfixed on the back on of the ship. Dane slowly transitioned his own attention there.

  A gun fired and the crowd screamed. Dane’s entire body was alert on adrenaline. Folks around him backed up, but he inched his way forward.

  Whatever had happened, he needed to know and protect Emily from it. As he made his way through the crowd, keeping his head down to not be seen, he heard another shot in the air.

  People screamed and clutched their children.

  No one else needed to die, not over jewelry. He went toward the sound and saw Brady on the edge of the bannister of the ship as Ted held a gun to his head.

  Underneath the ledge, two men pinned Henry down. Ted motioned with his gun toward a boat behind them and shoved Brady’s shoulder. “Get in.”

  Brady almost slipped but he didn’t follow Ted’s deranged orders. Ted pointed his gun at the passengers, specifically an Asian woman and her young son holding an ice cream cone, and said, “Uriel Delligatti, I know you’re here.”

  The boy asked, “Who?”

  “Uriel, come on out! Or I will shoot Professor Brady Booker.”

  Brady had lost his glasses in the scuffle and squeezed his eyes closed in preparation for a shot.

  No. Dane’s heart pounded that this was a mistake but he called out, “Wait!” The mostly English crowd parted as he thought fast on his feet. “The crown jewels of England are that important for you to steal?”

  A few British voices murmured loudly, “Crown jewels?”

  Ted pointed the gun toward him. “There you are. Hand them over now.”

  Murmurs of nationalistic pride whispered around him and just maybe he could use that to create a diversion. He held out the Irish Crown Jewels and showed them to Ted and everyone who watched as he said, “I intended to give these stolen jewels back to the authorities once we crossed the Channel.”

  Ted gave Brady a hard push backward—Brady swayed dangerously close. Ted’s men on the boat below waited to capture him but Brady regained his balance. Dane handed over the jewels in exchange for his friend. “Brady!”

  The two thugs who’d pinned Henry down released him and jumped off the ship to the waiting craft below. The English people on board voiced their concerns. Ted leapt off the rail to the other boat’s deck.

  Henry glowered as he eyed the retreating vessel. Brady squinted to see without his glasses.

  Dane ran to the edge—as Ted’s vessel moved away from the ferry, his nemesis began to laugh and point at something tied up on deck. He grinned, giving his wrinkles more creases, and held up the jewels. “Uriel, look what else I have.”

  Dane would know that blonde bob anywhere. “Emily!”

  She looked at him with round blue eyes but didn’t make a sound—her mouth was covered.

  He’d failed. He yelled, “Let her go. I gave you what you wanted.”

  “Your girlfriend caused us all too much trouble.” Ted dipped his head and took a bow. “Good day, Uriel.”

  His heart practically exploded in his chest. He’d failed Emily. He’d made the wrong choice. This was all his fault. She’d made him say that jewels weren’t important—he knew she had her own valuable necklace and earrings that would earn a high price.

  If that was the goal, hopefully she’d hand them over and protect herself.

  From the danger he’d put her in.

  His temples throbbed..

  Henry brushed off his jeans, his elbow on the rail. “You just handed over the crown jewels?”

  He hadn’t realized that Emily had been kidnapped. On the other side of Henry, Brady nursed a sore arm, his face a mask of pain. Dane scowled and shielded his eyes from the sun to peer at the boat in the distance. Emily was getting too far away. “I thought I was making a trade for Brady—obviously, it was a distraction to get Emily too.”

  “We’ll get them back.” Henry motioned toward a motorized lifeboat.

  Good plan. He walked to the side and helped Henry untie the lifeboat and lower it as he said, “No, we get Emily back.”

  Brady tried to help but winced when he grabbed the hard rubber., “That’s good to hear.”

  Dane couldn’t stop staring at the boat. He should have jumped into the ocean, though he’d never swim that fast. His mind raced with all the terrible things that might happen as the three men lowered the lifeboat into the water. The crew approached with angry faces. The engines shook the ferry as it rumbled back on to complete its voyage. He’d let Henry handle any talking, as he told Brady, “This was all my fault. I shouldn’t have left her alone.”

