Christmas Captive, page 2
Maybe she was just tired.
But there was something about the way her voice shook when she said she felt like she was being watched. As far as cruise ships went, this was a fairly small specimen. But there were still enough people aboard that no one was really alone. At least, not for long. Maybe Elaina was just tuned in to the constant buzz of human activity.
Or maybe someone was watching her.
An elbow bumped into her stationary shoulder, and Amy jerked back, her fist automatically cocked beneath her chin.
But when she met her would-be attacker’s eyes, she realized it was only Jordan and let out a quick sigh.
“Sorry about that,” he muttered. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
He opened his mouth as if he wanted to continue their endless apology dance, but she was done. Done with him. Done for the night. Done forever. So she took her excuse and ran with it. “I have to get Elaina back to her suite. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He nodded, and if he tried to say anything else, it was lost as the DJ turned the bass up.
Grabbing Elaina’s hand, she spun the girl toward the edge of the dance floor and the nearest exit. “It’s off to bed for us,” she singsonged despite Elaina’s frown. But the yawn that cracked her jaw once again proved that the girl was ready for some peace and a full night of sleep, whether she’d admit it or not.
As they climbed the steps to the next level, Elaina asked, “Do you think my dad’ll be there?”
“We danced for almost an hour, so I’m sure he’s back from his phone call by now. And he’s probably worried about you.”
Elaina shook her head. “He’ll know I’m with you.” Suddenly the smooth skin of her face wrinkled with concern. “Will you stay with me if he’s not there?”
Amy’s heart tripped at the fear that laced the girl’s words. Something was clearly off. Something that she couldn’t quite pinpoint. But after five years with the DEA and three with the Marines before that, Amy had learned to listen to fear. She refused to let it control her, but a little healthy fear had kept her alive more than once.
“Of course. You know I’ll always stay with you.”
With a squeeze of her hand, Elaina rested her head against Amy’s arm. “Promise?”
The plea was familiar. Probably because Amy had asked it herself a hundred times when she was about her niece’s age.
But before she could respond, a wave of goose bumps rushed down her arms. Along the interior hallway there wasn’t a breeze off the ocean to chill her. But something had set off her internal alarms.
“You okay, Aunt Amy?”
She whipped her head around to look behind them. The hallway was empty. “Sure.” She tried to sound more certain than she felt.
There was a weight on her skin, like someone was watching them. Except they were all alone...weren’t they?
And yet the sensation of being watched was as tangible as Elaina’s hand in hers.
Maybe it was habit or so many years of training, but Amy grabbed the girl and pushed her into a shallow doorway, using her own body as cover. Amy measured her breaths to keep them silent, but Elaina knew no such trick. Her gasps were ragged, and they echoed in the corridor.
She couldn’t identify the source of her concern, and this was the first time she’d felt this way on this cruise. But there was no doubt. Something was going on.
It had scared Elaina.
And now it was turning up every single one of Amy’s protective instincts.
She peeked out from the little notch, looking both ways, but saw no one. Not even a shadow. The hallway lights had been dimmed, but there was still plenty to illuminate a moving figure.
And there was no one there.
She backed up, pulling Elaina with her and pressing the girl against her side. “Stay close.”
Elaina nodded against her.
Heart thumping faster than usual, Amy took another look behind them. Maybe it would be better to backtrack. To find someone else from the wedding party.
Or she could keep going to the nearest protected place. Elaina’s suite.
With slow, methodical steps she worked her way to the end of the hall, where it intersected with another. There she peeked around the corner. Two large forms were approaching and Amy jerked back, pressing Elaina against the wall behind them. Stretching a finger across her lips, she made the universal sign for quiet as heavy footsteps drew nearer.
“Where’s the girl? She was supposed to be back by now.”
“I don’t know. I was with you. Remember?”
It sounded like the sarcastic guy got punched, and his groan echoed.
“Shut up. Don’t try to be funny. I’ll call the boss. He’ll know where the ambassador’s daughter is.”
Elaina flinched, a gasp escaping. She flung a hand over her mouth and stared at Amy with wild eyes that asked the only important question. Are they talking about me?
Of course they were. What were the odds there was another ambassador’s daughter aboard this ship?
Amy felt suddenly sick, bile rising in the back of her throat. This had gone from an instinctual concern to a serious threat in seconds. They had to get out of there, away from these men, who had clearly been watching Elaina.
“We don’t know where she is. She’s not back at her room yet,” said the guy who’d announced he was going to call the boss.
The undeniable crackle of a walkie-talkie bounced down the hallway, but Amy couldn’t understand what had been said.
“Sure. We’ll get her before they arrive.” Shoving his friend, he said, “Start looking.”
Who was they? And what exactly did they want with Elaina Torres?
Whatever it was wasn’t good. And Amy couldn’t wait around to find out.
The deep voices dropped low, and then their footsteps stopped for a long moment before one took off in the other direction. Her heart kicked into overdrive. This was their chance to make a break for it.
