His eyes began to burn from the tears that threaten to let loose. "Max was the one who reminded me that God hadn't forgotten me."
Taylor stepped toward him tracing her fingers along his scars. "I can't imagine what you had to face alone, but the man that I've witnessed the last few days is fighting a fight that many will never know exists because of good men like you standing in the gap to protect the innocent. You found a way."
"No, God found a way." Kam captured her hand. "I just decided to stop being angry long enough to follow His guidance."
"And what about now? Are you still angry?"
"At the injustice in the world? Sure. At God? No." The confession set the last part of him free. Kam, for the first time in three years, felt the full weight of his situation be lifted completely off his shoulders.
Taylor tugged the engagement ring on her necklace out from under her collar. "Let's get out of here then so that you can officially put this back on my finger."
Kam scanned the room. "We need to get off this ship. Then we can connect with Agent Schulz and set a trap."
"We need to get out of this room first." Taylor walked toward the door then looked up. "I think I can fit through that vent, if you can give me a boost."
Kam interlocked his fingers and squatted down. She placed her hand on his shoulders and her foot in his hands. "Are you sure about this?"
As long as he didn't pass out from the pain, he'd do anything to get them out of here. He'd be no good to her unconscious.
The door banged open again. "I figured you'd get out of those bonds," Katarina sneered. Did the woman not know how to open a door without making it bash against the wall? "It is good to know that you two are strong enough to make for a good chase."
Kam dropped Taylor's foot and stood in front of her.
Katarina tossed a shirt at Kam. "Dasha is ready for your answer."
Taylor stepped forward and took Kam's hand. He just prayed she'd follow his lead. Katarina turned as if she expected them to follow and that's what he planned to do until God showed him how to get off this boat.
Taylor looked at him, complete trust in her eyes. "I'll go where you go." He knew that she was talking about their current situation, but the promise those words gave him the strength to keep going. He needed God to get them out of this so he could see what came next.
CHAPTER 10
Kam held on to the rail in the narrow hallway as the ship pitched back and forth. They were clearly no longer in the calmer waters of Resurrection Bay. Out on the open waters of the Gulf of Alaska a calm day could still pitch a boat relentlessly. If only he could find a window or stairs to the upper decks to get his bearings.
The smell of salt and diesel mixed with stale coffee as they walked into the mess hall. There were a few crew members gathered around the small tables screwed to the floor. No one paid them any attention as Katarina led them out the door on the other side of the hall.
"Those people wouldn't even look at us," Taylor whispered to him.
"Would you want to make eye contact with whoever was with her?" Kam nodded toward Katarina who was already headed up a set of stairs at the end of the hallway.
Kam peered into one of the doors that lined hall. Two bunks on either side of the room had curtains drawn to give each privacy. A small port hole between them showed the wanning light of day.
"Dvigat'sya." Katarina commanded them to keep moving from her perch halfway up the stairs.
The bridge came into view as they climbed the stairs—glass panels looked out over a restless sea, instruments glowed like constellations in the dimming light. Looming in the distance were black outlines of islands that Kam didn't recognize from this far away. Kam needed to see the radar to get a better read of where exactly they were in the Gulf of Alaska.
The bow of the ship dipped and rose with each passing wave, but Dasha Volkov stood resolute next to the captain at the helm. "Did you accept my offer?"
Kam squeezed Taylor's hand one last time before releasing it. "We will bring Ian to you."
"Kam, you can't…" Kam put up his hand to stop Taylor's objection.
"Good. You have forty-eight hours to bring him to these coordinates." Dasha handed him a piece of paper.
"That's not enough time." Kam took a step towards the radar screen; he needed to see where they were. The captain gave him a side eye that sent a clear warning to not come closer.
"If you can't deliver—" Dasha nodded her head and Katarina grabbed Taylor around her waist— "we will keep her."
Taylor slammed her head back towards Katarina, but the operative saw the move coming and spun Taylor up against the wall. Kam took the distraction to strike Dasha in the throat. Dasha stumbled back into the console gasping for breath. The captain's elbow connected with the makeshift bandage covering the wound he earned from Katarina. Pain exploded up his side and spots danced in his eyes, but he refused to go down.
