Chapter 288.

On the upper deck, Noah’s uncle had stopped believing this was a simple security problem.

He stood in the centre of the bridge, one hand braced against the navigation console as another violent shudder passed through the ship.

Outside the windows, the sea stretched into the darkening distance. The ship’s lights illuminated only a small section of the water, leaving everything beyond it black and uncertain.

Behind him, two of his men argued with the captain. "We’ve lost the lower deck."

"How many?"

"We don’t know."

"You don’t know?" Noah’s uncle turned so sharply that the nearest man stepped back. "You have guns, radios and men on every level, and you’re telling me you don’t know how many people have boarded my ship?"

"Sir, they’re organised."

"Then organise yourselves!"

The man swallowed. "We believe they’re looking for the girl."

Noah’s uncle went still.

For several seconds, the only sound in the bridge was the low hum of the ship’s engines.

He walked to the console and picked up his phone. There was one person who needed to know that the situation had changed.

The call refused to connect. He tried two more times, and after failed attempts, Noah’s uncle slipped the phone into his pocket.

"Find her," he ordered.

One of his men hesitated.

"The girl. Find her before Sinclair does."

"And if we find Sinclair first?"

Noah’s uncle looked towards the door. "Shoot him. Make him pay for Noah."

The man nodded and hurried out.

Noah’s uncle remained where he was, listening to the engines. He had made a deal with Dante because he believed powerful men were predictable.

Money. Revenge. Pride.

He understood all three.

What he had failed to understand was the kind of man who would come aboard a hostile ship, surrounded by armed enemies, because one woman had disappeared.

......

Christian heard the announcement before he saw the men coming towards them.

"Lock down the stern! Nobody leaves this vessel!"

The voice echoed through the metal corridor.

Kylie stumbled beside him.

He caught her hand. "Keep moving, Blue."

"Christian, you’re being very calm about this."

"I’m terrified, actually."

She looked at him.

He didn’t smile. It was the first time he had admitted it.

"Of what?"

He glanced at her. "Losing you."

She stopped.

The men behind them nearly collided with one another.

Christian turned back immediately. "Blue?"

She stared at him, the words echoing in her head.

She had known he cared. She had known he wanted her. She had seen the way his expression softened when she fell asleep against him and the way he remembered little things she mentioned in passing.

But she had never heard him say it quite like that. Not without a joke to soften the admission.

Not without giving himself somewhere to retreat if she didn’t respond the way he hoped.

She took a shaky breath. "You’re not going to lose me."

His eyes searched hers.

She swallowed. Then she reached for him.

Christian folded her into his arms, holding her against him while the ship groaned around them.

Kylie closed her eyes.

"I love you," she almost said.

The words rose to her throat. She could have said them then. She wanted to, but the moment was interrupted by a crash at the far end of the corridor.

Christian pulled away. "Time to go."

He took her hand again.

This time, she didn’t hesitate.

The route to the stern was narrower than the one they’d taken earlier.

Metal pipes ran along the ceiling. The air smelled of oil, salt and the sharp, unmistakable tang of smoke.

Christian’s men moved ahead of them, checking each turn before signalling that it was clear.

The ship continued to turn.

Every few seconds, the floor vibrated beneath their shoes, and the noise of the engines changed pitch.

Kylie tried not to think about the water.

She could hear it now, rushing against the hull, sometimes so close that she imagined it pressing through the metal walls.

She had always liked the sea from a distance.

The beach. The breeze. The way the horizon made the world seem endless.

She had never considered how terrifying it would be to stand on a ship in the middle of the ocean with armed men hunting her.

Or how small a person could feel when there was nowhere to run.

Christian glanced at her. He saw her thouggts wandering through her eyes. "Talk to me."

She looked at him. "About what?"

"Anything."

"Anything?"

"Tell me what you want to do when we get home."

She blinked.

"We’re running through a ship full of armed men, and you want to discuss my plans for after?"

"I’m trying to give your mind something else to do."

She stared at him for a moment. "Fine." She took a breath. "I want a shower."

"Reasonable."

"A long one."

"I’ll make sure no one disturbs you."

"And food."

"Done."

"Something sweet."

"Of course."

"Not that horrible protein thing you keep pretending is a meal."

Christian looked offended. "It has nutritional value."

"It tastes like cardboard."

"Cardboard is an excellent source of—"

Her eyes hardened. "Finish that sentence and I’ll throw you overboard myself."

He laughed.

The sound startled her.

It was so familiar, so completely Christian, that for a moment she could almost imagine they were somewhere else.

She held on to that thought.

A future.

She wanted a future. With him.

"Christian?"

"Hmm?"

"When we get home, I want you to take me somewhere."

He glanced at her.

"Anywhere."

She shook her head. "You haven’t even heard where."

"Doesn’t matter."

"That’s a terrible way to make decisions."

"I’m known for my terrible decisions."

She looked at him pointedly. "Like coming onto this ship?"

He didn’t answer immediately. Then he said, "No."

Her smile faded.

He turned his head towards her. "Coming onto this ship was the easiest decision I’ve made in my life."

Her throat tightened.

She looked away before he could see what his words had done to her.

"Idiot," she whispered.

He squeezed her hand. "Your idiot."