Stormfront (Undertow Book 2) (31 page)

I watched, entranced
,
as Eila swayed in perfect unison to Bob Marley’s song in the middle of the dance floor. MJ had stolen her from my side, and he turned her about in the open air restaurant, among the other yacht owners and vacationers. The pale gray of her sundress dipped into a midnight black, and it slid along her legs as she danced barefoot, a single pink seashell hanging from her neck. I reached up and touched the shark tooth she had tied to my neck when we were getting ready to leave the yacht for an evening of music and dancing.

I remembered how I pressed her against the wall in my room, kissing her deeply as she tried to concentrate on knotting the gift at my neck. I smiled, recalling how her body vibrated as she giggled when I turned my lips to a spot on her neck that was ticklish.

Not far from them, Kian danced with Ana, her lips silently singing the song as she twirled.  He smiled as he held her and pulled an exotic flower from her hair, sticking it in his own and she laughed.

“Let me guess. Something to do with the Internet or cell phones, right?” asked a low voice next to me. I turned and saw an elderly man leaning against the bar not far from me.

“I’m sorry?” I asked, my brow falling.

He gestured with his drink to my companions on the dance floor. “I saw you kids pull in on a sweet cruiser. I’m figuring if you guys are that young to be sailing here alone on such a beauty, there is wealth involved. It has
gotta be the tech industry.”

Dealing with nosy, rich men was never my strong suit. “Something along those lines,” I replied, hoping to end the conversation. The reality was, our wealth came from years of hard work, careful buying of stocks, and purchasing land wisely. Kian, however, did invest early in a certain tech company whose logo was a tree-born
e fruit, while I favored a start-up known as Google.

“You guys going to be part of the fishing tourney tomorrow?” asked Mr. Nosey.

“We’re just passing through,” I replied, catching sight of Eila and MJ headed my way.

Eila slid up next to me and I wrapped my arm around her. The heat from her body emanated through the sheer fabric of her dress and sweat had dampened her dark hair around her face. “Did you see me?” she asked, beaming and breathless as she kissed my cheek.

“I did – you guys looked great,” I replied, handing her a glass of ice tea.

“Damn straight we looked great!” said MJ, planting a kiss on
Eila’s forehead. Jealousy stirred subtly inside me, but I knew MJ’s affection for Eila was that of a big brother and nothing more.

Eila turned to my chatty
barmate. She extended her hand, “Hi. I’m Eila.”

Mr. Nosey took her hand and kissed her knuckles. I wanted to snap his lips off. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Mr. Garrett, owner of this delightful establishment.”

“You own this place?” I asked, surprised. This guy dressed like a tourist, complete with garish tropical shirt and cargo shorts.

“That I do. It does me a world of good to see you young folks enjoying the evening here. It can be pretty hard to compete with the fancier places up the coast, but I am glad that I still somehow appeal to kids like you.”

With its thatched roof, basic wooden tables, and sand-dusted floors, The Pink Crab wasn’t anywhere near five-stars, but it was 100% true to the essence of the island. It also was fairly far off the beaten path, making our likelihood of running into another Mortis pretty remote.

“I think it is just fabulous
, Mr. Garrett. Even better is the whole ‘footwear optional’ thing,” said Eila with a laugh, holding up her heeled sandals. She had rid herself of her shoes within five minutes of entering the small bar.

Mr. Garrett smiled at her and pulled a hibiscus bloom from a large bush that was leaning into the bar. He held the flower out to Eila, “For such a beautiful compliment, and an even more beautiful lady.” Eila took the flower, tucking the red bloom into her wild ponytail.

“Thank you,” she said, but I felt her hand rub my side. She knew I was uneasy with anyone coming near her, my guard instincts relentless.

Mr. Garrett eased his wide frame from the barstool. “Well, you kids enjoy yourselves. And I wish you safe sailing, wherever you are headed. I’ve got to see to some business, but have a great evening.” Eila gave him a wave as he left.

Kian and Ana were still on the dance floor and I looked down to Eila. “So, do you have enough spark left to dance with me?” I asked, tucking one wayward strand of hair behind her ear.

