Risky Desires (Wolf Security Book 2), page 14
This was not the morning I had planned.
At least I had something to take my thoughts away from the bullshit swirling through my mind.
I lifted the trap door on the deck that was designed to look like a regular section of the floorboards and stepped onto the metal stairs that led down into the hidden room.
Before I was born, Dad had sacrificed two below-deck cabins to build our secret space. The design had a narrow set of stairs that hugged the left-hand side wall, and when we opened both trap doors, we could lower items into the space using the crane.
Halfway down, I flicked on the dim wall lights located on the front and back walls and descended into the cramped space, greeted by the pungent smells from the ocean-ravaged trinkets and rust. The yellow wall light barely illuminated the space, and I hated that it cast a shadow on the corner cabinet which housed our most precious items.
I doubted Dad would join me down here. This secret room was part of the reason Mom was murdered. Dad would forever blame himself for what those ruthless bastards did.
I understood Dad’s reasons for taking that blame, but at the same time, he could never have known what those two fuckers would do.
My mind cascaded to the bastard who looked like a Viking in my favorite kids’ book that Mom had read to me all the time. He had been like a machine, old and calculating. I could still feel his rough hands around my waist as I’d kicked and screamed and fought against the gaffer tape tying my wrists together before he’d wordlessly thrown me overboard.
Shuddering, I mentally slapped that memory from my mind. Now was not the time for that bullshit.
There was never a time for it. If I allowed my mind to go there, the ‘what if’s’ could suck me down like the Bermuda Triangle.
Dad had placed the items that I’d taken from Chui’s bridge on a shelf on the back wall. He must have moved some items away to make them fit. The secret compartment already housed various items that we’d salvaged from wrecks over the years that we either couldn’t sell or didn’t want to sell.
In the corner, concealed within a tiny silver box that Mom had found on an ancient wreck, we had some antique coins that would fetch a decent amount of money. But those gold coins were more priceless to us than what any cutthroat collector would pay.
I picked up the woman’s dive watch I’d found and pressed the side button, but it didn’t turn on. Although I would love to keep the watch, we needed the money more.
I was surprised to hear Dad shuffling down the stairs. Whenever he was forced to come down here, like last night, he always looked so sick afterward. Like Mom’s ghost had shared the secret space.
I placed my hand on his shoulder. “You don’t have to help.”
Lowering his eyes, he nodded and shuffled to the shelving.
Together, we sorted through the items, examining each one under the dim glow of the lights. As much as I knew it was difficult for him to be here, it was nice to have him working with me.
The Nikon D5 DSLR camera was secured inside Nauticam housing and was a fantastic find. I had dreamed of buying a similar camera once, but it was way beyond my budget.
“Check this out, Dad. We could get five grand for this.”
The expression on Dad’s face nearly ripped my heart out.
“Dad.”
He held up the gold locket Mom had found on the morning she was murdered. “Remember this?”
I nodded as a knot wedged in my throat. Mom had been so excited when she’d found that locket amongst the coral bed that had formed around the ancient wreck we’d discovered.
He swallowed so loudly I heard it and sucked in a shaky breath. “We could sell—”
“No.” I clenched my jaw. “We’ll work things out, Dad. I promise.”
He clamped his lips as if fighting a wave of emotions and gently placed the locket into the antique silver box. He gave my arm a squeeze. “I need some fresh air.”
“Okay, Dad,” I said, although I was pretty sure his fresh air would also include a shot or six of whiskey.
As Dad climbed the stairs, I shifted the camera to another shelf, where I planned to add everything on my ‘to be sold’ list.
“Indiana!” Dad’s voice boomed down from above. “Get out of there. We’ve got company coming our way.”
