Page 62 of Austen

“What do you mean, saving Steinbeck’s life?”Austen said.She glanced at her brother.“That’s when you were shot.”

“Yes,” Phoenix said.“He got himself shot and lost a lot of blood, and he had a little hemothorax going, so I sneaked into the Russian Mafia camp and liberated a four-wheeler.”She looked at Steinbeck.“A guy could be more grateful.”

“A guy might not have gotten shot in the first place if he hadn’t followed you into a smuggler’s tunnel.If he hadn’t caught you stealing from Declan’s safe.”

“What?”Declan said.

“She stole your AI program,” Steinbeck said.

Declan’s mouth opened.

“Copied it, thank you.”She glared at Steinbeck.“Stein got trapped underground with me.And we might have caused a little ruckus with the Bratva on the way out.”She looked at Declan.“Nice friends you have.”

“They’re not my friends—but why would you steal it?”

“Only a billion reasons, all with dollar signs after them.But mostly so we could create a virus and stop you from destroying the world.”

Silence descended over the boat as the motor hummed.

Declan nodded.“Not a terrible idea.It’s always good to have a fail-safe.”

And again,see?A terrorist wouldn’t think that they should create a solution for world-ending destruction.

Phoenix’s mouth hung open.Then she got up and moved to the side of the tender, near the front captain’s seat, leaving Austen and Declan on the bench seat.

Declan turned to Austen.“I really am sorry I got you into this.I was hoping for a nice two-day cruise down to Mariposa.”His gaze scanned her face, and he offered a small smile.“I thought it would be a nice way to get to know you better.”

“Yeah, there’s nothing like being taken hostage and escaping from the Mafia to really get to know somebody,” Steinbeck said.

“Stop, Stein,” Austen said.“He couldn’t know that the Bratva were going to chase him down or that you were going to dive in like some unwanted superhero to save the day.”

“Unwanted?”

“Thank you,” Declan said as he held up a hand.He turned back to Austen.“I did screw up, Austen.And for that, I’m sorry.Next time I’ll be smarter.Morethan one step ahead of them.”

She frowned.“How?—”

“There’s a boat ahead,” Steinbeck said, and Declan sat up as the boat came into view.Lights shone along its deck, and in the darkness, the form looked like a small cargo ship, or a large fishing trawler.

“We’re down to theE,” Steinbeck said.“Maybe we can get them to see us.”

He flashed his lights.Over the water, a low moan sounded.Then another.

“I guess it’s better than the drink,” Declan said, but his jaw was tight.

They pulled up next to the boat, and a couple of men leaned over the side.It was a deep-sea fishing trawler.The crew let down a rope ladder.

Phoenix grabbed it as she looked back at Steinbeck.“You sure we don’t have enough gas?”

He nodded his head.

Phoenix climbed up first, then shouted down and gestured for Austen.

Austen went hand over hand up the ladder to the top and climbed on deck where a handful of men stood.

Another shout, and she thought maybe Declan was coming up.The boat wasn’t as big as Declan’s yacht, but a pilothouse rose in the front, and stairs led off the deck, probably down to the crew quarters.Three large hatches were closed with a number of empty nets piled in the middle, the stink of brine lifting from them.

Declan shook hands with one of the sailors, speaking to him in Spanish.He smiled, although it looked a little tight, and nodded while they shared a small conversation.

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