Page 5 of Depths of Desire (The Emerald Dagger Mafia #3)

CHAPTER FOUR

E very instinct in me screams to scoop her up and fly to land, to put as much distance between us and the wreckage as possible. But I can’t. That would mean giving away my secret, and if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this—we never give away our secret. My brothers would kill me.

I glance back at the dying ship.

Flames lick hungrily through the massive hole that was blown in the hull. The boat is being devoured from the inside out. The ship groans, her frame buckling under the weight of water flooding in through gaping wounds. There’s no telling how many holes are in her, but it’s enough. She’s going down.

I turn back to Luna. She’s pushing herself hard, arms slicing through the water with determined strokes, but she’s not fast enough. The ship behind us lets out another tortured, metallic wail, and then—Boom! Another explosion erupts, this time partially underwater. I know exactly what’s coming.

Without hesitation, I wrap myself around Luna, my body a shield against the force of the blast. The shockwave slams into us, the impact ripping through my muscles like they were tissue paper.

The water surges, a rolling force that knocks the breath from my lungs.

For a split second, everything is silent. Then I realize—Luna is gone.

Under me.

Underwater.

Sharp, electric panic surges, and frantically, I reach down, grab her, and yank her to the surface. She bursts up, coughing, sputtering, gasping for air.

“What the hell was that?” she demands, water streaming down her face.

“Another explosion.”

She coughs some more and then croaks, “And what? You thought it was a good opportunity to drown me?”

I don’t even have the energy to argue. My body is still healing from that blast. It’ll take me another minute or two before I’m back to full strength. Instead of answering, I just wave her forward.

She glares at me but keeps going. Always so damn stubborn.

A moment later, I join her, putting an arm around her to help her along. I just hope she doesn’t notice how fast we’re going.

Finally, I slow us down. Flames reflect off the dark waves, and I turn to look at the ship. It’s bad. Fire is pouring from the parts of the hull not submerged, and I know the oil is leaking into the water. It could easily spread, and then we’ll be swimming in flames.

"Why are we stopping?" Luna asks, her voice thin from exertion. "Do we have to swim all the way to land? I won’t be able to do that."

"No, Luna," I tell her." I have someone coming to pick us up. Just tread water for a minute. Can you do that?"

She gives me a look. "Of course I can tread water." She’s staring at the ship, her expression tight with confusion. "Why would someone blow it up?"

I don’t answer. Because I’ve been wondering the same damn thing.

God only knew what the cargo was—both the legal and the not-so-legal, including my family’s contraband.

I did not look forward to telling Renzo that we lost an entire shipment of blood.

He was going to be beyond angry. This was the first shipment to new clients.

A good-faith shipment that was meant to cement our business relationship.

That relationship was currently going down along with the ship.

Still, any number of people could have had a reason to take that ship out, including our competitors in the blood trade.

Although blowing the ship up was reckless, if that’s who it was.

The last thing anyone wanted to do was bring attention to the fact that vampires and all manner of magickal creatures existed.

Destroying the cargo vessel was way too public.

There had to be something else on that ship. Something that somebody wanted gone.

Then I hear it. Sirens. I glance toward the horizon. Fireboats. Emergency responders. They’re closing in fast. We need to get out of here. The last thing I want is to be picked up and thrown into a mess of questions I don’t want to answer.

I check my watch. Where the hell is my ride?

Nico.

My brother’s voice echoes in my head. Shit. I forgot about the meeting.

Renzo , I answer telepathically. Can’t talk now. I’ll explain later .

Are you all right? Renzo’s concern hits me.

Remains to be seen, I say. I’ll tell you later.

Do you need help?

I hesitate. If I tell them what’s going on, it’s going to expose us to a whole new problem.

Not yet , I stall him. But I’ll let you know.

Okay. Standing by.

I look back at Luna. The adrenaline is wearing off. Her lips are pinched and slightly blue. The water isn’t freezing, but after this long? It’ll start pulling the warmth from her bones.

"Come here."

She blinks at me, her body drifting slightly with the waves. "What?"

"Just come here."

She takes a few hesitant strokes toward me, wary.

"What are you doing?" she demands.

"You’re getting cold. I want you to hold onto me."

Her expression twists. "I don’t need your help."

Always a fight.

"Luna, it’s okay. I got you."

She hesitates, then whispers, "Yeah, but I don’t want to drown you. Then I’ll be stuck out here by myself."

I smirk. "You’re not going to drown me."

Her eyes narrow. "More of your ‘special skills’?"

I grin. "As a matter of fact, yes. Just hold onto me."

She huffs out an annoyed breath, but gives in. She wraps her arms around me, and the second she does, her body relaxes completely. She’s exhausted. Dead weight.

She stares at the sinking ship as more emergency boats arrive. Voices call out over the chaos. “Do you think everyone got off okay?" she asks.

