CHAPTER 24

 

 

“HE'S GOING TO wait until nightfall.” Cole slumped in the sand next to me against the rocks that surrounded our little fortress. That didn't give us much time. The blood from the gunshot wound had dried to dark brown streaks down his arm. He grimaced from the pain. “I have to get to Harv.”

“Is there water on the boat?” I asked. Gabe had lost the last jug filled with water from the cave on the tumble down the hill. Cole nodded.

“The tanks are almost full and we filled some bottles. There's food, too, and medical supplies.” He leaned his head back. “You and I need to swim to the boat as soon as it's dark.”

My heart beat faster. I wouldn't have to sneak on board.

“You can float a couple of gallon jugs of water and some bags of food back with you.”

“Oh.” My shoulders sagged. He was going to try it alone, even with the gunshot wound. I'd have to get onboard without his knowing. Things were never easy.

“You know, you're going to need help rescuing him. I mean, look at yourself. How the hell do you think you're going to do it without some kind of backup?”

“No, Kate you're—”

I put my hand in the air. “Hear me out, Cole.” He groaned.

I continued. “Give me some credit. I'm a good shot, you already know that. If Harv isn't where you left him, with my background you know I can track anything with a pulse.” Cole began to bang his head against the rock. It was distracting. “Plus, there's the added bonus of me knowing the terrain and where things are in the compound. I've been all over that island. You're missing out on a great resource. Besides,” I placed my hand on his thigh for emphasis. “It's my fault he's in danger. None of this would have happened if Frank hadn't recognized me in the first place.”

Cole let his head fall back. He looked at the sky for what seemed like hours. Of course, it lasted only a minute or two, but I was antsy and needed to know what my next move was. He took a deep breath and let it out in one, controlled exhale. Then he looked at me.

“Fuck it. You're going to figure out a way to sneak onboard if I say no, aren't you?”

I'd have to give the man points for perception. It was oddly comforting that someone knew me that well.

“If I said no and you weren't able to get on the boat, you'd just swim or do something equally dangerous, wouldn't you?”

He had me pegged. I smiled. He let out a disgusted grunt.

“Damn you, Kate. You are the most hard-headed woman I've ever met.” He let out a long sigh. “If I don't take you along, I'll worry about what kind of fool plan you're cooking up.” He glowered at me. I found it oddly arousing. “You've got me by the balls this time. Don't think I'm happy about it. Either way, I will worry about you. It'll be better if you're where I can keep track of you.”

Part of me cheered inside. Then the other part heard warning bells go off. Cole was not one to forget this kind of strong-arming.

I'd won the battle but may have lost the war.

 

***

 

A SHORT TIME later, the sun completed its disappearing act and stars began to appear in the deepening indigo sky. We discussed the plan with Gabe. Cole and I would swim out to the boat as soon as it got dark, Gabe would join us as far as the boat and bring back supplies, along with more weapons and ammo.

“Why don't the three of us go?” Gabe asked.

“That island is going to be a war zone. Haven't you had enough excitement?” Cole replied as I helped him redress his bandaged arm.

“What about Stefano? He's still working for Anaya. That means he's going to try to take me. I believe that qualifies as dangerous.” Gabe glanced back down the beach, toward where Stefano was hiding.

“That's why you're getting two more guns in addition to the Uzi. Pretty good odds, don't you think?”

Cole grimaced as I tied the makeshift bandage into place. “He's right, Cole. Stefano knows Gabe's here. He'll do whatever he can to deliver him to Anaya. He'd be safer in the boat with us.”

“There's only one problem. What if we're caught or get blown to pieces? Gabe will be stuck, alone on the boat, not knowing what's happened. Eventually, Stefano will get word to Anaya and they'll find him.”

“If Anaya survives,” I said.