CHAPTER 13
Indiana
I slammed the trap door to the hidden room shut, hoping the oncoming boat didn’t have high-powered binoculars that enabled them to see my movements.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I raced along Rhino’s well-worn deck, keeping in the shadows as I sprinted to the rear. The sun pierced through a gap between two storm clouds, spearing a beam of light right onto the oncoming boat like it was the main act in a show. I lifted my sunglasses and squinting against the glare, I peered through the binoculars. Adjusting the focus, I searched for the encroaching vessel with my pulse thundering in my ears.
The dot in the distance grew, shaping into a sleek rubber boat with an Air/Sea rescue emblem emblazoned on its side. My chest squeezed. Fucking hell.
Tyler Kingsley was at the bow of the boat.
“Damn it,” I muttered.
“Who is it?” The pungent stench of alcohol wafted off Dad’s tongue.
“Kingsley.” I gave Dad the binoculars. “He’s coming in on an Air/Sea rescue boat.”
Twisting his face into a scowl, Dad peered through the binoculars. “What now?”
“Stuffed if I know.”
“He’s like a bad penny.” Dad handed the binoculars back to me.
“He’s worse than that,” I said. “He’s a cop.”
Even as I said the title, the word didn’t hold the bitterness it usually did.
I recognized the young man driving the boat. Jordan was from the Air/Sea rescue team. Maybe he was in charge while Levi was out of action.
The rubber boat bobbed closer, and as the hum of its motor grew louder, closing the distance, Tyler’s wavy black hair whipped in the wind, stubbornly perfect even in disarray.
Jordan cut off the engine, and the boat kissed Rhino’s rear dive deck with a squeal of rubber. Tyler’s boots hit the deck seconds later.
“That’s far enough, Kingsley,” I shouted to him from the next level up.
He swept his mirrored glasses off his face and aimed his piercing blue eyes at me like they were heat-seeking missiles.
“What do you want now?” My words were sharp enough to cut off his head.
“We need your help again, Indiana.”
“Hell no. I’m not a damn charity. Besides, I paid my duty and—”
“I know.” He paused as if letting that sink in. “Aria’s offering ten thousand dollars.”
Halting my jaw from dropping, I released a mocking huff. “Ten grand? I’ll believe that when I see it.”
He tugged his phone from his shorts pocket. “Tell me your bank account and you’ll have it within minutes.”
I crossed my arms. “What’s the catch?”
“We found a tracking device in Chui’s yacht. It was damaged and Cobra is still trying to decipher the data, but they found a signal deep out in the ocean. They need your help to investigate it.”
Ten grand could float Rhino for months and keep the wolves at bay. I bit down on my lip, feeling the scar on my forehead pull tight. The offer was tempting, even though resentment bubbled inside me. I hated the damn authorities telling me what to do.
“What if we don’t find anything?” I asked.
“You get to keep the money, and we’ll have had a bit of fun.” Wriggling his eyebrows, he pulled his sunglasses back down.
Why does he have to look so damn sexy?
“Tell Aria, if she gets twenty grand in my account in an hour, she has a deal.”
“She said you might say that. Deal.”
Damn it. I should have asked for thirty grand.
He reached into the rubber boat and pulled out two bags.
“Don’t tell me you brought your coffee machine again?”
He chuckled as he plonked the two bags onto the deck.
“Thanks for the lift, Jordan,” he said, and he pushed the boat off Rhino’s side.
Jordan saluted me, then revved the engine to full and powered away.
Tyler hoisted his bags, and as he strolled toward me, I stood my ground.
“Money first, Officer Fancy Pants.”
He lowered the bags and pulled out his phone. He held it up, possibly looking for a signal, then he dialed a number. I hated that his mirrored glasses hid his eyes, and I also hated that I actually wanted to see those stunning blue irises of his.
I put my foot up onto the railing and ran my gaze up his body. He must work out to keep so fit. His dark hair was so healthy it glistened in the sun. He probably used expensive shampoo and paid for a pricy gym membership. Even his shorts and T-shirt looked like they were designer quality. I couldn’t remember the last time I bought new clothing. No need when I barely left this boat.
“Hey, Aria,” he said into the phone, his voice all business. “Indiana has agreed to twenty grand. Yep. Okay. Of course. Will do.”
