Page 68 of The Bad Girl

I smile, hoping he doesn’t turn around and spy Nadine.

Johnson’s gaze returns to Eliza. “You’re way more ambitious than I took you for.”

I try to will Nadine back down to the cabins, but instead, she tiptoes behind Mike T., and begins working his ropes. The women must have come up with this plan below. It’s clever, but dangerous, and one wrong move will see one of us dead.

Johnson throws my phone at me. “Get Harry on the line. Speakerphone.”

I do as he commands, watching Nadine out of the corner of my eyes.

Harry:Hello, boss.

I cut him off, not wanting to alert Johnson that security’s probably already investigating my disappearance.

Maxwell:Harry, I have Johnson here, and he wants to talk to you.

Harry:Your work friend?

Johnson takes a step towards the phone and shouts:

Johnson:I need you to get as much money as you can, and bring it to the down-central airstrip.

Harry:That’s out of the way. What game are we playing?

Maxwell:Harry, there’s money in the safe by my bed, the password is: 31 - 48 - 52 - 2 - 12.

Harry knows full well that there is no safe by my bed. There’s one in my closet, in the pantry, in my office, and even in my bathroom, but none by my bed.

Harry:I hope you don’t mind if I take a little for myself.

Maxwell:Harry—

Johnson:We’ll talk about your cut when you get to down-central. I’ll be there. We’ll have a chat.

As Johnson talks to Harry, his defenses go down slightly, and a newly-freed Mike launches himself across the deck, wrapping his arms around Johnson’s waist and taking him down.

The gun goes off, and for a moment, my whole world spins as I worry the bullet may have caught Nadine, but a quick glance in her direction tells me she’s fine.

Everyone starts to panic, looking themselves up and down to make sure the stray bullet didn’t find them.

Mike gives Johnson a final punch, knocking him out, and when he gets up, I see blood dripping from his khaki cargo shorts.

I point to the blood. “Mike, we need to take a look at that. Right away.”

When he sees what I’m looking at, he chuckles. “Oh, that’s not from me. The little asshole shot his own foot.”

Everyone breathes out a sigh of relief when we see Johnson’s mangled appendage.

Harlow gets up from his seat. “I’ll get us docked.”

Lady Elaine goes to Johnson and retrieves her bracelet from his pocket. “Good job, Eliza. You deserve this,” she says, dropping it in the girl’s palm.

I close the distance between Nadine and I, taking her into my arms.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay below deck?”

“Max, I hate ta be the one ta tell ya, but bad girls don’t listen to their boss.”

I hear a muffled commotion, and look down to see I’m still connected with Harry.

Harry:What the hell is going on? Why won’t anyone answer me? Was that a gun? Is Max dead?

I go to answer, but Nadine pushes my hand down and shakes her head.

“With all the shit he’s given me over the last eighteen months, just let me enjoy this.”