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“You’ll know,” Hook chimed in, hopping onto the boat like he was immune to gravity. “We’ll all start yelling at once.”
Nash leaned in beside her, his smile crooked and warm. “Just remember, you’re the only civilian. Which makes you the smartest person on this boat.”
He lookedway toohappy to be here. Like this was a second kind of combat. One heenjoyed.
“God help us,” Trigger muttered from across the deck. “At least no one’s been drinking this time.”
“But caffeine…” Hook said, glancing toward Vice with real concern. “His hair is loose. We’re all going to die.”
Grace turned to Nash, deadpan. “Is he serious?”
Nash tried,really tried, to keep a straight face. “Um, don’t worry, babe. If we capsize, the hypothermia will get us before we drown.”
Trigger grunted. “I’m going to kick your ass for scaring her, Nash. But...he’s not wrong.”
“You can try, big man,” Nash said, stretching like he had all day. “If a blast didn’t kill me, you’d be wasting your time.”
Grace exhaled slowly, pulled on the gloves Hitch gave her, and muttered, “I might just kickhisass.”
That did it.
All five operators broke into peals of laughter, echoing off the hull like a frat party on a covert op.
“I’m telling you, man,” Vice said, adjusting his sunglasses like the sun was for mortals. “Put a ring on that. Any woman not locked down is up for grabs.”
Grace gave him a look. “You capsize this boat, Vice, and I’m going to drown you.” He grinned like the devil he was. Vice wore the smug confidence of a man who'dabsolutelysunk something before.
Her heart fluttered, adrenaline deploying. She stepped aboard, boots hitting fiberglass with confidence she didn’t entirely feel. “I won’t be waiting for hypothermia.”
Vice let out a low whistle. “God, I love her.”
“Don’t,” Trigger growled. “She’s Nash’s.”
Vice just smirked. “I said love. Notsteal.I’m reckless, not stupid.”
They cast off like it was a breach op. Grace held on tight, hair whipping, heart racing as the sail snapped into place and the boat caught the wind like itknew where it was going.
It wasn’t graceful. It wasviolent.
She loved it instantly.
Especially when the boat tilted hard, and Grace threw her weight into the winch, winding the line with everything she had.
“I said trim, not haul!” Vice yelled from the wheel.
“Do I look like I speak sail?” she shouted back.
Hook was laughing so hard he dropped his sunglasses. Hitch caught them midair without looking.
Nash moved in behind her, wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her. “You’re doing great,” he said, kissing the shell of her ear as she braced her feet.
“I might be terrible at this.”
“Good,” he whispered. “Keeps your ego in check.”
The sail caught hard.
The boat heeled sharply, tipping at an angle that stole her breath and sent adrenaline screaming through her veins. Water sprayed up the side as the hull sliced through the sea like a knife through silk.