Page 84 of No One Aboard

It was a shark. Who knew what kind of shark it was, but the longer Tia looked, the more she could make out the massive silhouette moving alongsideThe Old Eileen.

How cool is this, she thought. Rylan would love this.

The creature stayed alongside them for several minutes before sliding out of view. Lila released a breath and retreated from the rail, leaving Tia behind.

Tia tried to estimate how big the shark had been. Nine feet? Ten? She hoped she would see it again in the morning, but in the midst of her excitement, she confronted another feeling, percolating at the very back of her mind.

It almost seemed like the shark was following them.

Chapter 41

Lila Logan Cameron

Call sign: Cassiopeia

Day 10 at Sea

Lila made her way back to the cockpit and snaked her arms around Alejandro’s torso from behind.

“Is it done?” she asked him.

“Almost. Waiting for the right time.”

She caught his chin. “Waiting for my order?”

He never faltered. “Of course. What else? Now I need to see where I’m steering, señora.”

“Of course,” she repeated and released him. Both of their tasks were almost complete. Now she needed the right time. She trailed Alejandro’s spine with her thumb. His shirt was almost as paper-thin as her robe.

“I should get to bed, then,” she said.

“Dream of greener grass, Señora Cameron,” he said calmly. He kept his gaze pointed forward, and she detached from him, leaving a single ghost of a kiss at the nape of his neck.

“Buenas noches, Alejandro.”

And she did dream. Not of grass or anything green, though. No, that night, Lila Logan dreamed of fire.

“Mom and I saw a shark last night,” Tia announced at breakfast.

Alejandro had sliced the sailfish meat into delicate, salmon-like pieces that the family spread on their toast. Lila cut up her fish and toast into minuscule bites before sampling a piece. She chewed it thoughtfully. It could use some cream cheese.

“A shark?” Rylan sat up straight. He had been silent all morning as well as late to meeting in the salon. But at least he’d stopped crying, poor dear. “What kind?”

“What time last night?” Francis narrowed his eyes. “I was on watch from eight to midnight.”

“A big one,” Tia said with a mouthful of fish, not looking at her brother. “It was too dark to tell exactly what kind, but it was like ten or eleven feet.” She held up her hands. “The fin was like this tall, I think.”

“So you saw it as well, Lil?” Francis studied his wife as he sipped his orange juice.

“I did,” Lila admitted. Should she have told Tia to keep quiet? No, that would have just attracted more suspicion. Her conversation with Nico had put her on edge, even more than she already was thanks to Francis’s little surprise change in plans and the fact that her only daughter was plotting to escape their family and never speak to them again. “I couldn’t sleep, so I went to get some fresh air. Turns out Tia couldn’t sleep either.”

“Yeah...” Francis set his glass down with a clatter. “Seems no one’s been getting decent sleep around here lately.”

Rylan hadn’t touched his food. Did he regret confessing about Tia’s plans to run away? Lila couldn’t know for certain, but she saw how much the knowledge weighed on him. It was right of him to unburden himself to his parents.

As for Tia running... it was obsolete, as far as Lila wasconcerned. Once they were back home (and theywouldget back home) everything would change for the better, and if Tia still wanted to go, Lila would hold the door for her. Maybe she’d come back in a few years mellowed out and grateful. Or maybe she’d get mixed up with more boys like Nico de la Vega, and Lila would find her in a ditch someday.

Only time would be kind enough to tell.