Page 31 of Harbored by the SEAL
Abby.
He turned his head to face her. She held a gun, but the explosives around her waist were what really drew his attention. The red digital timer just like the one on the bomb he had defused was centered like a belt buckle. Someone gasped loudly.
Cowboy held up his hands. “What do you want?”
“You ruined my show. We were supposed to get to Nassau right when the sun was setting. The explosions would’ve been beautiful, the beach loaded with tourists to take pictures. Think of it. The video would have gone viral before anyone could stop it.”
She looked at the royals, her expression full of hatred. “You two would be dead, along with thousands of Americans. Then maybe the world would pay attention.”
“To what?” asked the princess. “So much wasted life. To what end have you construed this horror?”
“The life you lead of excess and greed is an abomination. This boat is a testament to an offensive way of life. We are doing God’s will, showing the world what will happen to people like you.”
On the other side of Abby, the prince gestured to Cowboy, making a gun out of his thumb and forefinger. He was asking if Cowboy still had his weapon, which he did. He still had his hands up, and he curled in four fingers to give Hugo the thumbs up.
“The passengers on the lifeboats will be our witnesses,” said Abby. “They have their cell phones, I’m sure. Americans wouldn’t go anywhere without them. They will take videos of the explosion, this false idol going up in flames, with part of the royal family aboard.” She smiled. “Such a tragedy.”
Cowboy knew they had only minutes to evacuate the ship before the bombs exploded, killing them all.
Prince Hugo yelled loudly and Abby turned toward him. Cowboy reached for his weapon, knowing he had only seconds and a single shot to take her down.
Hugo charged Abby and she raised her weapon just as Cowboy raised his to shoot her.
Cowboy was faster on the trigger. He struck her twice in the back. She went down face-first onto the deck, her arms not even coming up to break her fall.
She was dead.
“Run!” screamed Hugo.
“Get in the lifeboat!” yelled Cowboy. “Now!”
Everyone scurried to get inside, the prince and Cowboy the last remaining. “Get in, your highness,” Cowboy said.
“Someone has to lower the boat into the water. There’s an inflatable chute for him to get into the boat once it’s down.”
“There’s no time.” Cowboy pushed the prince inside and closed the hatch. He started the lifeboat descending to the water’s surface.
He saw the chute the prince was talking about, a sealed and folded up package with cartoon directions. He looked at his watch.
Two minutes left!
He leaned over the railing to watch the lifeboat carrying Charlotte, HERO Force, and the royals until it touched down, then he ran as hard and fast as he could in the opposite direction the lifeboat was headed.
He cleared the last of the still-hanging lifeboats and hopped over the railing like a gymnast over a vault. He seemed to hang in the air as the water rushed up to meet him. The deafening blast of the first explosion sounded just as he touched the water.
The surface tension made his entrance feel like he was crashing through steel, then there was only cold, pain, and disorientation. An old childhood story came to his mind as he swam to reach the surface, the golden light of the ship on fire above him.
Brer Rabbit and the briar patch.
The ocean was a death trap to most people, but it was home to a SEAL. He broke the surface and took a huge breath of air, the heat from the burning ship too close for comfort. He ducked back under water and swam toward the lifeboats, knowing he was saved.
They were all going to be okay.
27
Cowboy drovefrom HERO Force headquarters right to Logan’s condo and knocked on the door. It was sunny and warm, four days after they’d returned from the cruise, and he’d gotten up bright and early for his meeting with Jax.
To Cowboy’s surprise, Jax had nothing but praise for him on the mission, until he got to the part about Charlotte being there. Once Cowboy made it clear he hadn’t invited her on the trip, Jax was willing to let it go.
