Part 24 (1/2)

He continued to watch the horizon. Occasionally he brought up his binoculars and scanned the sea, searching for the large boat. Nothing. His stolen craft glided swiftly over the waves. How ironic. He'd finally made the decision not to break the law by killing Kray and his first act after that had been to steal a boat.

He checked the compa.s.s again. He should be getting close now. He looked through the binoculars and saw two small dots on the horizon. Then over the loud rumble of the speedboat's engine, he heard the echo of gunfire. He swore under his breath.Cort and Andie were alone on their boat, but Kray had three men with him.

He angled toward the two spots on the horizon and prayed he wasn't too late. Gradually he was able to make out individual features of the boats, then the people standing on deck.

As he got closer, he powered back and started to circle around Kray's boat. The man still on board saw him and aimed a lethal-looking rifle in his direction. Jeff ducked. The bullet hit the side of the small speedy craft. He reached up and nudged the throttle forward. He aimed the boat toward Kray's yacht,then locked the steering mechanism in place. The man took aim again. As gunfire sprayed the approaching speedboat, Jeff slipped off the other side and silently began swimming towardCort's vessel.

Andie shook with terror. Her ex-husband stared at her with the cold, deadly eyes of a killer. The gun in his hand pointed directly at her chest.

”You'll tell me what I want to know,” Kray said.

”I told you, I don't have Bobby with me.”

”Liar.”

She saw him raise his free hand. Even as she told herself to duck, she was too slow. His palm slapped the side of her face. Pain exploded in her cheekbone. She staggered back a couple of steps before regaining her balance.

”You b.a.s.t.a.r.d,”Cort growled. ”What kind of man gets his thrills from hitting a woman?”

Kray didn't spare his prisoner a glance. ”I didn't do it to amuse myself, but to get her attention. Andrea was always very stubborn.”

She glanced atCort . He struggled, but the two men holding him didn't loosen their grip on his arms. His face looked worse than hers would. Kray's men hadn't caught him easily. ”I'm okay,” she said.

Kray moved closer to her. She studied him. No gray marred his dark hair. Even after six years, he still looked like a handsome businessman, although now she could see the lines of cruelty around his mouth. His eyes darkened with temper.

”Youwill tell me. The question is how much do you want to suffer first?”

”I sent Bobby home four days ago.”

”No!” Kray roared. ”Two days ago my men saw you helping JeffMark.u.m escape. Where is the American and where is my son?”

”Your men only saw me. They didn't see Bobby. Ask them. There was no child with me. I'd already sent him home.”

She darted a quick glance around, trying to find a way out. If only his men hadn't searched her when they'd first come on board and taken her pistol. She andCort had fought, but they'd been outnumbered and outgunned. At least they'd had enough warning to put Bobby into the hiding place. Kray's men would never find the child. She had to hang on to that thought.

”Kray, look,” the man still on Kray's boat called.

A small, fast speedboat was circling toward them. ”It's the American,” Kray said. ”Kill him.”

Instantly gunfire erupted. Andie spun toward the sound. She had to cover her mouth to keep from screaming. It couldn't be Jeff, and yet, no one else knew to rescue them. As she watched, more gunfire hit the smaller craft. It turned toward them, apparently undamaged. She waited, wanting to see Jeff stand up to jump off the side.

”He's going to ram us,” the man screamed, and started towardCort's boat.

Everyone's attention focused on the small boat heading directly for Kray's vessel.

Andie saw Kray look away from her. She ducked down and started to go behind him.Cort broke free of the two men holding him. They tried to grab him again. He kicked one in the ribs and punched the other in the face. Kray spun toward her, his pistol pointed at her head. She rolled to get away. A bullet flew past her into the deck of the boat.

Then there was a horrible crash as the speedboat drilled into Kray's larger craft. His vessel b.u.mped hard against theirs. Everyone was knocked down. Lines, cus.h.i.+ons, gla.s.ses and equipment fell onto the deck. Andie kept rolling. She came to a stop against the narrow walkway that led to the front of the boat. As she started to stand, a man vaulted over the side in front of her. He was wet, but she recognized him. Jeff!

Before she could say anything, he covered her mouth with his hand and motioned for her to keep crawling toward the front of the boat. He slipped past her toward the fray. Andie started to do as he'd asked, then hesitated. She turned back to look at the deck.

The speedboat was half submerged. Kray's boat spun around. There was a huge hole in the side and it was already listing. The man who had been left there was clinging to the side ofCort's boat. Jeff reached him first. He grabbed the man's pistol,then pushed him into the ocean.Cort was still fighting the two men. Kray was on his knees searching for his gun.

”Don't even think about it,” Jeff said, coming to a stop beside Kray.

The crime lord looked up. ”Ah,Mark.u.m . I've been expecting you. As soon as my men told me you were on the island and with my wife, I knew what you'd come for.”

”She's not your wife.”

Kray smiled. Andie flinched. She hated that cold, ugly smile. It reminded her of death. ”She once was. It's enough. A life for a life. A bride for a bride. Although I expect you're too much of a coward to kill my son as well as me.”

”d.a.m.n it all to h.e.l.l, will you stay down?”Cort said, frustrated. One of the men who had been holding him was unconscious, but the other staggered to his feet and came at him again.Cort ducked and the man went sailing over him. There was a brief splash.Cort straightened,then looked at Jeff.

”Now what?” he asked.

Andie moved closer. ”Jeff?”

He turned toward her. She met his gaze, determined to deal with whatever she saw in his eyes. She loved him. She trusted him. He'd come back to her. Pray G.o.d he'd changed his mind.

The blue depths flared with anger, but it was controlled. He was furious at what had happened, but not deadly. She bit her lower lip, not sure she was willing to believe.

”It's okay,” he said. ”You were right. I can't cross the line and be like him. When the local authorities show up, we'll have him arrested for what he did to you andCort . Then we can get a search warrant for the villa. There's enough evidence there to keep him locked up for a long time.”

”Never!” Kray said. ”I won't allow it.”

He lunged forward on the deck, as if he'd found what he was looking for. Andie saw the dull black of a pistol under a coiled line.

”No!” she screamed.

Jeff turned toward Kray. He raised his arm, aiming directly at Kray's chest. She waited for him to fire. It was all right now; he would just be protecting himself. But he hesitated. Kray laughed,then pulled his hand up.

A single shot cut through the still afternoon. Andie turned toward the sound.Cort wascrouched by the unconscious man, holding a gun in his hand. Kray slumped to the deck. She didn't have to look at the wound to know he was dead.

Jeff walked over to her and pulled her close. ”It's over,” he whispered.

No, she thought with relief as she clung to him. It had just begun.

Three days later Jeff stood next to Andie in theFort Lauderdaleairport.Cort had taken Bobby to get a hot dog at the snack stand. Around them, pa.s.sengers waited for their planes to be called, airport employees chatted and the loudspeaker announced departures and arrivals. But at the far end of this unused terminal, they were alone.

”You'll be in LA.by nightfall,” Jeff said. ”You must be excited about getting back to your life.”

”I haven't had much chance to think about it,” Andie said. She tucked her blond hair behind her ears. ”We've been so busy answering questions.”

”Yeah.” He leaned against the podium and tried to think of something to say. What he wanted to tell her was that he loved her and couldn't imagine being without her. The thought of his empty life looming in front of him made him break out in a cold sweat. He wanted to ask her to marry him and come live with him inWas.h.i.+ngton. But he didn't.