of it. That’s worthy of regard, even if her disinterest in helping other women advance is frustrating at times and enraging at others.
But now she’s…
What?
Gone rogue? Switched sides? Decided working for Stefano is a better path than finishing out her thirty years at Union Ten and retiring with a fat pension?
He must have something on her, I decide. Something awful that he’s using as leverage.
But what? Blaire has always seemed so squeaky clean. I honestly can’t imagine what kind of skeletons she might have lurking in her closet. She washes her suits instead of sending them to the dry cleaners? Her Friday night steaks are feedlot instead of grass-fed?
My thoughts race, but my lungs are screaming now, so desperate for air that logical thought is impossible.
Still, I force myself to stay low in the water for another beat…two, three. I wait until my chest feels like a dying star and the pressure behind my eyes is unbearable, then I kick for the surface.
I tip my head back, leading with my chin so I break the water mouth first, sucking in air and coughing it out even as my ears strain for the sound of gunshots or the impact of projectiles on the water.
But all I hear are the muted shouts of people on the dock behind me. When I dare to bring my entire head above the waves, I see the boat barreling toward the horizon.
Shit. I have to hurry. I have to get my own boat and go after Nick.
Nick.
My heart punches at my ribs.
If Blaire’s hurt him…
Killed him…
Then I’ll kill her. I won’t take her into custody. I won’t pursue the proper legal channels. I’ll take her out with my bare hands if I have to. That’s what she deserves for turning on her own people, especially someone as loyal and trustworthy as Nick.
He deserves so much better from her than this.
So much better from life.
It can’t be over for him already. I don’t want to imagine a world without Nickolas Von Bergen in it. Without his smile and his laugh and his clever eyes glittering into mine. In just a couple of weeks, he’s gone from a person I can’t stand to a person I don’t want to live without.
I really care about him, I realize, as I drag myself up onto the dock beside the empty boat slip.
He’s precious to me. He’s…family.
And maybe something more than family, but I can’t think about that right now. I can’t hold the fact that I might be falling for Nick and the possibility that he’s gone in my head at the same time.
“Hurry, this way!” a deep voice calls from the chaos on the dock, where native workers and tourists are abandoning their watercraft and vacation activities in a rush toward the beach.
I spot the man I noticed earlier by the lifeguard stand, my Union Ten backup, and every muscle in my body goes tense.
Alleged backup.
If Blaire sent him, he could very well be another threat.
I squat low on the warm wood, scanning my surroundings for a weapon, but there’s nothing nearby except the metal mooring used to secure the boat. I glance back at the man’s dark, lightly lined face. He’s older than I initially estimated, and when his brown eyes meet mine, he seems to instantly grasp my situation and lifts his hands, slow and nonthreatening.
“I saw her.” He motions toward the boat bound for open water. “Blaire. I’ll help you stop her. I have a weapon.” He nods to his left. I glance that way but quickly jerk my gaze back to his face, unsure if he’s trying to distract me. “In my Jet Ski. In the waterproof compartment under the seat,” he clarifies. “You can have it and leave me here, but I promise I had no idea she was planning something like this. Neville is my point of contact, and he’s still above board. I’m sure of it.”
I hesitate another beat, torn, but I really have no choice but to take him at his word, not if I want a snowball’s chance in hell of getting to Nick before that boat is out of reach.
I nod and stand. “All right. I’ll take the gun and the Jet Ski. Stay here and contact Neville to explain what’s happened. See how long it will take to get more agents on the island.”
“Will do, but there should already be a team waiting for the boat by the airport dock. Neville said he had a feeling we’d need