dock beyond it.
Blue couldn’t hear their pursuers but that was almost worse. “When we reach the boat, start the engine. I’ll untie the ropes.”
He thought she might argue, but instead she nodded as he handed the keys to her. Their shoes pounded loudly against the wooden dock, but Blue kept his focus. Mina jumped directly onto the back dive board area, her hands shaking as she opened the small back door leading to the stern of the vessel.
Though he hated to set his weapon down for any reason, he tucked it into his waistband as he hurriedly untied the first rope. Mina had already started the boat so all he had to was untie the second.
“Don’t let them leave!” a man shouted.
Blue didn’t look up as he worked fast, not wanting to get the rope tangled and slow them down. “Put it in drive. Move the lever forward,” he said, loud enough for Mina to hear.
When a shot rent the air and wood splintered near the front of the dock, his head snapped up and he pulled out his weapon. “Gun it!” he ordered, leaving the last of the rope attached.
The boat jerked forward as Blue lifted his weapon. He quickly assessed the situation. He could only see two men advancing, but he didn’t doubt there were more coming. Both were near the pool and getting closer. One raised his weapon. Blue fired at him, aiming for dead center. The man dropped where he stood as the Hatteras kicked up a huge wake, pulling away from the dock.
Another shot echoed in the night air as Blue turned and raced down the dock. The rope was quickly losing slack as the boat pulled farther away. His leg muscles strained as he dove for the back of it. He landed on his feet but tumbled back as Mina pressed the lever down even harder.
Before he’d pushed up he heard the cracking of the dock ripping under the pressure. Weapon in hand, he grabbed the side of the boat and stood, ready to return fire but didn’t have to. A man stood at the front of the dock, but the rest of it had caved under the pressure of the Hatteras.
Even though he and Mina were far enough away to be out of firing distance, Blue kept his weapon raised as he walked backward to her. “How’re you doing?”
“Fantastic. I do this kind of shit every day.” There was a frantic quality to her voice as she let out a shaky laugh.
Despite what had just happened, Blue chuckled, still not taking his gaze off the kidnappers. “Yeah well, you handled yourself impressively.”
She snorted. “That’s because I’m in shock.”
Now that they’d pulled far enough away, he risked a glance at her. Even with just the moonlight illuminating them, he could see how pale she was. “I need to pull the rest of the rope in and dislodge whatever is left of the dock, but then I’ll take over. Do you know how to use the electrical panel? We need lights now that we’re in open water.”
She looked at him, her eyes wide, but her expression was determined as she nodded. “I’ve got this.”
Though he wanted to pull her into his arms, kiss her until she was breathless, and reassure her that everything would be okay, he moved into action, securing the last of the rope. Carter wouldn’t care about the damages, but Blue would pay for them. He’d dragged his friend into this and he wasn’t letting Red Stone cover it.
As soon as he’d finished, he joined Mina. While she drove he typed their destination into the GPS system. Unless these kidnappers had a speed boat or helicopter waiting, then he and Mina were in the clear until they reached Miami. Of course then they’d have a shitload of stuff to deal with because Blue was almost positive the man he’d shot was dead. Which meant he’d have to head back to Key West to make a statement to the police. But he wasn’t leaving Mina anytime soon.
* * *
Mina splashed water on her face before turning off the bathroom faucet. She knew they’d be reaching Miami soon and couldn’t stop the nerves from jangling around in her stomach. Everything that had
Blue couldn’t hear their pursuers but that was almost worse. “When we reach the boat, start the engine. I’ll untie the ropes.”
He thought she might argue, but instead she nodded as he handed the keys to her. Their shoes pounded loudly against the wooden dock, but Blue kept his focus. Mina jumped directly onto the back dive board area, her hands shaking as she opened the small back door leading to the stern of the vessel.
Though he hated to set his weapon down for any reason, he tucked it into his waistband as he hurriedly untied the first rope. Mina had already started the boat so all he had to was untie the second.
“Don’t let them leave!” a man shouted.
Blue didn’t look up as he worked fast, not wanting to get the rope tangled and slow them down. “Put it in drive. Move the lever forward,” he said, loud enough for Mina to hear.
When a shot rent the air and wood splintered near the front of the dock, his head snapped up and he pulled out his weapon. “Gun it!” he ordered, leaving the last of the rope attached.
The boat jerked forward as Blue lifted his weapon. He quickly assessed the situation. He could only see two men advancing, but he didn’t doubt there were more coming. Both were near the pool and getting closer. One raised his weapon. Blue fired at him, aiming for dead center. The man dropped where he stood as the Hatteras kicked up a huge wake, pulling away from the dock.
Another shot echoed in the night air as Blue turned and raced down the dock. The rope was quickly losing slack as the boat pulled farther away. His leg muscles strained as he dove for the back of it. He landed on his feet but tumbled back as Mina pressed the lever down even harder.
Before he’d pushed up he heard the cracking of the dock ripping under the pressure. Weapon in hand, he grabbed the side of the boat and stood, ready to return fire but didn’t have to. A man stood at the front of the dock, but the rest of it had caved under the pressure of the Hatteras.
Even though he and Mina were far enough away to be out of firing distance, Blue kept his weapon raised as he walked backward to her. “How’re you doing?”
“Fantastic. I do this kind of shit every day.” There was a frantic quality to her voice as she let out a shaky laugh.
Despite what had just happened, Blue chuckled, still not taking his gaze off the kidnappers. “Yeah well, you handled yourself impressively.”
She snorted. “That’s because I’m in shock.”
Now that they’d pulled far enough away, he risked a glance at her. Even with just the moonlight illuminating them, he could see how pale she was. “I need to pull the rest of the rope in and dislodge whatever is left of the dock, but then I’ll take over. Do you know how to use the electrical panel? We need lights now that we’re in open water.”
She looked at him, her eyes wide, but her expression was determined as she nodded. “I’ve got this.”
Though he wanted to pull her into his arms, kiss her until she was breathless, and reassure her that everything would be okay, he moved into action, securing the last of the rope. Carter wouldn’t care about the damages, but Blue would pay for them. He’d dragged his friend into this and he wasn’t letting Red Stone cover it.
As soon as he’d finished, he joined Mina. While she drove he typed their destination into the GPS system. Unless these kidnappers had a speed boat or helicopter waiting, then he and Mina were in the clear until they reached Miami. Of course then they’d have a shitload of stuff to deal with because Blue was almost positive the man he’d shot was dead. Which meant he’d have to head back to Key West to make a statement to the police. But he wasn’t leaving Mina anytime soon.
* * *
Mina splashed water on her face before turning off the bathroom faucet. She knew they’d be reaching Miami soon and couldn’t stop the nerves from jangling around in her stomach. Everything that had
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