Page 79 of Austen

Steinbeck parked in the shadows, and they got out, crouched, surveying the area.“Phoenix and I came through some rusty gates.Down this way,” Steinbeck said.“Stay low.”

Declan ducked as he followed, Austen right behind him.They reached the fencing some fifty yards away from the opening in an area of shrubbery and overgrown brush.Steinbeck pulled it back and crept in, the chain link broken from the pole.

“We might have given it a little help,” Steinbeck said.He held back the fencing, and Austen clambered through.Steinbeck held it open for Declan, searching the parking lot.Then he crawled through after Declan, wearing a grim look.“Let’s go.”

They ran past metal buildings, fisheries, and crouched behind boxes piled on the pier as they finally worked their way to the dock.TheInvictusfloated at the end.Fishing boats listed in the waves, tied to the pier side by side.

“What if she’s being guarded?”Austen said.

“Oh, she’s most certainly being guarded,” Declan said.

Steinbeck gave a nod.He still carried the tire iron and now glanced at Declan.

“Listen,” he said, “I’ll get on the boat first—see if I can create a diversion.You get on, get down to the lockers, and arm yourself.”

Then he looked at Austen.“And you get someplace safe.Lock yourself in a closet or something.Wait till I come and get you.”

“I can help,” Austen said.

“You can help by making sure you don’t get in the way.”

She recoiled.“I won’t get in the way?—”

Declan took her hand.“He’s right.Let us get you out of here.”

“Fine,” she said.“But neither one of you better die.”

Steinbeck gave her a smile.“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it.I know you and your temper.”

Her mouth opened, and Declan smiled.But Steinbeck had already moved down the pier, staying low.

Declan followed him, Austen on his tail.

The gangway to the ship touched the dock, so clearly the Russians weren’t worried about stowaways or attackers.Steinbeck huddled in the shadows.Moonlight glinted upon the water, and the various trawlers and skiffs tied to the dock bumped against each other.

“I see one guy in the bow,” Stein said.“Looks like he’s doing rounds.We’ll wait till he goes to the backside of the boat and then we’ll board.I think we can catch him by surprise.”

It felt like they were a team again.Well, he’d never really been ateamwith Steinbeck, but still, it felt good to have Steinbeck back by his side.

“All right, let’s go,” Steinbeck said, and led the way as they hurried up the gangway.Steinbeck went aboard, then Declan, finally Austen.

Declan grabbed her hand and headed into the salon.It was dark, but he knew his way.He found the galley door, pulled Austen down the galley stairs.“Stay here,” he said.“Maybe in one of the crew berths.”

Then he headed down the hall to the security area.He keyed in the code, and the lock to the weapons cache opened.He found a Beretta 92XI, grabbed another and returned to Austen.

“Do you know how to handle a gun?”

“We’ve been over this.Yes.”

“Okay, hide, and if anyone shows up that’s not me or Steinbeck?—”

“To be clear, I’m not killing anybody.”

“You may change your mind if they decide to killyou.”

Her eyes widened.Oh,he hadn’t meant to scare her.He put his hand behind her neck, leaned in, and kissed her, fast and hard.

Somehow he pulled away.“We’ll be back.”

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