the nail file out of her sock and laid it in Gabe's palm. His fingers closed over it.
Peter waved the gun at her. "Hurry up."
"I'm done." She stepped away from Gabe.
Holding her breath, she watched Peter test the ropes. Gabe's clenched fists didn't give away their secret.
Peter tied her to the other chair, then strolled to the door. "I'll be back. Don't go away." The door slammed behind him.
"Gabe, I'm sorry. This is all my fault."
His gaze held warm admiration. "You came after me, even though you're terrified of the water. That took major guts, Houdini."
"I'd walk barefoot into hell for you," she whispered. "Maybe now you'll believe me."
"Nobody has ever—" He swallowed hard. "When we get out of here, we need to talk about last night. For now, focus on escape."
Her heart stuttered. A bud of hope blossomed inside her. She and Gabe might have a future. If only they could get safely away. "Will that file work?"
He chuckled dryly. "Weakening this rope is gonna take a while, but you've tilted the odds in our favor, Houdini."
Peter sauntered in beside Vic, who carried an unconscious Leo over his shoulder. Peter rubbed the back of his neck. "Damn it, Vic, I've got a headache clear to my toenails. You were supposed to give me a convincing-looking tap, not cave in my skull."
Vic shrugged. Leaving a bound Leo on the floor, they left.
"Leo's been cradling an asp in his bosom," Gabe drawled.
"How can you be flippant at a time like this?" But that was his way. He covered deeper, dark emotions with humor. Underneath, he was probably as scared as she was. Now there was a comforting thought.
He arched a brow. "It would hardly help if I freaked and starting screaming, 'we're all gonna die.'"
She shuddered under a sharp onslaught of fear. "Are we?"
His gaze caught and held her. His warm regard stroked her like a caress, melting away some of her fright. "Not if I have a say. Especially not now. Not when I finally—" He cleared his throat and looked away.
The bud of hope blossomed into a glorious bouquet. "What, Gabe?" she whispered.
Uncertainty creased his forehead. "I … I have some stuff to tell you." He swallowed again. "I don't know how you'll feel about me afterward, but—" He heaved an exasperated sigh. "Oh, hell! Wrong time, wrong place. It's complicated, and we can't get into it now."
Her stomach flip-flopped. He was finally going to open up! "Okay, I'll take a rain check. But no matter what you have to say, nothing will change the way I feel about you." She gave him a reassuring smile. "Back to the situation at hand. I thought you knocked out Leo and Vic."
"The guy must have a cast-iron skull under that buzz cut."
A loud clank sounded from outside, then a rumble, and the engine throbbed to life. A giant chain scraped the hull, creaking upward, then the swaying increased. She stiffened. "What's happening?"
"They're moving the ship." He shot her a sharp glance. "Don't go ballistic on me, Tessie. Hang in there."
"I w-won't." She forced her rigid muscles to relax. "I'm focusing."
Gabe smiled encouragingly. "That's my girl."
The possessive endearment sent a warm flood of reassurance through her. He was so strong, so in control. So capable. Surely they'd get out of this. She watched him and concentrated on not panicking.
His shoulders and biceps bunched as he worked the file against his ropes. He looked up, smiling. "Are you humming?"
"Sorry. Habit."
"What song?"
Her cheeks heated as she realized what she'd been murmuring. "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You."
He cocked his head, his smile widening into a grin. "Sing out. Might help pass the time."
Leo moaned several times but didn't regain consciousness. She'd nearly reached the end of her Elvis repertoire when the engines stopped. The chain rattled, screeched, and a huge splash rocked the ship.
Gabe's head jerked up. "They've dropped anchor."
"How are your ropes?"
He grimaced. "Fraying, but not enough to break free yet."
"What do you think they're going to do to us?"
He didn't quite meet her gaze. Not a good sign. "If we're lucky, they only want what I took from Leo's office." Her stomach bottomed out. He didn't say what would happen if they weren't lucky. He didn't have to.
The door opened and Vic barged inside, followed by Peter. "Day of reckoning, ladies and gents." Peter untied Tessa's ankles. Leaving her wrists bound behind her, he hauled her to her feet. He again wrapped his arm around her neck, the gun barrel