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Julia held her sister’s face in her hands. “If you want to live, you’ll shut up and keepmoving.”
The gunfire was louder now that they were closer to the back of the boat, and Julia could hear crashing overhead that could only mean someone was fighting on thebridge.
She kept her weapon ready and tried not to think about how easy it had been to kill someone, how eager she was to do it again. All the pain and frustration of the past months was leaking out of her, unleashed on the men trying to keep her from leaving with hersister.
She kept her weapon raised and moved, expecting another obstacle around every corner, ready to deal with it when itcame.
* * *
Ronan tippedthe dead man into the water and turned to see Braden racing down the stairs from the bridge, blood leaking from a cut above his lefteye.
“One of the crew got off a radio message before I got rid of him,” he said. “I’m guessing reinforcements are on theway.”
The sudden quiet was deafening. Either they’d dealt with all the guards on the boat or there were others belowdeck, mobilizing for anotherattack.
“How long?” Nickasked.
“Hard to say.” Braden stepped onto the deck. “But we should get out ofhere.”
“Get the boat ready,” Ronan said, heading for the Elysium’s interior. “Don’t leave withoutus.”
He was almost to the first set of stairs when Julia emerged from belowdeck. She stepped into the lounge off the stern, dragging a hollow-eyed Elise behind her. “What are we waiting for? Let’s get the hell out ofhere.”
Ronan looked at Braden and Nick. “You heard her. Let’sgo.”
“I’ll get rid of the second boat,” Braden said, heading for the boat’s portside.
Ronan made his way to the motorboat suspended on the starboard side. He used the button to lower the boat until it was level with the deck of theElysium.
He helped Elise and Julia into the boat, then waited while Nick climbed in after them. A splash sounded from the other side of the ship and Braden reappeared alongsideRonan.
“Get in,” Ronansaid.
“Someone has to stay and lower the boat,” Bradensaid.
Ronan held his gaze. “I’maware.”
“Get in the boat, Ronan.” It was Julia’s voice, and he forced himself not to look ather.
“We don’t have time to argue,” Ronan said. “I’ll do exactly what you would do — lower the boat and jump in after you. You can pull meaboard.”
Braden had barely stepped into the boat when Ronan pushed the button. The last thing he saw was Julia glaring at him, tears leaking down hercheeks.
He watched over the side until the boat hit the water. Nick started the motor and maneuvered it away from theElysium.
Ronan stepped over the railing, wondering how long it had been since the Elysium’s crew had radioed for help, wondering if they’d have time to get away before helicopters shone spotlights over the water around theElysium.
There was nothing to do butjump.
34
Ronan saton a rock by the river and watched as Julia and Elise picked their way upstream, Chief sniffing the ground around them. Julia stood close to her sister, assuming a protective posture Ronan had become familiar with in the month since they’d returned fromGreece.
They were in the woods surrounding John Taylor’s house outside the city. The place seemed to be a comfort to Elise, and Julia had taken to walking with her sister in the evenings as the summer wore on, the days getting longer andhotter.
Sometimes Ronan stayed at the house, pretending to listen to John’s stories about the Army when he was really counting the minutes Julia and Elise had been gone, forcing himself not to trail them through the woods just to make sure they weresafe.
It was an impulse that had gotten even more powerful in the week since Julia received an unmarked envelope on the doorstep of the apartment she shared withElise.
