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Time to break up the party.
Counting three guys in black gear and machine guns, I waited for the signal that all the other men on deck had been taken out.
The few minutes it took to hear the three clicks in my comms seemed to take years, the sound of a hand hitting flesh again and again testing my self-control.
One last glance through the window confirmed all attention was on the hostage getting the shit beaten out of them. Bad for them, but fortunate for me.
Easing inside, I shot two guys with tranquilizers before they even knew I was there.
The third man turned my way but was down before he’d even touched his gun. That only left the hostages, who looked at me as if I was about to take them out next.
I holstered my gun and held my hands up. “I’m with Locked Security. We’re here to get you home.”
Once they realized I didn’t mean them any harm, they all started talking over each other.
The headache that had been slowly building all day developed into a throbbing ache. “Calm down. We’ll get you out of here as soon as the chopper arrives.”
Ignoring the questions hurled at me, I made my way to the form slumped on the ground. I saw shapely tanned legs first, followed by jean shorts and a white blouse spattered with blood. The mass of shiny blonde hair was hanging over her face, making it hard to see how badly she was hurt or if she was even awake.
Kneeling next to the prone form, I put my hand on her arm, only for her to flinch back. “Ma’am, are you okay? My name is—”
“Archer,” a pained whisper interrupted me.
I was wearing my full tactical gear, which included a mask. It would be hard to recognize me. Confused who would know me by my voice alone, I brushed the silky strands off her face and froze at who was lying in front of me. “Thea.”
It came out strangled, my brain unable to comprehend her bruised and bloodied face.
“You mind giving me a hand up?” Her voice already sounded stronger and more like the woman I’d known most of my life.
Unsure where to touch her, since her whole body was one big bruise, I settled on her shoulders, sitting her up.
She groaned but didn’t protest, just gritted her teeth, ignoring the lonely tear tracking down her cheek.
She lifted her gaze, and our eyes met. A barely contained fire raced through my blood upon looking at her familiar moss-green eyes. Or eye, rather, since one was almost swollen shut. Even bruised and battered she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. And the one I could never have.
My hands tightened on her at the sight, and she groaned in pain. Immediately loosening my hold, I grimaced. “Shit, sorry.”
Holding on to my arm, she pulled herself up to standing only to double over with a grimace, pressing her hand to her middle. She took a few deep breaths while I stood frozen. I’d never felt so helpless.
What is Thea doing on a boat in the middle of the ocean?
Righting herself, she focused her attention back on me. “Why are you here?”
“I’m working for Locked Security. And since we were the closest team, you got us.” I couldn’t take my eyes off her, the surprise of seeing her making it hard to hide my feelings. “Can you tell me where your husband is? We were told that both of you are on board.”
The reminder that she was now married doused the fire in my veins with a large bucket of ice.
Startling at my now-harsh voice, she grimaced. “He’s not on board. Everyone who was is in this room right now.”
I frowned, my hands forming fists to stop myself from reaching out to her whenever she groaned in pain. “Why would port authorities think there was one extra passenger?”
“Just a mistake. He didn’t join us for the trip.”
My teammates interrupted whatever reply I had.
“Good job, newbie,” Chase said, slapping me on the back, assessing the room. “But we’re missing a hostage.”
Turning away from Thea, who was now with Devon, our team’s medic, I shook my head. “Everyone’s accounted for. Apparently the husband wasn’t on board.”