  His friend’s eyes watered slightly though he pretended to be fine.

  “Brady, what did you hurt? I thought your arm, but, I don’t see anything…”

  Brady lifted his hand and showed how his broken fingers listed at odd angles. “I’m going to have to work on speech to text software for the time being.”

  “Stay here and deal with the authorities, Brady. Then get to a hospital,” Dane told him. He’d rescue Emily alone. But as Henry cleared the lifeboat with the crew another idea flew into his mind. If he succeeded in getting Emily back, then she needed to be safe. And if he needed backup, there was only one person who had the capabilities to assist. Dane held up his finger and took a step back. “I have to make a phone call.”

  Brady stared at him in astonishment. “Who are you calling?”

  He dialed, and the phone rang. Dane’s body tensed. Time was of the essence but so was backup. “Someone I should have called when Ted showed up at the nightclub with a gun.”

  “Who?” Brady asked again as the phone clicked and Dane heard a quick intake of breath.

  His biological father was smart and quick-thinking enough to get Emily to safety. “My father.” He cleared his throat and said in the speaker, “Michael—it’s Dane.”

  His biological father’s voice was deep and hard to figure out, especially over the phone as he said, “Dane. It’s good to hear from you.”

  The best thing to do was spit this out. Dane watched Ted’s boat get farther out of sight. Henry finished clearing the lifeboat with the officers and returned to work on the ropes as Dane said, “Emily’s been kidnapped. It’s my fault.”

  “By who?” his father asked.

  To sum up his life and the last few days in as few words as possible made his muscles tighten. He helped with the rope on the pulley. “Ted Vet San. He’s on a small boat heading back to Paris with her right now. I don’t know who’s paying him to steal jewelry Edmond left me in a security box, but they want the stolen British jewels my parents had in the bank. We intended to return the jewels to the British authorities and Emily wanted to come. But now Ted has those and Emily.”

  Without bombarding him with more questions, Michael said, “We’ll meet you in France. I’ll figure out who the enemy is and how we can get Emily.”

  Dane waved goodbye to Brady and headed into the orange life boat with Henry as he said, “Find my friend Professor Brady Booker a computer, and with his phone, he can help me stay in touch—I’d appreciate it.”

  “Got it.” Michael hung up like he’d received an order and was ready to go.

  He’d done the right thing. His biological father had the resources and talent to formulate a rescue. In this first contact, neither of them had become sentimental and they’d stayed focused. Dane shoved the phone in his back pocket and Henry worked the motor.

  As the small craft separated from the main ferry, Henry directed them after Ted’s boat and said, “So that’s your plan? You called your father?”

  “Yeah.” Henry had no idea how Michael and Jack worked as a team, and Dane didn’t want to relive his youth with an explanation. His father knew how to protect himself and his family, and Emily was more his family anyhow. “We will we go after Emily and save her—but afterward, I needed someone to take her home and out of danger.”

  Henry stared at him like he’d just spoken gibberish. “Won’t she w
ant to come with you? You seemed taken with each other.”

  Taken was a good word for how he felt near Emily. No other woman would ever match her, but she deserved more. She deserved to be happy without danger hounding her heels. “I’m better off alone. Emily deserves better than me.”

  Henry found a way to increase their speed with the small engine they had and asked, “Doesn’t the lady get to decide that for herself?”

  If Emily wanted to stay with him he’d welcome her but he seriously doubted that would be her choice. He’d left her alone and defenseless. This was his mistake and she’d hate him. She had always been a small part of why he wanted to help the world, and he couldn’t sit still while she was ripped from it. Emily needed to be safe and go home in one piece.

  Water from the channel splashed against his face—they traveled toward the beaches of Normandy again as he said, “One day Henry, you’ll understand.”

  At least they hadn’t gone very far and the small lifeboat zipped across the surface. Henry said fast, “The boat is in port, broadside. If we hurry, figure out their direction, then we’re only ten minutes behind them.”

  “Let’s go,” Dane answered.