I don’t answer right away. Because I know the truth. "Sure," I say.

She looks me dead in the eye. "No, you don’t."

I sigh. "You’re right. I don’t." I keep treading water. The chances of everyone making it off that ship unscathed? Slim to none. Someone set those explosions on purpose, meaning they wanted something—or someone—taken out, and that was a helluva lot of effort for one person. So, my money was on cargo. If someone wanted to take out the cargo that badly, then someone else was probably protecting it. They would’ve had men all around it.

So no, people weren’t getting off that tub alive.

It’s quite possible some of them were already dead before the explosions even started.

How else would the bomber get the explosives where they could do the most damage?

I scan the water. If someone on board rigged all that up, then they would be out here treading water, too, waiting to be picked up. The urge to swim all the way to shore intensifies as unease settles around me.

Luna looks around. "Maybe they’re on the other side? Maybe we just can’t see them?"

Startled I ask, "Maybe what’s on the other side?" Was she reading my mind?

“The lifeboats. This ship had lifeboats, right? Maybe we just can’t see them because they’re in the water on the opposite side of the ship.

“Maybe,” I say, however I don’t believe that.

“What about the Coast Guard or Navy or whoever those officers were? Do you think they got off in time?”

“Uncertain.”

She shivers. “Do you think…” Her voice fades out.

“Do I think?” I cock an eyebrow at her.

“Well, it’s stupid really…but I just suddenly thought that everything was going fine until they boarded the ship, and then it literally went up in flames. Do you think they were the target?”

“No. The explosives that created holes that massive in the sides of the ship would take a while to place. I would guess they were put in place either before we left the dock or someone on board placed them just after.”

What I don’t mention is that it’s quite possible someone who boarded as part of the Coast Guard might have set the explosives, or they might have been the ones to trigger them. Either way, my guess is that the authorities were involved in whatever the hell is going on.

A low hum vibrates through the air. Engines. I turn, eyes straining against the darkness. Normally, a boat would have its lights on. But my guy knows better. Slowly, a small vessel glides into sight.

"Our ride’s here," I say.

Luna scans the water. "Where? I can’t see anything."

"Let your eyes adjust."

The boat floats closer.

"Okay, swim to it. Think you can do that?" She nods, but I see it. She’s at her limit. I swim beside her, staying close until we reach the boat.

"Adolfo," I call.

"Yeah, I got you," he says quietly.

"Get Luna first."

She lifts her arms, and I boost her up while Adolfo hauls her onto the deck. She lands with a soft thud. I grab the railing and vault over it, landing softly on the gunwale. Vampire strength. There’s nothing like it.

Luna shivers violently as Adolfo tosses me a blanket. I wrap it around her, pulling her against me, seating us at the back of the boat.

"What are you doing?" she murmurs, her voice sleepy, sluggish.

"Keeping you warm."

Adolfo turns the boat and starts moving—slowly at first, keeping the noise at a minimum. Luna leans into me for warmth. My body reacts. I fight it, but then—The scent of blood hits me. I go still.

"Luna, you’re hurt."

She lifts her head so she can see me. "No, I’m not."

"Yes, you are." I can’t tell her how I know, but there’s no mistaking the smell of blood.

She frowns. "I’m not?—"

I lift her arm, and there it is—a gash along her bicep. Probably happened on the way out.

"Oh," she murmurs. "I didn’t even realize."

"Adrenaline will do that."

She exhales. "What happens now?"

“We get on dry land and fix your arm.”

“After that. What happens after that?”

I know what she’s asking. Am I going to let her go or am I going to turn her over to her family?

“I still have time before my father knows I’m missing. I can still disappear. This has only set me back a day. I can figure something out.” She’s staring at me, willing me to say that I won’t tell her father.

“Let’s talk about it once we hit dry land and get you fixed up,” I say, trying to buy time.

I don’t want to fight with her here. Adolfo is one of my guys, but I’m not big on letting him witness a fight between Luna and me.

It sends out a message, like maybe she’s not as important to me as she actually is.

And she is very important to me. If I screw this up, both of my brothers won’t forgive me because their wives won’t forgive them.

I can’t be the man responsible for getting Luna hurt… or worse.

As the lights of the harbor rapidly approach, I glance over at her.

She still thinks it’s possible. That she can just disappear again.

But I know better. Whoever blew up that ship?

They didn’t want anyone surviving. And I have a feeling they knew Luna was on board.

I was careful to avoid the cameras, but I know Luna wasn’t.

She had no reason to be, but more importantly, I’m quite sure it never occurred to her to even recognize that there were cameras on the vessel.

Reality hits me square in the gut like a sucker punch. I have a new traveling companion. One who will need to be glued to my side twenty-four seven. Luna’s not going anywhere. I can’t risk her safety. Not until I figure out who’s behind this.

And why.