Page 66 of Emi's Hero

A member of the yacht’s crew rushed forward and tried to get him to stand. “Sir, you can’t be on this boat. You’ll have to leave immediately, or I’ll call security.”

Not helping the man’s cause, George remained seated on the deck. He glanced around and blinked. “This isn’t the cruise ship?”

“No, sir. You need to leave immediately.” Another crew member appeared. Between the two of them, they lifted George to his feet and ushered him to the gangway.

“What the hell’s going on up here,” a voice called out.

George spun, taking the two crew members with him. “Thass what I’d like to know,” he said, slurring his words. “Thiss is no way to treat a passssenger.” He staggered toward Vincent Warren. “I need a drink. Got any booze on this boat?”

Warren’s nose wrinkled as if he smelled something nasty. “Get this drunk off my yacht. If he won’t leave, throw him overboard.”

George’s fists clenched. He came so close to slamming his fist into the bastard’s face. If it weren’t for the little girl Warren held hostage, George would have beaten Vincent Warren into hamburger meat. “Don’t get all huffy. I’m goin’.”

He staggered and fell into one of the leather chairs, taking the opportunity to wedge the tracking device in between the cushions.

Then he pushed to his feet and stumbled to the gangway. “The service on this cruise ship sucks.”

No sooner was he off the yacht than the gangway was retracted, the lines were untied and the engine flared to life. Warren’s yacht left the marina with George standing on the dock singing at the top of his lungs.

As soon as they were out of sight, he ran back to where he’d left Emi and let out a sigh of relief. She was still there.

She handed him his cell phone. “Hawk says he can see the tracker on his device. I have it on ours. He’s headed out of the harbor.”

They hurried back to the rental car, checking the tracking device all the way. By the time they reached the car, it was clear. Warren was headed west toward Kauai.

George’s cell phone rang. It was Hawk.

“Meet us at the Honolulu airport general aviation FBO.”

George met Emi’s glance. “Let’s go get Sara.”

CHAPTER 15

Emi satbehind Kalea in the small plane, the roar of the engine muffled by the headphones over her ears. They were headed for Kauai. If all went well, she’d be holding her little girl in her arms soon.

And itwouldgo well. There was no other option. Sara was her life. Her reason for living. Without her, what did she have left?

George reached out a hand.

Emi placed hers in his.

What would she have done without him? She’d have died, and Sara would have been left to Fallon Vance—make that Vincent Warren and his twisted mind.

She prayed she was right in assuming Warren hadn’t been back to the compound since dumping her in the ocean. And hopefully, he hadn’t sent word to get rid of the little girl. He was a businessman who was used to trading in human assets. Surely, he would have kept her for the potential of selling her at a later date.

The thought of her little girl being auctioned or sold to some sick bastards made Emi’s stomach roil.

It wouldn’t happen. The cavalry was on the way. An entire team of special forces operators would get her out of the compound alive.

They still didn’t know exactly where the compound was on Kauai. George hadn’t been able to tag Warren himself with the tracking device, only his yacht.

Once Warren reached the island, they wouldn’t be able to track him to the compound.

Thus, the reason for arriving before the yacht and having boots on the ground to follow him from the moment he left the yacht.

With the additional information they’d uncovered about the Hollingsworth subsidiary Warren was in charge of, they had identified five properties on the Kauai owned by the corporation.

With the help of Hawk’s friend and his team of drones and drone operators, they hoped to narrow down the five options to one.

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