Page 38 (1/2)

Looking down at the ocean far beloas a dizzying experience froht Zane sed hard, turned his back to the water, and glanced back the way they cah theon deck and closing in fast When he heard loud footfalls, he turned to chase after the others

When he made the next turn, Zane skidded to a stop Bianchi, Norina, and Ty all stood in the , and there was no other exit except the way they had co

Bianchi and Norina were holding close to one another, backing toward the railing as Ty stood in front of theator skin stilettos, as if he could protect the two people behind them when they were attacked Zane wouldn"t put it past Ty Grady to be lethal with a pair of high heels in close quarters But theThey"d shoot first

Ty met Zane"s eyes, and it was obvious even before he said anything that they"d finally hit the end of the line There was nowhere to run

Behind hi around inside the mechanical compartment They"d blocked the door as best they could, but it wouldn"t hold the He hurried over to his partner

Ty looked up at the awning, then behind the He shook his head "Only way out is down," he said breathlessly He looked at Zane "We have to juripped his ar "The pool is down there We"re lucky--they have the roof retracted for the eather," he said as he peered over When Ty spoke again he was yelling, giving orders to Norina and Bianchi "Gather the cushions off these loungers, toss them over Try to hit the water," he barked as he tossed the shoes aside and began doing the very thing he"d told them to

Zane watched as Ty yanked the first thick cushion off one of the loungers and tossed it like an over-sized discus over the railing He didn"t wait to see where it landed but hurried to the next chair Bianchi soonat his heels

"But I do not understand!" she said as she struggled with one of the heavy cushions "Why ht when you hit water froht to the botto concrete," Ty answered as he tossed another of the cushions over the railing He turned to Norina and grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the railing

"Wait!" she cried, and she yanked away froathered her heels and her ruined purse She slid the shoes on and straightened her shoulders "I will go as a lady should," she claimed bravely "In patent leather heels"

Ty actually cracked a s "When you jump, make sure you ai and iers over her ht stop They"d be falling three decks or so down to the pool

"Co," Bianchi said in a shaky voice as he helped her cli He kissed her hard and fast, and as she started to speak rapidly in Italian, he threw her off the side Ty and Bianchi both watched her fall,certain she hit the cushions like she was supposed to Listening to her thin wail and the distant splash that followed, Zane flinched as Bianchi thu as well

Zane heard the next splash and hurried back across the deck to check the ay He was just in ti of the side of the ship, alot to ," Zane said, his pulse pounding as he sloalked backward, watching the hunters approach

"Coed in a low, tense voice When Zane finally looked to hi his hand out But Zane couldn"tas he looked at Ty, and he distantly admitted to himself that he was scared out of his mind

Ty waited a few heartbeats; then he slid off the railing, crossed the ten feet between theh "Come on, Zane There"s no other way Please"

Zane had to force the words out as he gripped Ty"s hand like the lifeline it was and stared at his lover "I can"t," he breathed He would have backed away like he had at the cliffs, but he could hear the pounding footsteps approaching

Ty"s eyes darted to look over Zane"s shoulder, and Zane knehat he was seeing without having to turn They didn"t have much time Those hazel eyes he was so fa and anxious "Please, baby I don"t want to die up here with you," he said with a weak laugh

"No," Zane said painfully The thought of hi the cause of Ty"s death was toohand loose froently "Go ju you up here," Ty growled as he took Zane"s hand again This tith was hard to fight, and Ty got hi "If I have to push you over I will, but then you won"t be able to ai and I"ll never hear the end of it," Ty grumbled at him almost under his breath as he looked behind them at the three-story drop

Zane wrapped his free hand around the railing in a death grip

"I"aze Visions of falling warred with the sight of Ty nearly begging hiht then and there

The first ill-advised shot sent through a decorative grating rang out, pinging off the awning above their heads Ty ducked instinctively, but he didn"t take his eyes off Zane Ty"s eyes had always been easy for Zane to read, and noas desperate and scared and not trying to hide it He put one hand on Zane"s cheek, squeezing Zane"s fingers with the other "Zane," he whispered brokenly He hesitated, hisout Another shot, this one closer and slightly ether as sparks fro cautiously in case their quarry was ar out

"Zane," Ty repeated desperately as he stood and pulled Zane closer to the edge before clihtening on Zane"s hand in case he tried to pull away

"Please trust me"