Colson stepped back, revealing the boat. The fishing rig was exactly as I’d seen it when the jolly, round-faced captain first showed it to me: bleach white, modest, and unassuming. Not big, not tiny, just perfectly utilitarian. The kind of boat that looked like it had weathered a hundred storms, and always came out the other side.
“Anyone follow you here?” I scratched my head.
“Relax, I’m not the weak link.”
I frowned. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what I said,” Colson answered coldly. “I’m not the one who got chased down the beach.”
“We got chased down the beach,” I pressed a finger into his chest, “because one of you assholes got made, on theway out of the villa.”
“Think so?” he grunted.
“Had to be.”
My finger was still there. Colson looked down at it like he wanted to snap it in half.
I was praying he would try.
“Okay, okay, okay,” said Theo, stepping rapidly between us. “I get it. We’re doing testosterone again.”
“I’m not the one who started this,” Colson growled.
“Know who would love it, though?” a voice called out. “Donovan.”
We turned, to find Peyton standing with her arms crossed. She looked pissed.
“Seriously, the both of you areveryimpressive,” she said. “Now, shut up.”
Behind her, the captain snickered. He’d been trying to hang back, to remain invisible, but Peyton had been helping with the ropes.
“Alright,” I said, deciding to blink first. “What’s our next move?”
Once again, Theo looked relieved.
“Leak trigger’s all set up,” he cleared his throat. “A couple of tidbits are already out. Nothing too juicy, just enough that Donovan can’t help but notice.”
“What do you think he’ll do?”
“I’m hoping he’ll back off a bit,” said Theo. “Reinstate my father’s treatment, as a sign of good faith.”
“More like a sign of fear,” I said sardonically.
“Yeah, that too.”
Colson grunted. “Donovan might blink, but it won’t last. He’s buying time. Sending more teams down here, now that he’s narrowed our location.”
“Agreed.”
“The question is, how far are we willing to take this?” Colson asked. “Bits and pieces? Half measures?”
He turned to face Peyton.
“We need to be on the same page, here.”
My eyes traveled the smooth skin of her tan body, all the way up to that beautiful, blonde-ringed face. No matter what I did, I couldn’t stop thinking about last night. I’d made hermineon that shitty futon, and mine alone. But then there was the act of fleeing with her, hiding out with her. Holding her in my arms, and keeping her safe.
It all felt unfathomably right.
