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So where the fk was the plane?

I sto in the distance to limpse the white and black twin prop Otter so

"Are you Mr Mercer?" a youngish man asked He had short black hair and a face that’d been tanned and weathered by the sun My fingers twitched in preparation I no longer trusted anyone--especially foreign strangers

Scowling, I nodded "Yes Captain Morroas supposed to be here He’s on call"

The ned instead" His white unifor black buttons and a crest of an embroidered wave on the pocket, marked him as one of the many yacht crew in the port "I’m afraid the captain is currently in hospital, sir Triple bypass, unfortunately I’ve been asked to escort you to where you want to go on one of the newest speedboats in our fleet"

Twisting his torso, he pointed at a sleek white and silver vessel that looked like a bullet on the water Mahogany and cherry wood decorated the interior panels glea chance

"I’ was my one passion--the air was meant to be explored with the help of thrusters and powerful turbines The ocean--that was meant to be avoided at all costs I hated the water I hated how innocent it looked at first glance, but beneath the depths it hid er to drown unsuspecting victims

"We wouldn’t sail, sir It has a top speed of fifty-eight knots You’ll be holding on for dear life while tears strearinned

I wanted to punch him What if he’d been hired to take us out to sea and dispatch us on behalf of Eon and his concubine hoard, or the Rattlesnake assles in Australia with their hareed-up slaves?

"Surely there’s another pilot who can fly the Otter?"

"Q?" Tess appeared by my shoulder, flanked by Franco Her eyes landed on theokay, boss?" Franco asked, eyeing up the speedboat captain with a glint best described as wolf-like Franco had embraced e’d done in Rio, and I had no doubt he’d like to have a reason to do it again

"Apparently our pilot is on his death bed, and our transportation now includes a fliy, sir It’s a top-of-the-line vessel And unfortunately it’s your only option as the Otter is in for its regular maintenance and the other seaplane operators are fully booked this ith a Japanese tour group" Bill raised an eyebrow "If you want to travel, I’m your only option"

"A boat doesn’t sound so bad," Tess said, s at Bill She may look unafraid and cool but no one knew her like I did The nuances of the way she held herself hinted she didn’t like being around strangers

I glanced at the line of boats all bobbing like fking corks in the water So unreliable So rudioing I’ve been sworn to secrecy and was told you’d provide coordinates"

Shit, yet another bribe-able hurave;re Was there another way?

Bill seehts "I’lanced at Tess She seemed fairly relaxed--not too tense I trusted her instincts and she wasn’t throwing off alarnals

"Fine It’s 290580 North and 168796 West How long?"

Bill’s forehead furrowed, doing some quick math "About thirty to fortyoverboard at top speed"

I glowered

"If it’s the only option, it’s the only option," Franco said, stating the fking obvious

We’d only been away from home for five hours, and I already missed the security and sanctuary ofTess’s elbow, I guided her toward the sparkling white speedboat State of the art instru et on board?

Bill dashed past us, hurling hiular seafarer The creaking of the salt-drenched pier sounded haunted as he placed a sap In another second, he’d attached a handrail, beckoning us across

"You go first" I s, striding over the plank Bill took the duffels and placed theany bench seats

Tess went to ers around her wrist I hated the thought of letting go--even though I’d be able to touch her the ers released, and I cursed the burn deep inside me I needed the ‘Q’ branded on her neck to be in full view I needed everyone to see who her way, following Franco’s exaer filled me when Bill’s eyes lit up He offered her his hand to juhts to touch noring the plank, I leapt over the side, narrowly e into the sea, and spun to offer ave liders and parachutes, and I was fine; puthated every moment of it

Tess looked between ether She knehat I was doing She kneouldn’t let him touch her, and she knew exactly what I would do if she took his hand over as

With a soft sers looped with overned byher delicate, very breakable touch in mine turned the man into a monster, and fk I wanted her I wanted her spread below ed and chained, so I could worship her for hours

Squeezing ht hold onher the small distance doard, I deliberately kept her body away from mine I sed hard "Tu vas bien?"You okay?

She nodded Her lips parted, and the scent of mint and Tess’s unique smell enveloped me "Yes I’ why? Why did she trust iven me? She’d been stolen when she’d been with me Taken when I’d prouilt