Page 55 (1/2)

Juan had ger-sharp remains of his carbon fiber foot sliced into the taut rabbed his attacker’s shoulders, drawing the guard toward hi

The sensation of the artificial liuard’s stohtuard aside as his screales, and finally silence

He staggered to his feet The back half of the yacht was engulfed in fire, flames torn almost horizontal by the powerful wind There was no way to battle the conflagration so Juan stepped to the side of the boat He eased over the railing and lowered himself to the deck He knelt and quickly rinsed his prosthesis in the sea

“Sloane,” he shouted into the night “You can come out now”

Her face eainst the dark night Slowly, she rose from a crouch and came toward him Juan hobbled across the deck to o wide Her an to open but Juan had already anticipated her warning He whirled, his da out from under hiuard appeared on the yacht’s foredeck, carrying a pistol in one hand and a briefcase in the other He was also a second faster than Cabrillo

His weapon cracked once as Juan continued to lose his balance, falling as if in slow ered off two rounds as his backside connected with the dock The first un flew froers and the case clattered onto the floating pier

He turned to look at Sloane

She was on her knees, her hand pressed into her underarony

Juan slithered to her side

“Hold on, Sloane, hold on,” he soothed “Let me see”

He gently raised her arh her teeth Tears leaked from her eyes Her blood was hot and slick as Juan felt for the wound and when he accidentally touched the torn flesh Sloane cried out

“Sorry”

He pulled her blouse away froers into the rent torn by the bullet, and ripped the fabric apart so he could see the entry point He used a flap of cloth to softly wipe away so and erratic but he could see that the bullet had gouged a two-inch trench along the rib cage under her arm

He looked into her eyes “You’re going to be okay I don’t think it penetrated It just grazed you”

“It hurts, Juan, oh sweet God, it hurts”