Page 48 of Alex

Chapter Twenty-Three

Alex waited and waited,his brain was screaming at him that something was wrong, and Evelyn shouldn’t be taking this long. Why hadn’t she activated her mic? He had tried to contact her with no luck and the knot in his gut was screaming to him that he needed to move. After fifteen minutes he knew he couldn’t wait any longer and activated the comm on his watch so the others could hear him. “Shadow has lost contact with Siren. Be ready to execute stage three.” He kept his voice low knowing the sensitive equipment would pick it up.

“Pyro in place,” came Liam’s reply.

“We have the Joker in sight.” Blake replied using the code name they had given Simon Booth.

Moving in the direction Evelyn had gone he passed through the busy kitchen. Seeing nothing amiss he walked to the stateroom she had been headed for and using the lock pick from his belt was inside in under ten seconds. Slipping through the door he saw nothing out of the ordinary—no sign of a struggle, nothing knocked over but also no Evelyn. Deciding to do a quick search to make sure he hadn’t missed anything he moved through to the small but very lavish bathroom and stopped dead. The guard from earlier, the one who’d helped Evelyn on board was slouched on the floor, his body crumpled, blood splattered behind him from a single bullet to the head.

Alex cursed and activated the comm “This is Shadow. We have a body in the main stateroom. A guard from the boarding platform.”

“Roger that. Moving towards your position,” Reid answered.

Alex wasted no time, moving out of the room after checking the hallway and clicking the door closed. The desire to find Evelyn was burning in his blood now and his steps quickened. I’ve got to get to her. I can’t lose her again. The mantra repeated over and over in his head.

His body jolted as an explosion rocked through the boat. He threw his hand out to catch himself as he was thrown forward. Steadying himself he began to run as he heard screams and shouts from outside.

“Pyro, what the fuck?”

“Wasn’t me, Shadow.” Alex could hear Liam running as he spoke.

“King, Gucci, do you have eyes on the Joker?”

“Negative.” The reply made him shudder.

“Find him. Captain Kirk, meet me on the sun deck. Viking, get in position for exfil.”

“We have a speedboat leaving the yacht,” Viking said over the comm.

That could be Simon Booth.

“Confirm?” His foot hit the bottom step of the deck.

“Fuck, we have a second boat leaving. People are abandoning ship like rats. I have eyes on Siren,” Gunner said a second later. “She just jumped in the water and is swimming towards one of the boats that’s now idling.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” His feet hit the deck and he scanned it for Evelyn. “Where did she jump from?”

“Sun deck, starboard side.”

Alex ran to the starboard side and looked into the inky black sea trying to make out Evelyn. He caught sight of her as she pulled herself into a speedboat. His relief was short lived though as another explosion hit and the boat began to lilt dangerously.

“We need to get off the yacht. I have eyes on Siren. Do you have the Joker?”

“Negative.”

“Prepare for exfil.” Alex turned and froze. Simon Booth was in front of him, holding a gun in the hand that was outstretched and pointed at his chest.

“Well, it was a nice try, Alex.”

Alex raised his hands in a gesture of submission as he assessed Simon. His hand was steady on the gun, his clothes barely wrinkled. In fact, he looked calm and composed, nothing like a playboy with a god complex who had an evil streak a mile wide should look.

“Nothing to say?”

Alex glared at him not willing to take the bait.

“Maybe this will help you get some perspective.” Booth pointed towards the boat Evelyn was on.

She was standing in the boat with a man beside her who had a gun to her head. Alex fought the desire sweeping through him to tear Simon to shreds with his bare hands. He even took a step before checking himself when Simon lifted the gun aiming it at his head.