Leaning down, she whispered to Elaina, “Hold my hand and don’t let go.”
“Are we going to find my dad?”
They were going to find safety and get help. No matter what.
TWO
Amy held Elaina’s hand so tightly that their fingers shook. Or maybe that was the rest of them. Still, she pulled the girl in her wake, keeping her steps as silent and swift as possible. The halls were nearly deserted, most guests enjoying the entertainment on deck.
Her rough breathing echoed so loudly in her own head that she couldn’t hear if either of the men had spotted them. And if they did, would they recognize Elaina as their mark?
“Hey!” The booming voice behind them seemed to rattle the cabin doors. “Stop!”
They’d been spotted. And apparently recognized.
Elaina slowed down, trying to look over her shoulder, pulling on Amy’s arm.
“Keep running,” Amy ordered. “Stay with me. Don’t look back.”
The little girl nodded, but her shorter legs stumbled as she tried to keep up.
There wasn’t time to stop and boost Elaina onto her back, but neither could the girl’s smaller feet keep up on her own. Amy pulled her close and swung her into her arms, the additional weight making every step twice as hard.
Another hallway crossed in front of them. One that would lead to the stairwell that would take them back to the deck. Then they’d be in the open. And maybe near security.
Please, God, let there be a security guard on the deck.
Feet slapping the carpet, she held every muscle in check as they approached the turn, leaning to counterbalance the weight in her arms.
“Stop right there!”
She hunched her shoulders against the anticipated gunshot, then remembered she was on a cruise ship, not in the field. She expected the possibility of being shot at on a DEA assignment. She wanted to believe that she wouldn’t have to deal with that here, on the ship where no one was legally permitted to carry weapons, but she couldn’t be sure.
The problem was that she didn’t know what to expect here. She hadn’t gotten a good look at the men talking about Elaina. There was no intel to identify their motive, their usual methods of attack or a list of their weapons.
If she’d been in the field, alone or with her partner, she’d have looked for a strategic place to make a stand. She’d have turned and fought. She’d have disarmed first and asked questions later.
But right now there was no place to stash Elaina where she would be safe. And the girl’s protection was all that mattered for the moment. Making a stand would put the girl at risk, so it wasn’t an option.
As they rounded the corner, Amy caught sight of the man chasing them. She couldn’t make out his features at this speed, but his wide shoulders stretched out the same black suit she’d only glimpsed before. And he charged after them, his big feet eating up the passageway as if he were an angry bull. There was something in his hand, something big and deadly stretched out in their direction.
He did have a gun.
Speed was still crucial, but she also concentrated on remembering to dodge and weave. She swooped to the left then returned to hugging the wall.
Anything to keep him off center and ensure that if he shot, his bullet would miss.
Dodge and weave.
Her mantra matched the speed of her footsteps as she flew down the hall.
They just had to keep running faster than the man behind them until they lost him. Or found someone who could help.
But the corridor seemed to be deserted, every cabin door shut tight.
Suddenly Elaina’s whole body jerked, her grip around Amy’s shoulders nearly breaking as she cried loudly. Amy swallowed the scream that rose in her throat as the shift in balance nearly tripped her, forcing her to come to a momentary stop. Tears filled Elaina’s eyes, and between trembling gasps she said, “My hand slipped. Sorry.”
Amy dismissed the apology with a wave, hoisting the girl higher on her hip and holding on tighter. But in the moments it took to get moving again, Amy glanced back at their pursuer. He’d stopped, planting his feet shoulder-width apart and raising his gun at arm’s length.
Her heart leaped to her throat, and she stumbled as she flew toward the end of the hall and a glowing red exit sign, always keeping herself between Elaina and the gun.
Please. Please. If they could just make it through that door, they might find help.
Amy crashed against the metal handle, shoving it open and tumbling against Elaina as the telltale whistle of a bullet fired through a silencer zipped toward her back.
“Go. Go. Go.” She cheered herself on, forcing herself to watch her feet and cling to the banister with her free hand.
Her shoes clanged loudly down the metal stairs. But there was no time to worry about silencing them.
That man was willing to take a shot when one of the cabin doors might have opened up at any moment. He either knew something she didn’t that made him believe he wouldn’t get caught, or he had nothing to lose.
Or both.
Probably both.
Her head spun as they sailed around a turn and another set of clanging footsteps joined hers.
He was gaining on them. He’d reach them long before she could get Elaina to safety.
Dear God, help us. It was the only prayer she could manage as her heart kept up a steady tattoo. Go. Go. Go.
And then another whistle, so high-pitched that she felt rather than heard it, sailed past. The shot splintered the corner of the door frame as they barreled through it. Elaina screamed.
Good. She could scream all she wanted now. Anything to gain some attention.
But the deck was empty, and the sound was lost on the wind as they rushed into the open.
Where was everyone? Had the entire ship migrated to the lido deck for more fun with Neesha and Rodney?
