47

“I can’t believe our father just up and left like that!” said Chloe, perched on the edge of the hot tub, her legs dangling in the bubbling water.

“We haven’t seen much of him anyway,” Emily muttered as she took a photo of Mahé Island receding into the distance.

Chloe glanced over the rail at the occupied sun bed in the sky lounge below. “I just wish he’d taken Amanda with him.”

Connor sat quietly at the dining table on the sundeck. It wasn’t his place to voice his opinion. Mr. Sterling had informed his daughters that Ruth McArthur, his editor in chief, had been killed in a suspected mugging incident and that he had to interrupt his vacation to manage the fallout at the newspaper. The yacht had been rerouted via the main island to drop off Mr. Sterling and his bodyguard, along with the disgraced Ling, at the airport. Captain Locke had then set a course for the Maldives, where Mr. Sterling hoped to rejoin them in a week’s time.

“I wouldn’t worry,” said Emily, pocketing her phone. “This boat’s big enough for all of us. And she’ll probably sunbathe the entire time.” She screwed her eyes shut and rubbed her temples.

“Are you all right?” asked Connor.

“Yeah, it’s just a headache. I get them a lot. I think it’s my medication.” Emily headed over to the stairs. “I’m going to take a nap. See you at dinner.”

Connor offered her a sympathetic smile but remained at the table. There was no reason to shadow her while on board. They were in coastal waters, the yacht was cruising at a sedate speed, and he and Brad had performed a security sweep before departing Mahé. The threat level was low.

Reaching into his polo-shirt pocket, Connor pulled out his phone. Its orange neoprene cover was still annoyingly bulky, but the waterproofing had been a godsend when he’d dived into the sea to rescue Ling after the Jet-Ski explosion. Unlocking the screen, he messaged his mum and gran to let them know everything was okay, taking the opportunity before the Orchid entered the open ocean and they lost the signal altogether. Then he reached for his book and settled back into his chair.

“Come and join me,” said Chloe as she immersed herself fully in the hot tub.

Connor glanced over. He was more wary of her since Ling’s unwarranted dismissal. “Thank you, but no.”

Chloe sighed. “Don’t be angry with me. I realize Ling was your friend, but she was really getting on my nerves.”

“She was just doing her job,” Connor replied, not wanting to get into a discussion.

“I realize that, but I couldn’t do a single thing without her intervening or making some comment. It was suffocating. It’s my sister who needs the protection, not me.”

Connor shook his head. He recognized that Ling’s manner might have been abrasive and heavy-handed, but there were genuine threats to the girls’ lives. “I’m afraid you’re wrong. Both of you are potential targets.”

“That’s my sister’s fault,” muttered Chloe. “I can’t have any fun because of her. Ever since she was kidnapped, my dad has virtually grounded me. I haven’t been able to hang out alone with friends or go to the beach or even shop on my own. Do you know how claustrophobic that feels? This vacation is the first time I’ve been allowed any freedom in over a year.”

“Your father only wants to protect you,” responded Connor. “That intruder last night could have been a kidnapper, an assassin or worse.”

“But it was only Matt,” said Chloe, dismissing the suggestion with a wave of her hand. “The point is, my father allows me no freedom at home, and puts me under so much pressure to succeed at school that I need to let off some steam. Otherwise I’ll go stir-crazy.”

Connor noticed tears of frustration welling up in Chloe’s eyes and felt a touch of sympathy for her situation. It wasn’t her choice to have twenty-four-hour security.

“Fair enough,” he relented. “Look, when we get to the Maldives, I’ll speak with Luciana and we’ll work out a way to give you some freedom without compromising your safety.”

Chloe’s face lit up. “Thanks, you’re a star. Now are you going to join me or not?”

“Best not,” replied Connor. “I’m on duty.”

“You’re always on duty.” She crossed her arms on the side of the hot tub and stared at him. “As I understand, you’re now my guardian until the Maldives. So, as your Principal, I say you need to relax. That was Ling’s problem; don’t make it yours.”

Connor inwardly sighed. He knew he was being manipulated, but he didn’t want to upset her either. An uncooperative Principal was a liability. Putting down his book, he took off his polo shirt and then thought better of it.

Chloe’s hopeful smile waned as he pulled the shirt back over his head. “What’s the problem?”

“Nothing,” he replied. Although he guessed a dip in the hot tub wouldn’t be crossing any lines as a guardian, his actions could be easily misinterpreted, and he didn’t want to have to explain himself to Charley a second time.

As he put his arm through the sleeve, Chloe spotted the slim white scar on his left shoulder. “What happened there?”

“Knife wound,” he said, pulling up the collar.

Her eyes widened with a mix of concern and fascination. “Did you get that while protecting someone?”

Connor nodded.

“Did it hurt?”

“Yes, but I didn’t have much time to think about it. I was in the middle of a fight, trying to escape.”

Chloe sat up, studying his face with admiration. “You must have been really brave.”

Connor shook his head. “I didn’t have much choice in the matter.”

“So . . . do you like my sister?” she asked.

Caught completely off guard, Connor replied, “Yes, of course”—then he saw Chloe frown—“but not that way. As guardians, we have to remain strictly friends with any Principal.”

“Really?” Biting at her lower lip, Chloe gazed intently at him. “That must be very difficult at times, I mean, to remain just friends. Haven’t you ever—”

“No,” Connor lied, and buried his nose back in his book.