He ended the call and looked up at me. “Aria said she’ll ask Zac to transfer the money immediately.”
My heart skipped a beat. Twenty grand!
Today is payday, after all.
Yet it was so weird that I believed him. I hadn’t met a cop yet who hadn’t fucked us over.
“Here.” He handed me his phone. “Send Aria your bank account details.”
We had a Mexican stand-off for a few beats before I typed my bank account details into a text message to Aria. I handed the phone back to Tyler, and he picked up his bags.
I should have made him wait until the money showed up, but instead, I said, “You really do have your coffee machine. Don’t you?”
“Sure do.”
Groaning, I turned my back on him and marched away.
I stepped into the shade of the hut, and Dad jolted back like I’d caught him stealing booze from his ‘secret’ stash. The old Vegemite jar that doubled as his whiskey glass was half full, and I couldn’t decide if he’d just topped it up or he was halfway through finishing the drink. The time of day was irrelevant when it came to Dad’s addiction.
The bittersweet smell of booze was woven into the fabric of my childhood and went hand in hand with who my father was. The bottle next to the glass was one taken from Chui’s boat. I should have told him to put the bottle away, but Dad wouldn’t, and also, I shouldn’t give a flying hoot what Tyler thought about the expensive liquor.
I turned on the kettle, and with my back against the fridge, I watched Tyler pull his coffee machine from his bag and set it up. The machine looked brand new, and so did his bags. Or maybe Tyler hated getting dirty.
This was the wrong boat for that kind of mentality.
Tyler cradled his coffee machine like a precious artifact, and I rolled my eyes at the absurdity. Here we were, roughing it on the open sea, and this man was worried about his caffeine fix. I wondered if his woman received such dedication.
Did he have a woman?
Indiana! You don’t fucking care.
The machine sputtered to life, and the rich coffee aroma mingled with the salty air. Despite myself, the scent was inviting. Tyler’s love for good coffee bordered on extreme, a stark contrast to my own indifference.
He was taking forever, and certain it was to piss me off, I said, “Kingsley, have you got the info on where we’re going or not?”
He clicked his fingers, and when he bent over to reach into his bag, I got a fabulous view of his butt.
Dad made a noise like he’d swallowed his tongue, and I glared at him.
“Okay, here we go.” Tyler unfolded a piece of paper which was actually six sheets of A4 taped together. “May I?”
He pointed at the coffee table, and after Dad removed his drink and whiskey bottle, Tyler laid the pages out on the table.
“Ryder told me that you would be able to work this out,” he said.
“Ryder, huh?” I still had a beef with him. That bastard had me arrested, and after everything Dad and I did to save Piper for him.
I was in two minds about telling Tyler the deal was off, when I remembered the twenty grand. That was an amount I couldn’t refuse. Then again, if that money was already in my bank, then maybe I could fudge this search to suit me.
No. I wouldn’t do that. Dad and I did some things that skirted the law, but outright lying was not in our wheelhouse.
I leaned over the map, zeroing in on the spot Tyler pointed at.
“That’s in the middle of nowhere,” I said.
“That’s what Ryder said.”
“Why doesn’t he go there then?”
“The Border Force boats are out of action. One of them was attacked with armor-piercing bullets and has been written off. Did you know about that?”
I nodded. “What about the planes?”
“They are all up in Townsville at the moment.”
“That’d be right.”
Tyler sat beside Dad and rested his hands on his bare knees. “So that’s why we need your help. Do you know where that is?”
“Yeah. Unfortunately. How do you know there’s something out there?”
“Because the DIMS pointed at another—”
“DIMS? What the fuck’s that?” Dad growled at Tyler.
“Sorry. We found a specialized computer in that yacht you salvaged that looks to be Chui’s Drug Inventory Management System. DIMS.”
Dad’s brows thumped together.
“Maybe that dot relates to where that shipping container fell off the ship?” I said.
