by Stone, Piper
When he turned in my direction, the sliver of moonlight highlighting only a portion of his face, the cold shiver shifting down my spine had nothing to do with the situation.
His look was laced with an emotion that I hadn’t seen before.
Love.
I held out my hand, my fingers lightly touching his face. “Don’t worry. I’ll be by your side.”
He closed his eyes briefly then dragged my hand into his. “Come on. We’re going to radio for help. The captain was likely compromised. Stay directly behind me.”
I trailed behind him as he moved through the darkness, heading toward the bow. The ocean lapped at the unmoving boat, the sea full of turbulence. The ominous silence was more terrifying than the darkness. Even the full moon cast an ugly glare across the deck.
As we approached the bridge, I was able to see a body lying in the doorway. Every fear I’d had as a child came into play, my heart racing.
Christian stopped short, turning then placing his finger over his mouth before releasing my hand. He moved closer to the bridge, his gun positioned in both hands. Disobeying Christian, I moved closer to the railing, peering over the side. The lifeboat was dangling only inches above the water. Raw fear swept through me. The captain wasn’t attempting to provide safety. He was planning on escaping.
“Who paid you?” Christian asked, planting his feet wide apart.
I inched closer until I was able to see the entire scene.
When the captain spoke, his words were riddled with anxiety. “I had no choice, Mr. Capodanno. My family was threatened if I didn’t cooperate.”
“Who? You’re fucking going to tell me.”
As Christian took another two steps, I heard the sound of a gun ready to be fired. I knew the click well enough, a memory that would never leave my mind.
I’d never told anyone that I’d lost my respect and admiration for my father after witnessing him shooting another at point-blank range. The horror of seeing the terror on the man’s eyes just seconds before he fell to the ground was something I would never forget.
My father was capable of anything.
“Christian!” My scream was obliterated by the sound of gunfire and everything shifted into slow motion as Christian was rocketed backward, the force pummeling him several feet onto the deck.
“I had no choice. None. Don’t you know what they are capable of? I have to do this.” The captain’s words were strangled. As he took several long strides out of the shadows, his gun still pointed in Christian’s direction, everything moved into slow motion.
As I lifted my arm.
As I pointed the weapon.
And as I pulled the trigger.
Another moment of slow motion forced my stomach to lurch as the captain stumbled close to the railing, his body twisting and the barrel now pointed in my direction. The look on his face was one of pain and fear.
“Die, you motherfucker!” I heard Christian’s cry as he lunged toward the man, falling hard on the captain as the boat began to rumble, a series of thunderous noises coming from behind me.
Bam!
The gunshot rang in my ears, the sound horrifying. The captain was pitched against the railing, tumbling backward and into the water.
“Fuck!” Christian leaned over the side. I raced toward him, my entire body shaking. Within seconds, the small boat was several feet away, the body of the captain lying face down.
Oh, God. Oh, God.
The moment Christian looked in my direction, he opened his mouth, screaming out my name.
Nothing would prepare me for the horrifying explosion or the rush of flames rolling in our direction.
There was no time to scream, no ability to beg for mercy from a God I wasn’t certain I could believe in.
There was only the sear and sizzle as the fire consumed everything, the heat penetrating my skin and—
Boom!
* * *
“You’re going to be all right.”
I heard his voice, the deep, masculine voice that filtered into my dreams every night. The velvety tone washed over my aching body, bringing a wave of heat to cut through the intense chill. I tried to open my eyes, but the light was too bright. Wincing, vicious coughs racked my body as bile and water filled my mouth.
“Take it easy. Go ahead and cough.”
I could tell my body was being rolled onto my side, allowing the nasty tasting substance to drain from my mouth. Then something was placed over me. Another layer of warmth.
“Wha...” Coughing. I couldn’t stop coughing. I felt like I was still drowning.
“Don’t try and talk. You were in an accident. I saved you.”
When I managed to roll over, my savior’s body blocked out the sun, allowing me to see his face. “Chris... tian.”
Christian smiled, nodding twice before easing strands of wet hair out of my eyes. He was drenched, his clothes soaked. “I was able to save you. You already died. Jesus fucking Christ. Some shit did this! I will kill him. I’ll fucking kill him.”
A rush of memory rolled into my mind, the thought as suffocating as the water still remaining in my mouth. An explosion. Fire. I hit my head. Then there was nothing but intense cold after I’d been tossed into the murky water, floating. I was free, unable to feel my arms or legs.
“The boat...” I heard another commotion, people screaming.
He gathered me into his arms, holding me against his chest. “Shush. You’re going to be fine, my beautiful Stephanie. I’ll make a promise to you. I’m going to protect you, keep you from harm always. If anyone ever lays a hand on you, they will die. You are mine. All mine.”
“Stephanie, oh, God. You have to be all right.”
Water. Frigid water.
Cold. So damn cold.
“What?” I managed, struggling to lift my head as water splashed against my face. The voice seemed so far away, a continuing rumble from somewhere behind me.
“Stephanie!”
The voice was the same as before, only tinged with rage. “Christian?” I blinked several times, trying to catch my bearings, finally managing to lift my arm.
