Page 57 of Kidnapping of a Myth

“Wendy….” John trailed off, tears streaming down his face.

“Wendy, it’s okay,” Bel shouted when the woman made no move to obey. “Do what he says.”

“Listen to the cop, Wendy,” Henry snarled as the yacht’s engines burned to life. “Knock the gangway down. We’re leaving.”

A hysterical Wendy unhooked the plank and shoved it into the water, and when she was done, Henry gestured with the gun to force her movements.

“Get inside,” he ordered, and she obeyed, scooping Michael up into her arms as she fled. “And detective? Don’t follow us. There’s enough money on this yacht for me to disappear, but your actions will decide in what state these kids leave this boat. If I so much as see a single flashing light, I’ll kill them while everyone watches.”

He turned and dragged John inside, and even though police sirens wailed in the distance, they were too late. They wouldn’t arrive in time. Eamon held her close as the yacht made its way out into the water, and Bel didn’t understand why her face was wet until he brushed the tears off her cheeks.

“Are you all right?” she sobbed, grabbing his blood-soaked biceps.

“Hurts like hell.” He reached up and effortlessly dug the bullet out of his flesh while she watched with a sickened expression. “But I’ll live. You ready?” He asked, scooping her up and settling her onto his back before she could fixate on the mangled slug lying in a crimson puddle on the ground.

“Ready for what?”

“That man tried to kill you. I intend to make him pay for that.” Eamon slipped his hands under her knees to keep her securely in place. “Hold on, Detective.”

And with that, he took off running.

Bel flung her arms around his neck as he leaped off the dock, nearly choking him as her limbs coiled around his body. The distance was too far. He wasn’t going to make it.

She gritted her teeth, waiting for the water to pull them into its frigid embrace, but then Eamon’s chest hit the boat so hard that her jaw collided with his shoulder.

“You okay?” he asked as he scrambled up to the ledge, his dark eyes searching the deck as he waited for her answer.

“I’m fine.” She tightened her hold on his neck, and if she wasn’t so terrified for John, she would’ve marveled at his graceful force. For the briefest second, her mind returned to their earlier conversation where he admitted how relieved he was that she knew his truth, and she agreed now more than ever. Not only because she craved an honest and unbreakable relationship with him, but because he would once again be the difference between life and death for the Darling brothers. She also found his unmatched strength wildly attractive, and even though she felt guilty for appreciating the man carrying her into danger at such a dire moment, she couldn’t help but admire his fearless power.

“I don’t hear anyone.” Eamon hauled himself over the edge and placed her gently on the deck. “But it’s best we assume the crew is dangerous because I don't scent Desmee. Henry probably orchestrated a last-minute miscommunication so the security team would miss this departure.” He lifted his nose into the wind and inhaled, and Bel glanced at the slowly retreating shore as she withdrew her weapon and clicked off the safety. Police swarmed the marina. Griffin had come through. He’d sent the calvary after her, but they were too late. There would be no salvation save the one they fought for themselves.

“This way.” Eamon gripped the stomach of her shirt and pulled her behind him as he took the lead. Together, they crept unseen through the passageways until his senses guided them toone of the lower bedrooms. Eamon shoved open the door and pushed her safely inside, but the sight that greeted them made her feel anything but safe.

“Oh my god!” Bel wedged the gun into her waistband and raced for Wendy and Michael’s huddled forms. They were bound to the bedframe with zip ties, and the moment Michael saw Bel, he let out a gut-wrenching wail.

“John!” Wendy shouted as Eamon ripped the zip ties off their wrists and ankles. “He has John.”

“Where?” Eamon asked.

“I don’t know,” she sobbed, clinging to her baby brother the instant her arms were free. “How is this happening? Who did I marry? Henry said he’ll shoot John between the eyes and then come back for Michael if he sees anyone trying to help. Oh god, what do we do?”

“Isobel, there are jet skis and lifeboats on the deck,” Eamon said, ignoring Wendy’s hysterics. “Get Wendy and Michael off this yacht. I’ll find John.”

“But he’ll kill John if he sees you coming for him.” Wendy clutched his shirt with desperate fingers. “You can’t go. You can’t.”

“Be careful.” Eamon grabbed Bel’s hand, his powerful grip telling her everything she already knew, and then he stood and vanished without another word.

“Come on.” Bel picked Michael up and urged Wendy to her feet.

“No!” the blonde shouted. “Henry will kill John. You need to stop Eamon. Please, Bel, you have to.”

“Wendy, look at me,” Bel ordered. “You just watched that man take a bullet without even flinching. He’ll get John back alive, but we aren’t so bulletproof. We need to go. The police are on shore waiting for us.”

“Swear it,” Wendy said. “Swear to me that my brother will live.”

“Eamon will die before he lets harm touch John’s head, so let’s go. We don’t know who else onboard is working for Henry.”

Bel shifted Michael’s weight and then led the way out into the passageways. The yacht was large for a private luxury craft, but it was still a relatively small vessel, and Bel prayed they would make it to either a jet ski or a lifeboat before they were discovered. She hadn’t seen anyone when they snuck onto the boat, but she’d had Eamon’s unnatural hearing and sense of smell to protect her. Now only her detective’s wit and human bravery guided her.

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