Page 89 of Savage Reckoning

“Even so, I have bigger responsibilities. I have to do what’s best for all of us, for this organisation, and the last thing we need is some US law enforcement agent sniffing about.”

“That’s not what Gabe is,” I protest. “Yes, he’s army, but—”

“Then what is he? Who is he? And why would I risk my men’s lives for him?”

“Because… you owe it to him.”

“Do I?”

“He saved your brother’s life,” I remind him. “In the hospital. He’s been there when he was needed. He’s loyal, and… and… Please. Please, don’t let them kill him…” I break down, sobbing. “Please, you have to help him.”

Ethan gets up and comes around the table to sit beside me. “Megan, listen to me.”

I raise my face to look at him. The hard-edged cynicism is gone, replaced by genuine compassion, and I remember why I so much want to stay here.

“We’re going to do what we can, you have my word. Apart from anything else, Sawyer was snatched from here, my island. My safe haven where I’m bringing up my children. I can’t let that go.”

“Truly? You mean that?”

“I do mean it. If Sawyer’s alive, we’ll shift heaven and earth to get him back. And show anyone else who might be thinking along the same lines that Caraksay is off limits.”

“Then, will you let him stay? If he wants to, I mean.”

His brow creases. “Let’s wait and see how this turns out. No promises. Ultimately, I’ll do what I think is best.”

I’m ready to continue pleading, but we’re interrupted by Frankie charging back into the hall.

“Fuck. Can’t you learn to knock?” Ethan grumbles.

Frankie skids to a halt, panting. “Sorry. I just… We lost the signal.”

The radio on the table crackles. Ethan hits ‘receive’.

“Target sighted.” The disembodies voice rattles off a set of coordinates. “Current course suggests they’re headed to Ireland.”

“How many on board?” Ethan wants to know.

“Uncertain, boss. We’ve sighted four men, but that would be a small crew for a boat of this size. No sign of Gabriel. Or any other prisoners. There’s a submersible lashed to the rear deck.”

“It must be them. So, we need to keep eyes on that boat. I want to know where they land and where they go when they leave the boat. And I want to know at once if there’s any sighting of Sawyer.” He ends the radio call, already reaching for his phone. He brings up Jed O’Neill on speed dial. “We think they’re headed for Ireland, and we lost contact with the tracking device. Do you have any way of keeping a trace on them once they’re on shore?”

There’s a brief silence, then, “Leave it with me. I might know someone…”

CHAPTER 20

Gabriel

My head throbs. I swear, a marching band has taken up residence between my ears. There’s a groaning sound coming from nearby, and I realise it’s me. I try to open my eyes.

Darkness. I give my head a shake, which I bitterly regret when a spike of pure agony arcs through my skull, but it’s enough to convince me I’m awake, alive even, and as lucid as can be expected. Deliberately, slowly, I open and close my eyes. It makes no difference either way, I’m surrounded by cloying blackness. And there’s a noise, the low hum of a motor running close by, blanketed by a whooshing sound.

I try to sit up but find I can’t move. It doesn’t take long to work out my hands are tied behind my back, and wherever I’m being held is small. Not enough room to get to a sitting position or even raise my knees.

I edge from one side to the other to scope out the space. I have a couple of inches on either side on me, about the same above. I’m in some sort of tube.

Christ, good thing I’m not claustrophobic, though that could change.

I tamp down the first stirrings of panic and force myself to think back, to remember. I was on the beach, at the foot of the cliffs, checking detonator cables. There was a sound behind me. I saw… what?

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