“Hmmm . . . that wasn’t much of a request,” she replied, fingering my necklace. I pulled her in tighter to me, bringing my lips dangerously close to hers. “Dance with me,” I whispered. “Dance with me now, or I may lose my mind and drag you back to the yacht instantly.”

“Is that a promise or a threat?” asked E, hooking her finger into my necklace and pulling me so close that our noses touched.

“Both,” I whispered back to her.

“Good answer,” she replied.

“Are you sure?
”
I asked Kian as I stared down at the photo of Mr. Garrett on his laptop.

“Look man, this is
Rillin’s area of expertise. If he says this dude is on the Blacklist for drugs, then he is. I don’t know about you, but I could use the hit,” said Kian, pulling on a blue, long sleeve shirt.

I had laid with Eila in my arms until she drifted into a deep sleep and then I slipped away from her warm body, not wanting her to know I was about to go kill a man. Ana, however, was aware of what we were up to. She seemed to accept that we were hunting humans, though I was sure the fact that they were criminals eased her mind.

She stood in Kian’s robe, her arms crossed over her chest. “I can’t believe you two are going hunting now. Can’t you just wait until we dock at Polaris in two days?” she asked, playing with a throw pillow from the parlor couch. The yachts nearby had all fallen dark and we had shut down most of our lights as well, so as not to attract attention.

Kian pulled a switchblade from his black bag and tucked it into his belt as I removed my necklace, placing it on the bar.
Rillin had insisted we start arming ourselves, since the other Mortis had attacked with weapons, but I still felt uncomfortable with the idea. Kian, however, took to the plan with ease.

We were both dressed in dark colors, though our ability to pull the shadows over our body was the ultimate camouflage.

My partner in crime looked to Ana, “We need to go tonight, Pix. Rillin says Polaris has no large game to hunt, except for those with dorsal fins and loads of teeth, and quite frankly, hunting sharks is not fun.”

“This hit will last us for a solid week,
Ana,” I said as MJ came in from the aft deck. He pulled the glass door shut behind him as he entered the parlor.

“So, how long you think?” asked MJ. He was going to be with the girls while we hunted, but we didn’t for
esee any issues. We were docked at a marina that was fairly remote.

“The Pink Crab is about 10 minutes away by foot. If we locate Garrett and his nephew right away, we can be back in under an hour,” I said, tying my black boots as I calculated how long it would take to efficiently murder two men.

“What do you want me to tell Eila if she wakes up?” asked MJ.

“Just tell her the truth – Kian and I went hunting.”

“Want me to tell her you went to kill an older man who gave her a pretty flower? Want me to tell her
that part
, Raef?” asked Ana.

I stopped what I was doing and took a deep breath. “Look, I get you don’t approve of me sneaking out like this, but she didn’t take it too well when she learned we were hunting people. We’ve had a great trip so far and I don’t want to ruin it for her. As for Garrett,
Rillin says he is selling a lot more than drinks and fried conch out of his establishment.”

“What exactly landed him and his nephew on
Rillin’s list?” asked MJ.

“Drug smuggling, though his nephew dabbles in the skin trade and high-end theft as well,” said Kian. “I’ve got no qualms removing these two scumbags from the land of the living.”

The skin trade, selling people for profit, made me ill. It was almost always young people, usually females, who were bought and sold like animals. Kidnapped from their families, never to be heard from again.

“I want the nephew,” I said, thinking of Eila safely tucked into my bed.

“Fine by me,” said Kian, starting for the door. He looked to MJ. “You keep an eye out for anything weird, got me? Where’s the gun?” MJ pushed up his t-shirt and revealed Dalca’s handgun tucked into his waistband.

“You sure you don’t want to phase, MJ?” I asked, still not thrilled we were leaving the girls alone with
him.

MJ shook his head, “Not this time. I wouldn’t get around too good as Marsh in the layout of the yacht. Two feet are better than four inside here. Don’t worry
, Raef. I got your girl. She’s safe with me – Ana too.”

Ana snorted, “I can kick your butt when you are in human form
, MJ, and you know it.”

