She ducked her face into the curve of my shoulder. “But what about the painting? We haven’t seen it, or heard evidence that it’s here. We can’t go.”
“It’s too risky to stay now that Bergen has seen us.” It was possible he’d rat us out to Laurent. I took her hand and pulled her out of the room. The guests were beginning to assemble for the auction, so hopefully they’d be distracted. I guided Fiona past the people loitering outside and around the side of the yacht, where we were alone. I pressed a button on my watch and pulled Fiona close, so that anybody who saw us would assume we’d stolen a passionate moment alone.
“Strip the dress and heels off, and jump into the water,” I said softly.
She looked at me as though I was crazy. “What?”
“It’s time to get out of here. I’ll explain later, but we need to move fast.”
Her eyes searched mine in the near-dark. “You’re insane. It’s going to be freezing.”
I grabbed her shoulders and held her gaze. “If you trust me, jump. I promise you: everything will be okay.”
When she pulled away, toed off the shoes, and reached behind herself to unzip the dress, I felt like a king. Even without the full picture, she was choosing to trust me. I’d make damn sure she didn’t regret it.
In the distance, blue and red lights started flashing and a siren wailed.
“Police!” a voice hailed over a loudspeaker. “Please turn off your engine and allow us to approach.”
Fiona’s eyes widened, but I just nodded and waved at the edge of the yacht.
“Push off as far as you can,” I said.
She swung her legs over the edge, cast one look back atme as I shucked off my jacket and kicked off my trousers, then slipped over the edge and vanished from view. I heard a faint splash. As I hauled myself onto the ledge behind her, I checked to make sure I wouldn’t land on her bobbing head, then I followed her into the dark.
