Page 41 of Poison Evidence

“Underestimate the Hammer, and you’re dead,” a man with a Russian accent said.

Shit. How had he been identified? “Thor?” Dimitri asked, before Ivy could ask what the man meant.

She nodded.

At least the common language among the men appeared to be English. Dimitri could translate Russian, but he only knew a few Arabic words, and nothing in Ivy’s bio indicated she knew any Middle Eastern languages. But then, he hadn’t known she spoke Japanese.

Was the third man a sign reinforcements had arrived? Dimitri wondered what his accent would tell them. Each man had at least one gun visible. No more messing around with machetes and adzes.

The attack on the party must’ve been an impulse. They’d figured on a quick grab. Ivy was there, and CAM was in her hotel room. Easy job, given that no one expected violence to break out in Palau. Security, even at large political events like that one had been, was always lax. And they’d dressed in traditional Palauan clothing, making it appear they were a local faction making a political statement. There was a vocal group of Palauans who took issue with the US being allowed to operate nuclear-powered vessels within Palau territory thanks to the Compact of Free Association, and the party was to celebrate another Compact-agreement success—solid cover for the Syrians to pose as political dissenters.

They hadn’t expected Dimitri at the party, but this time they were prepared.

“We don’t need Keaton. We don’t need this fucking boat. We need the bitch and her computers, and our homing signal indicates the equipment is down there.” On the screen, the one-eyed pirate pointed aft, toward the captain’s stateroom.

Ivy stiffened at his side. “How the hell—?” She paused and a moment later sucked in a sharp breath. “Fucking Patrick.” Her words were soft but angry. “The fail-safe in CAM was part of the design from the start. He must’ve told them about it and given them a receiver to follow the signal.”

“You didn’t change the design when you moved to the Navy?”

“It didn’t occur to me. Patrick had little to do with CAM beyond the initial concept. He must’ve been following my progress far more closely than I thought.”

“How accurate is the signal? Targeting accurate?”

He suspected her face had paled but couldn’t be certain in the dim cabin. “It’s accurate within three meters.”

Dimitri swore. “The secret compartment will never hold up.”

No time for cat-and-mouse, then. He needed to take these assholes down and then get Ivy to turn off the signal whileLibertyhauled ass for open sea.

Through the headphones, they heard the third man side with the Syrian—not surprising given his accent was also Syrian. The two men returned to the aft deck, while the Russian stayed to search for ways to take over the helm.

“They’re separating.” He met her gaze. He’d wanted her to hide with CAM, but now that they knew these guys had a homing device, he was glad she’d refused. “Will you hide in the bow? There’s another secret compartment.

She shook her head. “No way.”

Now wasn’t the time to delve into her phobias. He pressed his Sig into her hands. “Fine. Take this. No safety. Long pull on the first shot, then a hair trigger. Wait for me in the guest stateroom. Hide as much as you are able.”

“Where will you be?”

He fixed his gaze on his stateroom. “I’m going hunting.”

She nodded.

After a moment’s hesitation, he cupped a hand behind her neck and pulled her face to his, giving her a deep, thorough kiss. If he failed, he’d damn well live his last moments without regrets, rules or no rules.

That she kissed him back didn’t surprise him. Adrenaline and fear were powerful factors.

“You’re amazing, Ivy,” he whispered against her lips as he cradled the back of her head. “You make me wish I really were Jack.” He released her and kept talking to prevent a reply. “If anyone approaches your hiding place without saying”—he smiled as the code came to him—“four-two-five, shoot first. Even if that person is me. Four-two-five is the all clear. If I say anything else, it means I’ve got a gun to my head and they’re using me to draw you out. Save yourself at all costs. Can you do that?”

Her nostrils flared, but she nodded, which didn’t surprise him either. Ivy was a steel orchid.

But then she did surprise him by pulling his head down for another kiss. Her tongue stroked his, quick and deep. She released him and said, “Please don’t make me shoot you.”

Chapter Fourteen

Ivy tucked herself in the point of the bow on the bed. Not exactly a hiding place, but she had a straight shot at the door and a hatch above her head, should the men get past Dimitri.

Or use him as a shield.

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