Kian walked over to Ana and pulled the sea
glass necklace over his head. “I can completely see that happening, Pix, but try not to damage MJ while I’m gone.” He placed his necklace over Ana’s head and it rested against her own piece of the ocean, “Keep my present safe, will ya?” Ana, unable to reply, simply gave a small nod. 

We left, heading down the dock silently
, and I glanced back at Cerberus. MJ stood on the flydeck watching the night.

I had one hour to kill a man.

One hour to be a monster.

Something jolted me awak
e
and I blinked into the darkness, listening for a moment.

I rolled over to tell Raef I thought I heard something weird, but was surprised to see he was not in bed. But then I heard the doorknob turn and I smiled, knowing it had to be Raef, returning to bed. It took less than two seconds to realize the tall, slim shape entering the room was not the boy I loved.

The figure lunged at me just as I went to scream, and he pinned me to the bed pressing something over my mouth.

“Shut up,” he hissed, yanking me onto my stomach.

Terror was flying through my body as I heard tape ripping and felt my wrists being bound behind my back. I screamed through the tape across my lips, knowing that no one could hear me.

Where was Raef? What had this monster done to my friends?

The man was working at the tape, when the training Raef had put me through kicked in and my fear was replaced by a need to fight – and beat the tar out of this man.

I arched backward quickly, knocking the back of my head into the man’s forehead as hard as I could. He hissed out
a swear, and his weight eased from my back just enough for me to flip over. I brought my knees up hard and fast, and nailed the bastard right between the legs and he let out a holler, falling over sideways.

I so
mersaulted off the bed, hitting the floor hard on my knees as my attacker staggered to his feet, still partially doubled over. I scrambled to get my bound hands under my butt and past my legs, so that I at least had the use of my clasped fists.

Just as he stood, I launched myself at him, landing on his back and slinging my arms over his head in the most messed-up pi
ggyback ride ever. I pulled with all my might on his throat and he began gagging, his own hands clamping down on my wrists, trying to release the pressure.

He suddenly pushed backward, hard and fast, slamming me up against the edge of the porthole, and my shoulder screamed in pain as I groaned.
He pulled forward to bash me against the wall again just as Ana came flying into the room with a fire extinguisher in her hands, screaming like a banshee dressed in a black t-shirt and hot pink boyshorts.

She jumped onto the bed just as she swung the canister, connecting the heavy red bottle with the jaw of my attacker. The resounding clang spun the man’s head to the side and he staggered, falling to the floor. With my hands still trapped around his neck, I crashed down with him, slamming my already painful shoulder into the ground, nearly knocking the wind out of me.

Ana scrambled off the bed to me, her make-shift bat still in her hands. “What the HELL?” she yelled, shaking.

I was still catching my breath and my body twitched from the adrenaline in my veins. I managed to pry my hands from around the unconscious man’s head and peel the silver tape from my lips, hissing as I did so.

“Thanks” I breathed.

“THANKS? THANKS! Screw thanks -
who is this dirtbag?” she demanded, kicking the man hard in the side. He moaned. “Welcome aboard Cerberus, scumbag!”

“I have no clue what just happened,” I replied, trying to twist my wrists out of the makeshift cuffs, but the tape only clung to my skin
more tightly. “Where’s Raef and Kian? Where’s MJ?” I asked.

Damn
, my shoulder hurt.

Ana notched the tape and managed to tear it free from my hands. “Key and Raef went Blacklist hunting about a half-hour ago, but MJ
 . . . MJ should be here,” she replied. I scrambled to my feet and headed for the door, yelling for MJ.

Ana dropped to her knees next to my attacker and yanked him over to his back. Blood poured from his broken nose, and a massive bump was forming on his head from Ana’s killer aim. She placed her hands on his forehead and closed her eyes.

I nearly asked what she was doing, desperate to search for MJ, when I realized she was trying to read him. Her eyes flew open and she looked at me, terrified as I heard the engine roar to life. “Pirates,” she breathed.

My eyes grew huge, “OF THE CARIBBEAN?”