  Somehow he’d get Emily back-- he couldn’t fail again.

  Chapter 14

  This is how I die, Emily panicked. With a black bag over her head so she couldn’t see. They’d brought her below deck, and tied her arms and legs to a metal table that swayed with the moving of the ocean. Salt itched at her throat while water and darkness surrounded her head.

  The water stopped forcing itself into her lungs.

  Then she could breathe.

  Ice ran through Emily’s body—and at last the bucket stopped pouring water into her mouth.

  She coughed and spit out salty water, shivering, gasping—and then another bucket rained over her lips, forcing water into her and stopping her breaths. Michael hadn’t trained her for this. Her vision swam.

  She must have lost consciousness, so she had no idea how much time had passed. Emily rolled over to cough out more water. She wasn’t dead, not yet.

  This time she could turn to her side, and clutched her stomach even with her hands in cold metal cuffs, unable to fight. Things couldn’t get worse. Then, from the other side of the metal table, she heard a masculine voice say, “Hello, Emily.” There was no mistaking the French accent.

  She spluttered and coughed. It was like she was on the train again—kidnapped and held against her will. The sway of the ocean under her body, rather than train tracks. She was on a ship still, and the black bag was pulled from her face.

  Her eyes stung, but she sat up as hands roughly pushed her to a sitting position and brought her from the table to a hard-backed chair. Ankles tied, wrists tied. Her vision began to return and she saw she was on the deck of a ship while she swiped off the male hand from her side and met the furious brown eyes of Alexandre, Ted’s henchman. Her lip quivered. “Back off.”

  He squatted in front of her and his stare alone made her tremble as he said, “Your boyfriend couldn’t save you.”

  Hopefully her cold shivering had disguised that tremble that she slipped out of the ropes that were meant to bind her. She didn’t reveal that, but it was time to be brave. She coughed again but lifted her chin. “He didn’t save me the last time either if you remember.”

  Alexandre traced her cheek and chin and sneered at her. “You drugged me.”

  “I was trying to escape.” She pushed his hand off her face and shook her head. “Henry gave the authorities your names and crimes—you can’t go home without being arrested.”

  “You freed yourself I see. I must not have been rough enough for you.” Alexandre caressed her elbow. “I thought we were getting along.”

  Enough. She needed to get off this boat and escape. She had to keep calm and be ready to run. She cupped her hands into fists and wished she’d freed her ankles as easily. “If you had a chance to escape certain death, wouldn’t you take it?”

  Alexandre brushed against her arm but then stood up as he said, “C'est suffisant. Here comes the boss.”

  She swallowed—Ted had no problem shooting people. What did he want with her? The ship docked.

  If they were on land, she’d have more opportunity to run. She stilled as Ted came in and leaned against the small bar in the room as he showed her the ceremonial star and badge he’d taken from Dane.

  Dane never should have locked her in—he’d made her a sitting duck for Ted’s henchmen. She’d find her freedom and they could discuss it later.

  Her mind instantly whipped to Ted as he tapped the bar and said, “Miss Mira. I’ll need the necklace you possess. This time the real one and not the fake you that you pawned off in the crypt.”

  “Boss, the French authorities have our identities, and photographs,” Alexandre said.

  Hopefully she’d planted seeds of doubt in Alexandre. Michael always said confusion was a weapon to wield against an enemy. Adrenaline made her hyperaware of her jewelry hidden in her bra pocket. “My necklace? That’s on the ship, with D…Uriel.”

  His gaze narrowed, and he walked toward her with his hand out. “You’re lying.”

  Her face heated. Darn. Evasion was easier. Her words came fast as she shook her head. “I’m not good at lying. You kidnapped me when I was taking a nap.”

  Ted snapped his fingers and she winced, remembering when he’d shot her friends. “My men searched the room, and it wasn’t there, which means you have it somewhere. Alexandre will find the real necklace on you.”

  Alexandre ran his hand down her sides, including her breasts, as she struggled. “Let me go.”

