THE DARK NIGHT FADED INTO a pale-yellow sunrise peeking through the receding clouds. The waters sloshed under the yacht, settling down from the angry winds as Alanna dumped yet another dustbin of debris into a trash bag. The fallout from Flynn’s redecorating. Her arms ached and her skin flushed through her humidity-dampened clothes.

Overnight, Flynn had returned to the cabin only briefly to change his shirt and shorts before he disappeared into the engine room. But not before he’d explained the deal he made with Captain Chen, and then kissed her. Thoroughly.

Everyone on board was weary, overworked, and tense. Every window was open to air out the putrefied atmosphere. Marcus and Jaime reset the furniture from the storm, while Alfred cooked breakfast, among every available fan connected to a generator so he could breathe. But nothing was more fowl than Liang’s fuming hatred toward Flynn for not having been fired. The only pleasant factor about today was the lack of clients. No more scorpion.

As Alanna wiped the sweat from her temple, Marie opened the patio door from the sky lounge. The chief stew was covered in sweat. She took a deep breath in the open air with a weak smile.

“Still better than waiting on those brats.”

Alanna leaned on the broom and swallowed the dryness in her throat. “Any word from Flynn?”

Marie stepped over to the railing, guzzling a bottle of water. “He’s still tinkering away. Been at it for hours. I don’t know how he can work down there in that swarm.”

With enough motivation, one can survive anything just to move forward.

“I’ll bring him more water to keep him hydrated,” Alanna remarked.

A glimmer of worry flashed across Marie’s face.

“Are you all right?” Alanna asked.

Marie nodded, followed by a swig of water.

Marcus turned the corner, a rag in one hand and bottle of cleaner in the other, his forehead creased. “How you two holding up?”

“Managing,” Marie replied.

Marcus’s eyebrows rose. “You need to tell her.”

“Now’s not the time,” Marie replied.

“What’s going on?” Alanna broke in.

Both gave her a wary look that made the dark pit open up in her stomach again. What now?

Marcus looked around, as though checking to see if anyone else was near. “When we dropped the clients off at the airport, Solana was on the news.”

“Marcus!” Marie spat through a whisper.

Alanna’s heart jumped into her throat.

“She needs to know,” Marcus hissed.

“Why did you keep things from me?” Alanna barked at Marie.

The chief stew bit her lip. “I didn’t want you to worry more. There’s nothing you can do from here.”

Alanna tried desperately to inhale through the broiling fury in her gut. More people keeping things from me just to keep me ‘safe.’ I’m sick of this.

She held up her hand to stop Marie’s excuse. “Marcus, what did you see?”

When he hesitated, she restrained the urge to howl at him, but she stared him down. She needed to know, no matter what.

“Reports are sketchy, but they say around eighty people are dead and this Bendetto guy has control of the palace, the ammephire mines, and the marina. Apparently, some of the military is fighting back against the terrorists, all being led by an Army general. But…they found the prime minister. His body was mutilated. Dumped him in front of the Royal Square.”

Alanna closed her eyes. Dios le de paz. Give him peace. She didn’t know Prime Minister Masters very well, but her father had liked him. He’d always been nice to her at palace functions, and had even endorsed the project she worked on at the hospital expanding the pediatric wing.

“What about the UN? Are they going to intervene?”

Marcus shook his head. “Delayed. Again.”

Alanna wanted to scream, but she swallowed it. “Did they say anything about my brother?”

His lips flattened.

“Tell me,” Alanna sighed.

“No one has seen or heard from Prince André in almost a week. He was last spotted in Vegas, being escorted out of a hotel by his security staff.”

Alanna took a deep breath. No change there. At least not yet.

“What do you want us to do, Lanna?” Marie asked quietly.

The princess looked her straight in the eyes. “First, never withhold information from me. I need to know everything, no matter how devastating. Understand?”

They nodded.

Alanna continued. “Do whatever it takes to help Flynn fix this yacht. I have to get to a U.S. Consulate.”

Marcus’ brow furrowed. “There was one in Manila. Why didn’t you go there?”

When Alanna told them what had happened with the customs agent and Lozano, their faces blanched. Marcus shook his head.

“I knew Flynn didn’t kill that agent. He’s not the type.”

Alanna warmed inside. She’d felt the same way the first time she saw her savior. He was someone you could trust. “Thank you for not turning us in in Puerta Princesa. There are so many people in Lozano’s pocket. I have no idea how far his reach goes.”

“Well, one thing’s certain,” Marie chimed in, confidence bolstering her voice. “His hands don’t reach this boat.”

“Get to work.” Liang Wen’s voice boomed from below. Alanna peered over the railing and saw the first officer glaring up at them from the lazarette on the lower deck.

Mierde. How much did he hear?

Marie and Marcus flashed each other a look.

“Slave driver,” Marcus muttered.