“Maybe.” Tyler scrunched his nose. “Maybe not.”
“Have you caught the assholes involved in that case?” My mind formed a rotten picture of those poor victims floating around in that shipping container after it toppled overboard.
“Unfortunately not. But I’ll get those bastards.” Tyler clenched his jaw. “What those victims went through—”
He shook his head, and a cocktail of sorrow and anger crossed his expression.
I studied him. Tyler meant every word. Maybe he was a cop who got results, after all.
Maybe I could ask him to investigate Mom’s cold case.
“If it was that container, why would that DIM thingy still be sending off a signal?” I asked.
“That’s why we need to investigate it.”
“But surely that computer was encrypted, and didn’t you say it was damaged? Maybe it’s all crap?” I frowned at him.
“Cobra is highly skilled at cracking computer code.”
“What’s Cobra?” Dad scowled.
“Sorry, Cole Tanner. He works with Aria.”
“Jeez.” Dad huffed. “What is it with that lot? Cobra, Blade, Viper. Who do they think they are?”
I knew who they were, and those incredible soldiers could call themselves anything they wanted. But that was a conversation for another time.
“Cole is still working on the computer.” Tyler stood and walked to the coffee machine. “But the DIMS did correctly pinpoint a drug den that you found in the Everglades. We were just lucky that you were able to find that place in the middle of nowhere first.”
Kudos to Tyler. Rubbing Dad up the right way was going to win him brownie points.
Dad swiped his hand like he was swatting away a ghost. “It was nothing.”
“It wasn’t nothing. But anyway, the fact that it pinpointed that site gives us hope that the DIMS will help us locate more of Chui’s assets.”
The coffee machine changed in tone, and black liquid dripped into the cup he’d also brought with him. The delicious smell made my mouth water.
“I’ll get us going,” I said. “That spot on the map is a long way out.”
“Great. Want me to make you a coffee?” Tyler grinned, making that dimple in his chin somehow sexier.
I would give anything for a coffee, but there was no way I would give Tyler an opening.
I strode from the hut. As I headed toward the bridge, a cry of seagulls swooping over Kangaroo Island added to the waves slapping against Rhino’s hull. My gut churned as I wondered if making this agreement with Tyler and Aria was making a deal with the devil. It was always Dad and I against the cops, not working with them.
What the hell just happened?
As I strode onto the bridge and the overdue notices on the corkboard fluttered in the morning breeze, I convinced myself that it wasn’t Tyler that loosened my stance on trusting cops, it was the promise of keeping Rhino afloat a little longer.
I pressed the buttons to haul up all four anchors, and the grinding noise reverberated through my feet. Once the anchors were back onboard, I started Rhino’s engine, and the beast rumbled to life, shuddering the walls around me. Lifting my binoculars, I scanned the horizon. Other than a massive cargo ship on the eastern horizon, the waters were clear.
Turning the steering wheel hard right, I aimed Rhino away from Pineapple Reef and pushed the throttle forward.
“Hello, captain.” Tyler entered the bridge.
I jolted. “Christ Almighty, Kingsley. What did I tell you about sneaking up on me?”
“Sorry.” He winced. “Brought you coffee.”
He tentatively placed a coffee mug on the counter in front of me.
I squinted at him.
“Two scoops of Nescafe Blend 43 instant coffee and three sugars,” he said. “That’s how you like it, right?”
He clenched his jaw like he was trying not to smirk.
Fighting the urge to giggle, I said, “Don’t make me regret this.”
“Life’s too short for regrets.” He winked at me, turned, and strolled away.
My gaze fell on his sexy ass.
Twenty grand to check that butt out . . . I’ll take that.
Once Rhino was out of Pineapple Reef’s turbulence, I set a course for the mystery dot on Tyler’s map and coaxed the engine to maximum speed. But even with Rhino at full speed, our destination was going to take all day.
I did a double-take when Dad led Tyler past the bridge out to the bow. They both carried coffee mugs.
