Page 65 of Risky Desires

“Indiana!” Dad’s voice boomed down from above. “Get out of there. We’ve got company coming our way.”

CHAPTER 13

Indiana

I slammed the trap door to the hidden room shut, hoping the oncoming boat didn’t have high-powered binoculars that enabled them to see my movements.

My heart hammered against my ribs as I raced along Rhino’s well-worn deck, keeping in the shadows as I sprinted to the rear. The sun pierced through a gap between two storm clouds, spearing a beam of light right onto the oncoming boat like it was the main act in a show. I lifted my sunglasses and squinting against the glare, I peered through the binoculars. Adjusting the focus, I searched for the encroaching vessel with my pulse thundering in my ears.

The dot in the distance grew, shaping into a sleek rubber boat with an Air/Sea rescue emblem emblazoned on its side. My chest squeezed. Fucking hell.

Tyler Kingsley was at the bow of the boat.

“Damn it,” I muttered.

“Who is it?” The pungent stench of alcohol wafted off Dad’s tongue.

“Kingsley.” I gave Dad the binoculars. “He’s coming in on an Air/Sea rescue boat.”

Twisting his face into a scowl, Dad peered through the binoculars. “What now?”

“Stuffed if I know.”

“He’s like a bad penny.” Dad handed the binoculars back to me.

“He’s worse than that,” I said. “He’s a cop.”

Even as I said the title, the word didn’t hold the bitterness it usually did.

I recognized the young man driving the boat. Jordan was from the Air/Sea rescue team. Maybe he was in charge while Levi was out of action.

The rubber boat bobbed closer, and as the hum of its motor grew louder, closing the distance, Tyler’s wavy black hair whipped in the wind, stubbornly perfect even in disarray.

Jordan cut off the engine, and the boat kissed Rhino’s rear dive deck with a squeal of rubber. Tyler’s boots hit the deck seconds later.

“That’s far enough, Kingsley,” I shouted to him from the next level up.

He swept his mirrored glasses off his face and aimed his piercing blue eyes at me like they were heat-seeking missiles.

“What do you want now?” My words were sharp enough to cut off his head.

“We need your help again, Indiana.”

“Hell no. I’m not a damn charity. Besides, I paid my duty and?—”

“I know.” He paused as if letting that sink in. “Aria’s offering ten thousand dollars.”

Halting my jaw from dropping, I released a mocking huff. “Ten grand? I’ll believe that when I see it.”

He tugged his phone from his shorts pocket. “Tell me your bank account and you’ll have it within minutes.”

I crossed my arms. “What’s the catch?”

“We found a tracking device in Chui’s yacht. It was damaged and Cobra is still trying to decipher the data, but they found a signal deep out in the ocean. They need your help to investigate it.”

Ten grand could float Rhino for months and keep the wolves at bay. I bit down on my lip, feeling the scar on my forehead pull tight. The offer was tempting, even though resentment bubbled inside me. I hated the damn authorities telling me what to do.

“What if we don’t find anything?” I asked.

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