She whipped around to see how close their pursuer was. The clanging of his feet against the metal steps gave him away. He wasn’t visible yet, but he was closing in. And she couldn’t risk leading him to the party. There were too many innocent lives there. People she loved. But she and Elaina were sitting ducks out here.
Where to go? Where would they be safe?
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the closed door of what looked like a small storage closet. But as she turned toward it, she ran directly into an unmoving chest.
Large hands clamped on both of her shoulders, surrounding Elaina and stopping her midstep. “Amy? Are you all right? I thought I heard someone screaming.”
She had to peer all the way up into his face to get a good look at Jordan, but even then her eyes wouldn’t quite focus on him. Her shoulders twitched as she tried to check behind her.
“Amy.” His tone was clipped, his eyes darting from her to Elaina and back. “What’s wrong?”
Everything in her melted. She hadn’t even known she’d wanted his help, but now that he was here, she recognized him as exactly what they needed. “Someone’s chasing us. Shot at us.” Her words came out on a pant, but she flung her finger out behind her and met his gaze for a brief second.
If he needed to think through his actions, it took him only a fragment of a second. He grabbed them both, shifting them out of the line of view of the stairwell. “Stay right here. Don’t move.”
And then he ran toward the doorway. But instead of going into the stairwell, he slipped to the side, his back against the white outer wall, his ear pressed in.
She took a step to follow him, but stopped as Elaina let out a small sob. “It’s okay, honey,” she said, cuddling her niece close. Everything inside her cried out to help Jordan take care of this guy, but she couldn’t possibly carry Elaina into that kind of situation, and leaving her behind was equally impossible, so she held her position with watchful eyes.
Their pursuer had reached the bottom of the stairs, and the pace of his clanging steps had slowed.
But it didn’t calm the tantrum of her heart. Or loosen the way Elaina’s skinny arms squeezed around her neck. Pressing Elaina’s face against her shoulder, Amy tried to hold her tight enough to keep both of them from falling apart.
But she couldn’t look away from Jordan, whose shoulders rose and fell in a steady rhythm. His face was a mask of calm, and he closed his eyes for a long second.
She wanted to scream at him, to tell him to pay attention. He was going to miss it all, and she and Elaina would be easy pickings for their pursuer. But she bit her lips until they stung and she tasted the coppery tang of blood.
And suddenly the entire world seemed to explode. Everything happened at once. A wicked Glock 23—silencer attached—came through the entrance, their pursuer holding it straight out and ready to fire. But before the rest of him could make it through the doorway, Jordan squeezed his hands together, raised them over his head and brought both of his arms down on top of the other man’s. There was a sickening crack, and the gun flew across the deck as the man groaned and swore. But before he could do anything more, Jordan landed an elbow to his sternum.
The man in black crumpled to the floor.
Years of training told Amy to secure the weapon, but when she tried to put Elaina down so she could grab the gun, Elaina whimpered and refused to let go. So she took her with, racing for the gun, scooping it up and pointing it at the still man on the ground.
“Are you all right?” Jordan asked, his hands swiftly moving up and down the beefy arms and legs of their pursuer, searching for additional weapons. Suddenly he stopped and stared hard at her. The gentleness he’d displayed with his cousin earlier in the evening was gone. Replaced by something that could only be called his mission face. It was all hard angles and firm planes. The teasing smile that he so often used had disappeared. Even the little cleft in his chin seemed especially dark.
And she was so busy studying his face that she nearly missed his repeated question. “Amy, are you all right? Were you hurt?”
“What? No. We’re fine. You’re fine, right Elaina?” The girl nodded despite the persistent trembling of her chin.
Amy’s own adrenaline was dropping fast and making her hands shake, but she held on to her niece and kept going. “A little shaken up, but we’re all right. Who is this guy?” Her words came out on a rush, but they seemed to be all Jordan needed before going back to work, confirming she had scooped up the only weapon.
When he was satisfied, Jordan pulled the man’s arms behind his back, which launched a loud groan.
“Might have cracked a bone there,” Jordan said. As apologies went, it wasn’t much. But somehow she didn’t think he spent much time telling bad guys he was sorry.
And that was just fine with her.
“Go find an officer or security guard and bring them back here.”
“But there was another man, too. He went the other way, but they were talking. What if he comes to see what’s keeping his friend?”
He looked into the silent stairwell, but shook his head. “If he shows up, I’ll handle it. The two of you go now.”
His blunt orders made her hackles stand on end, but she fought the urge to tell him she could take care of it. She could. Usually. In any other circumstance.
But she was responsible for Elaina. And she’d rather die than leave the girl open and vulnerable to another attack.
Jordan was skilled and experienced. And no matter how much she hated admitting it—especially to herself—there were few people she trusted to handle an unexpected threat more.
When she found a security officer, it took a bit of convincing to get him to follow her back to the scene. But the gun in her hand, which she’d emptied of bullets, piqued his curiosity.
“Guns aren’t allowed on the ship.” He looked equal parts confused and angry, his pasty cheeks going red and splotchy.