  Ted laughed at her but didn’t stop Alexandre. “Let me be clear; Alexandre is upset that you drugged him and wants to rape you as punishment.”

  Her heart froze. No, no, no. She needed to escape. They were docked. She needed to distract and dash, as Michael would have instructed. Her brother-in-law always said that the mind was the best weapon. She made eye contact with Alexandre. “I thought you loved your wife and wanted to go home and have breakfast with her.”

  Hopefully she’d painted the right mental picture because Alexandre paused and dropped his hand from her hip.

  “The only way this doesn’t happen is if you hand over the necklace and earrings,” Ted said.

  The jewelry was all she’d ever have of Dane in the end. He wouldn’t stay. He hadn’t stayed before and wouldn’t now. She shook her head and said, “I don’t-”

  “Alexandre.” Ted snapped and Alexandre ripped at her shirt.

  She pressed her elbows to his hands to knock him off her as she leaned back in the chair. It moved an inch on the wooden planks. She eyed the door behind both men. Could she make it past them, with a distraction?

  “Wait. Okay. You can have your necklace.” She reached into her bra and removed the jewelry, flashing it in front of her. “Now you can let me out of here and no one gets hurt. It’s not me, Alexandre, keeping you from your wife.”

  Emily slowly scooted her chair closer to the exit. Ted asked, “What do you mean?”

  She held the necklace next to her still, thinking of her sister, and Michael. Surely Dane would have called him, right? Okay, the two men hadn’t talked in ten years, but they’d both want to rescue her. Adrenaline raced through her as she said, “My family will do whatever it takes to get me back.”

  Ted reached for the necklace. “Is that supposed to mean anything?”

  No. She glanced at Alexandre, a Frenchman with a hook for a nose, whose face grew darker as he listened to something on his radio. Hopefully she’d caused friction—Ted walked around her and the hair on her body stood on its ends. She clutched her necklace as she said, “You had to trick Uriel to get to him, but he and his friends are smarter than you give them credit for. He’ll find me.”

  Ted pried the necklace from her fingers and she had to let go, or risk breaking it. He pocketed her jewelry. “But will your hero be in time to save you? That’s the question yo
u can’t answer.”

  The dock was only ten feet away. If she was free of restraints, she imagined how she’d run to her freedom and get help. Alexandre had returned to monitoring what was probably the police lines, but she scooted her chair backward another inch and said, “If I’m harmed, he will murder you both in your sleep. Revenge is a family trait and you don’t want to be on the end of that cat and mouse game that runs in Uriel’s veins.”

  “I sleep with a gun,” Alexandre said with a growl—from nowhere, he tightened his hold against my shoulders, sending pain shooting through her.

  Using her body weight, she bounced in her chair, and the chair leg landed on his toe. He let her go. She said, “That will make it easier for him then—he won’t have to bring his own.”

  Ted grinned at Alexandre. “At least she’s good for a laugh.”

  Something rocked the boat. Alexandre pressed his lips together as he listened to whatever the police broadcasted into his ears.

  Ted knelt in front of her as he asked, “What’s going on?”

  She scooted toward the gangway like she might escape, but Ted knocked her chair backward and by extension her too until he reached down and held her neck, tight. She struggled and wished her she’d been cut free, but then she heard Dane’s voice as footsteps echoed on the deck. “Give up, Ted. Let Emily walk away from this.”

  Ted pulled her close and pressed a cold cylinder toward her neck—a gun. Sweat grew on her back as Ted said, “You’re both so naive. That isn’t how this works.”

  Alexandre stood beside her, so she was flanked on either side by the enemy. Henry waited next to Dane with his gun drawn and pointed at Ted while Dane said, “Ted, don’t be foolish.”

  Ted backed toward the gangway with her. “Listen Dane Pearce, I know your father killed your mother in front of you, no wonder you’re all screwed up—which makes you easy to outmaneuver. I’ll make this simple. If you don’t have your man put down his weapon, Emily dies.”

  “Let her go.” Dane waved for Henry to lower his gun.

  Ted pressed the gun into her skin as he said, “I’d rather watch her bleed.”