Page 263

She rises with both bound hands wrapped around the grip.

“Stop!”

Donald freezes.

Simon does not.

He reaches beneath his jacket.

A dark figure emerges from the bridge door behind him.

Ben drives his shoulder into Simon’s back.

They hit the deck together.

My heart stops.

Ben’s injured leg folds beneath him, but he keeps one arm locked around Simon’s neck. Simon elbows him in the ribs and reaches for the weapon beneath his jacket.

Ben catches his wrist.

Scott and Mark rush from the bridge.

Donald lunges toward Naomi.

She swings the gun toward him.

“Take one more step.”

He stops.

John appears behind Donald and presses his weapon between his shoulder blades.

“Listen to her.”

Donald slowly lifts his hands.

Piers reaches Naomi and removes the gun from her grip.

“You’re safe.”

“No,” she gasps. “Captain Marquez is below.”

“We’ll get him.”

“Simon said he wired the engine room.”

Ben hears her.

He twists Simon’s arm behind his back and forces him against the deck.

“Where are the explosives?”

Simon laughs.

Blood runs from the corner of his mouth.

“You’re supposed to be dead.”