Page 33 of Caught in the Crossfire

We needed more power. If I was going to protect her, protect all of us, we had to be untouchable.

I glared at Volpe as Edward’s voice crackled in the radio in my ear. “The RHIB is secure. I can sink it, or we can take it with us.”

“Sink it.”

“Copy. Ready for the last part of the plan?”

“Are we clear?” I stepped to the salon doors and gazed out at the cargo ship looming in the distance from our stern. The motor yacht rolled in the swell of the waves. We were at an appropriate distance.

“Affirmative,” Edward answered.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Leona watching.

“Stay inside,” I commanded, making sure that there was plenty of space between us.

I walked to the footlocker I’d placed at the railing of the ship, where a rocket launcher waited. I hefted it over my shoulder, aimed it at the hull of the Albanian ship, and fired. The rocket flew over the waves, blasting a hole into the side of theRed Talon. The ship listed, containers toppling one over another while flames exploded across the bow. The heat flashed against our cheeks. Leona’s face was completely passive as the light from the explosion flickered in front of her eyes.

This hell would sink to the bottom of the ocean, along with any evidence it had ever existed.

Edward engaged the engine beneath our feet. I nodded at my brothers, watching as they wrapped a blanket around Leona and again offered her first aid. She waved them off, instead insistingto care for the other women first. She leaned her head on Ciel’s shoulder, and he met my gaze with tears in his.

Spider-web cracks threatened my control.

We all had much to process from the past three days.

“Edward.” I pulled myself up the exterior stairs and headed toward the flybridge so I could watch the ship sink. “Head back to New York. Get us close to the city, but don’t dock in the marina until we give the go ahead.”

“Everything all right?”

I thought of Volpe, then the women we’d rescued. “Fine. We just may be one passenger lighter.”

It would take hours to get back to the city, but before returning to the below decks I needed a moment to collect myself. I needed to regain my control before we faced off against Volpe. He would not return to the city without giving us answers.

I slipped my phone from my pocket and dialed Willow’s number. She answered on the second ring.

“News?”

“We’ve got her.”

She exhaled a heavy sigh. Her voice trembled. “Wynn will be so relieved.”

“We’ll be home soon, but we need your crew.”

“You do?” Shuffling sounded in the background. “How many?”

“Six.” I described their age ranges and visible injuries. They all looked to be in early twenties or younger. Most had been beaten, and likely raped. One had a broken ankle.

She sighed. “Send me where you’ll be and I’ll have them meet you there.”

“Thank you, Willow.”

I didn’t know what would happen when we returned to solid ground, but I would not let Volpe hurt Leona again. Even if I had to be the one to put a bullet between his eyes.

13

OBI

It took hours to get close to New York City again.