“Don’t talk, baby.” He jerked me toward him, wrapping his arms around me. “Jesus fucking Christ. I’m going to kill those bastards.”
I leaned against him, my fist wrapped around his shirt as everything came into view, shoving the fog out of my mind. The boat was still ablaze several hundred feet away, listing on its side. I glanced up at the sky, gulping for air as water bobbed all around us. “Oh, God.”
“Yeah, the damn bastard blew up the boat. What the fuck?”
I cringed, fighting the terror that was threatening to shut down every bodily function. Water. Death. Oh, God. I had to get out. I couldn’t take this. No. No! “No!”
“Shh... It’s okay, just breathe. We’re going to get out of this,” Christian assured me, but I heard the angst in his voice.
I jerked up, trying to see his eyes. “You’re hurt. You were shot.”
“It’s nothing. Just a flesh wound.”
“Christian, I know what I saw.” The realization that we were somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean in the dark thrust me back into the horrible moments when I’d been clinically dead, when a young man had risked his life to save me. I clung to him, cupping his face, brushing my fingers across his lips. “I remember when you saved me before.”
“And I’m going to do it again, sweetheart.” His voice held such exhaustion as well as desperation. “We’re going to stay near the boat. The Coast Guard will come.”
“Are you certain of that?” I scanned the perimeter, unable to see anything but darkness. I was so cold, shivering uncontrollably, terrified of what was under the water. “I don’t want to die.”
“Listen to me. You’re going to hold this buoy and not let go. No matter what happens, you’re not letting go.”
“Don’t go anywhere!”
He pressed his lips against mine, gently parting them until he was able to dart his tongue just inside. For fe
w precious seconds, he managed to drag me away from the near tragedy. The softness of his lips, the way he was holding me, protecting me was something I’d never experienced.
And I wanted more.
I wanted to live, to love and to laugh again. Please, God. Don’t let us die. The kiss was sweet, protective, and when he eased back, pulling my head against his chest, I allowed the tears to fall, paralyzed with fear.
He slipped his arm through the rope of the buoy before wrapping both arms around my back, holding me. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to protect you. Just breathe for me. Try and relax. We’re going to wait.”
I finally closed my eyes, praying once again.
Beep! Beep!
There was no understanding of how much time had passed except that when I opened my eyes, I could see the morning light dawning over the horizon. What was the noise? No longer able to feel my legs, I realized I must have fallen asleep. Another wave of terror swept through me. “Christian. Christian!”
“I’m right here. The Coast Guard are coming. We made it.” Christian’s voice was emotionless, but I’d felt the dangerous vibe coming from every pore. He’d kept me close to him, making good on yet another promise.
And now I understood, accepting everything he’d tried to tell me.
Someone wanted us dead.
As we were pulled onto the Coast Guard’s boat, I took a good look at the remaining debris scattered across the ocean. The rest of the yacht was gone. Several people had lost their lives, just like had occurred years before, and for what reason? Protection of a family I considered nothing more than a curse.
“You’re both lucky to be alive,” one of the coast guards said as he guided us into one of the rooms. “I’m Jake. We’ll have you back to shore in no time. Sir, I need a look at your wound.”
Lucky. I hated the word.
As another guard handed us both blankets, I couldn’t stop shivering.
“Can you tell me what happened?” Jake asked, guiding Christian toward one of the tables.
Christian glanced toward me before answering. “We were on our honeymoon and the boat was sabotaged.” His gaze remained in my direction, his command clear.
Keep my mouth shut.
“How many on board and do you know their names?” he asked, studying Christian.
“Six crew. They’re all dead.” Christian lifted his head, locking eyes with the coast guard. “I’m certain you can find their manifest. The ship was named Anabella Lee.”
Jake nodded. “All right. I’m going to need to call this in.”
Christian snapped his hand around the man’s wrist, his grip firm. “When you do, make certain and tell them there were no survivors. Do you understand me?”
“I can’t do that, sir.”
I’d seen almost every side of the man I’d married, but his cold, calculating gaze was formidable, reeking of unspoken threats.
“You don’t seem to understand, Jake. There are people out to kill us and they almost succeeded. I need time to find out and the only way to do that is to lead them to believe that we’re dead. Now, I’m certain once you check the name of the yacht, finding the charter service in Hampton, New York, you’ll learn our identity. When you do, you’re going to contact the New York Times and a reporter named Gabe Dixon where you’ll provide an anonymous tip about our deaths. You will not tell anyone, and I do mean anyone that you’ve seen us. If you break that trust, I will hunt you down. Everything I just requested will be honored. Do you understand me?”
Jake took a deep breath, nodding twice. “Yes, sir.”
I could see the fear creeping along the man’s clenched jaw.
“I still need to look at your shoulder,” Jake said in a tense voice.
“My shoulder is fine. Please get us to the shore and when we arrive, there’s one more thing I need from you.”
“And what’s that?” Jake asked, giving me another onceover.
“Your phone. I need to make a call.”
“No problem. It’ll be about thirty minutes, maybe less until we’re on shore.”
