Tempest - Kris Michaels Page 0,35

the bridge's door. Smoke popped out and looked at what was in his hand. "How do you want to play this?"

"Are we out of the marina yet?"

"Nope."

"Stop here. Declare an engine issue or whatever else it takes, but give me a half hour."

"You got it."

Tempest went to the galley kitchen and found a resealable plastic bag and placed the electronics into it. After ensuring it was water-tight, he shoved them into his board shorts and double checked the Velcro closure was securely fastened. Careful to remain out of sight of the piers and the people who were at the yacht club's restaurant, he crept to the bow of the boat and lowered himself over the edge before dropping into the warm water of the sheltered harbor.

He filled his lungs with a deep breath before he went under. Swimming in a marina was dangerous as fuck. Some dickhead drunk could come roaring in or out at any time, but they needed a boat for Regina Grantham to track, and he knew which boat to select. All morning he'd been monitoring the loading of another luxury boat which had also been prepping for launch. It was still moored, but the crew was watching the pier, as they had when Pilar had notified them she was inbound. He made it to the ship and used the ladder at the rear of the Ocean Queen to take him up to the swimming platform. Crab walking across the pristinely maintained platform, he moved silently to the floating dock which had been raised in preparation for embarkation and sailing. It took less than twenty seconds to plant the chips under the seat of one of the two jet skis. His body slid into the water moments later. He surfaced about thirty seconds and a hundred feet away from the yacht, filled his lungs and dove under the water again. The burn of his lungs as he surfaced felt fucking amazing. Since he'd recovered, the need for exercise, for being free and able to move, was almost irrational.

A rope ladder flipped over the side at the bow. He glanced up and watched as Browning leaned over the ledge. He signed, “Hurry up, the harbor master is going to board us if we don't move soon.”

Grabbing the rope, he stepped two rungs up before the engines fired to life, and the boat started to move. Damn, he hadn't been gone long. He flipped over the bow and glanced at the entrance to the inlet. Well hell, three boats were holding, waiting to enter. Note to self, in the future get rid of trackers before leaving the pier.

The sun warmed the deck, and unable to move without being detected by the incoming boats or the ones pushing off from the pier, he cupped his hands under his head and let the sun dry him. The motor of the ship droned powerfully as Smoke navigated the vessel away from the channel. Browning shuffled by and kicked his foot telling him he could move safely. Sage was sharp, and he could see why Smoke liked him as a partner. He sat up and watched as Smoke took them out of the inlet. The open ocean waves could have tossed the ship around, but with the stabilizers deployed, the ship sliced through the water with barely any sway. Smaller boats peeled away hovering closer to the shoreline. They followed the channel markers out to deep water. He did a careful 360 before he stood. A soft wind fanned his skin and gooseflesh prickled across his overheated body as he moved from the bow to the stern. The powerful motor below them and the sound of the water's rhythmic clap against the side of the ship coalesced into a quiet hum. In the shelter of the main cabin and upper floors, the wind all but ceased and formed a sheltered oasis of sun, warmth, and utter relaxation.

Pilar sat where she'd been deposited. The cool white wine had formed a sheen of condensation on the outside of the glass she held. She stared toward the wake of the boat, motionless except for the movement of her hair in the breeze. He straightened his shoulders. It was a curiosity, but whenever he thought of this woman, he wanted her to see him as more. More than the excuse of flesh he'd been when she'd been thrust into his life. More than the failure he was for being caught. More than someone to be pitied. The