Cole looked at me with a pained expression. “Look, I'm all right with taking responsibility for you since I have to, but Gabe is just one too many. No offense, Gabe,”

Gabe shrugged. “No offense taken. But she's right. I know how to use a gun. You may need an extra hand. Leaving me here would not be my first choice.”

Cole rolled his head back and closed his eyes. After a few minutes, he opened them and looked straight at me. “Fine. You win. But you'd better hope Stefano shows himself and we're able to take him down, or we'll have Anaya on our ass faster than you can say 'RPG'.”

The shadows lengthened, blending with the darkening sky. The rocks and white sand took on an eerie glow. Lucky for us, the moon was nowhere in sight. Too bad it was lucky for Stefano, too.

We waited until the terrain was as dark as it would get. Then, one by one we hurried to the water's edge and waded into the gentle surf.

Cole tried to side-kick toward the boat, while Gabe and I breast-stroked behind him. Anxious, I stayed close until it became apparent Cole wasn't getting anywhere, fast. I swam closer to him and tapped him on his shoulder.

“Turn onto your back. We can do rescue swimming.”

“I'm fine.” A small wave crested his face and left him sputtering like a wet cat.

“Now who's hard headed? Turn on your damn back, Cole.”

“I told you—” He gagged from another dose of saltwater. “I'm good.”

“Right.”

“Fine.” He turned onto his back and I guided him toward the boat, both of us kicking.

A flash from the beach followed by a pop! told me Stefano figured out what we were up to. The first bullet missed, but was actually closer than I would have liked. The next one hissed into the water next to me. Shit.

“Night scope,” Cole muttered. “We gotta move faster.”

I kicked harder. Gabe pulled ahead of us and swam for the boat, the need for stealth gone.

I shadowed Cole until we reached the dive deck of the dark-hulled cruiser. The stern faced away from the beach, which gave us some semblance of cover. With difficulty, Cole pulled himself onto the boat with his left arm, grunting as he did so. I didn't even try to help.

Gabe was already onboard and gave him a hand up. He extended his hand to help me, but I'd hoisted myself onto the deck. In a crouch, we followed Cole into the boat's cabin.

“I'll get the guns,” Cole said in a low voice. Gabe and I took a seat near a window and peeked through the curtains. The beach looked deserted except for the shadows of rocks, behind which Stefano lurked.

“Here,” Cole said, giving us each an automatic weapon. He pointed to several gallon jugs sitting on the floor, secured by bungee cords. “Water's there, if you need some.” He reached into a bench locker and pulled out boxes of ammunition, giving us each a supply.

A strobe-like flash followed by a staccato burst of gunfire erupted from the beach. Then more flashes of light and a pop-pop-pop, directed at the boat. I took up position on the bow, lying on my stomach, and propped the machinegun on its stand. Cole appeared next to me with a rifle.

We both heard the splash at the same time. I looked around us and realized Gabe was nowhere to be seen. I checked in the direction of the splashing sound. His head and shoulders were barely visible as he swam toward the beach.

“No. Gabe…” I whispered.

“He must be trying to create a diversion. He's completely exposed. Stefano's going to kill him.”

Hopelessness overwhelmed me. I'd never make it to him in time. If I swam anywhere near him, I'd put myself in danger, too.

There was another flash and a single shot in Gabe's direction. Cole and I sited where it came from but waited to pull the trigger. Shooting at someone hiding behind a rock is a waste of ammo.

Gabe swam parallel to the beach, away from the cruiser. Cole let out a frustrated sigh. “He's too close.”

A shape materialized from the shadows and tracked toward Gabe as he swam. The white sand created enough reflective light that I was able to make out Stefano's outline.

Cole raised his rifle left-handed, leaned the barrel on the boat's railing and waited. I held my breath.

Stefano dropped to a crouch. Cole's rifle discharged. Stefano's shadow staggered and fell backward.

“Gabe—you all right?” Cole called out.

There was a pause, then, “Yes.”

I slumped against the deck and started to breathe again. Cole lowered his rifle.

“We got him.”