Christian exhaled and rubbed his shoulder. “Now, leave us alone.”
Jake hesitated before walking toward the door.
“And Jake, thank your team for me. You saved our lives. I assure you that won’t be forgotten.” He walked toward me, not bothering to look in the coast guard’s direction.
“Yes, sir. Glad we could help.” Jake opened the door, glancing back one last time before walking out.
He gripped my arm with one hand, brushing his fingers through my hair with the other, shaking his head several times. “I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you.”
“You want us to remain dead.”
“That’s necessary until we figure out who is really behind this. You’re going to have to trust me no matter what happens or what I request. Can you do that? Can you place your life into my hands?”
All the years I’d been led to believe Christian was the monster, a man not to be trusted. All the nightmares I’d had, unable to remember but so many details of my rescue. Now I knew. At that moment, I knew that he was perhaps the only man I could trust.
With my life, and more important...
With my heart.
Chapter Thirteen
Christian
The fucking bastards were going to die.
I took a swig of bourbon, cringing from the harsh taste, but beggars couldn’t be choosers at this point. We were lucky we had a roof over our heads for the night, a certain amount of safety procured.
For now.
The fucking pricks. They’d thought they could take my life that easily. Had they really meant to destroy Stephanie as well? I paced the hotel room floor, glancing out the window every few minutes. I’d been forced to call in a favor, one that I only hoped wouldn’t come to bite me in the ass. We needed cash, a place to stay, and a method of getting back to the Hamptons, all under the guise that we’d been killed in the explosion.
When I returned, I’d have access to everything I needed, but not until then.
Fortunately, from what I could tell, once Jake had learned of my identity, he’d kept his end of the bargain, not only allowing me use of his phone but handing me forty dollars in cash.
That had at least gotten us a taxi ride to the hotel hand selected and paid for by Randolph Sinclair as well as a bottle of bourbon. I had reminded him that if he was a good and trusted friend that I would consider eliminating his... debt.
If he didn’t honor my request, he would simply face my wrath.
And my list was growing.
I took another glance out the window, studying the encroaching ocean. High tide was only minutes away. To think we’d almost died in the very same waters refueled my anger.
“What are you waiting for?” she asked. “Room service?”
I turned to face her, forced to take a deep breath. Standing in a plush towel, her long hair wrapped in another, she was perhaps the sexiest woman I’d ever seen. My cock was standing at full attention, the roar of desire tightening my balls.
“Yes, but also for certain requirements.”
She tiptoed closer, taking the drink from my hand. After licking the rim, she took a sip then eased the glass onto the dresser. “I need to look at your shoulder and you’re not going to argue with me.” She’d lifted a single eyebrow as she walked closer, making a tsking sound as she tugged on the edge of my shirt, gently rolling it over my shoulders.
The pain was raw, biting, but I’d been fortunate that the bullet had only grazed my shoulder. “And why would I argue?”
As she placed her hand on my chest, sliding her palm in a slow and provocative manner, I inhaled her scent. The hunger intensified as the whiff of orange blossoms and vanilla slipped into my nostrils. Unable to resist, I tugged on the towel wrapped around her head, enjoying the way her long wet strands fell over her shoulders.
“If you’re trying to seduce me in order to get out of answering my questions o
r allowing me to tend to you, you’re going to be very sorry.”
“I do so enjoy when you’re a complete brat.”
As she lightly touched the wound, I winced but the pain was nothing in comparison to the rage. I would no longer be a fool, fodder for a bunch of old men.
“I need to clean this up and I’m serious. It could get infected,” Stephanie said as she grabbed the towel, placing it against the clotted blood. Her lower lip was quivering, her face flushed from anxiety.
She didn’t deserve to experience this kind of fear, worry, or danger.
“I called in a favor,” I said quietly.
“That’s how we got the hotel.”
“Yeah. We need more supplies and cash in order to get to New York unannounced.”
“I understand.”
The light rapping on the door made me reach for a gun that no longer existed. “Go into the bathroom and do not come out until I get you.”
“O-kay.”
I waited until she’d scampered into the room, turning off the light. Randolph had sent a trusted friend to gather items I’d requested. “Who is it?”
“Bart. Got a buddy you know.”
When I opened the door, the older man wasn’t what I would have expected, but in his hand was a duffle bag. I eyed him warily, keeping the door only partially open. “I assume you have what I need.”
“Everything you asked for.” Bart finally lifted his head, blinking twice as he attempted to look into my eyes. He handed me the supplies and walked off. If I had to guess, I’d say he was an ex-con, a man who knew how to keep his eyes and ears shut. I would also guess he owned the judge a favor.
The door relocked, I laid out the items, including the location of a private jet and a Beretta with clips. The thousand dollars in cash would come in handy, the clothes acceptable, the antiseptic and gauze something to make Stephanie happy. The burner phone would allow me to prepare an attack in a different manner. Randolph had come through. We would leave first thing in the morning, giving us time to rest, even developing some kind of plan, at minimum able to present an element of surprise.
“How did you get all this?” she asked, her arms folded as she walked into the room.