Love and Let Die (Masters and Mercenaries #5)(115)

The king nodded. “I have another small boat for emergencies. We will do this and then attempt to leave ourselves. You take her. Taral shouldn’t have gotten to the garage yet. The speedboat should still be on the port side. Get her to Taral. I trust him. His family has served mine for generations. He will take care of this. I swear it. Tell him his king commands this.”

Ian cursed heartily and touched the device in his ear. “Simon, are you there?”

She was close enough that she could just barely hear the reply. “It’s Knight, Tag. Simon’s already on his way if he didn’t break his neck getting to the water. I hope he can swim as well as he thinks he can. Ten is on his way to the beach, and I’m in communications with Indian authorities. You’ll have backup soon.”

“Is the speedboat on the port side of the ship ready to go?” Ian asked.

“That appears to be an affirmative. The minute the gunfire started, the driver fired up the boat again. He seems to be waiting for someone, probably the king.”

“Charlie’s coming in. Tell Ten to commandeer the boat when it hits the beach and get his ass out here if he can.” Ian stood, helping her up. “We have to hurry. They’re closing in. Keep your head down, baby. Sean, I’ll come back for you. Stay alive.”

“I don’t intend to be any other way.” Sean was already moving toward the interior of the yacht. “Come on, Your Highness. Let’s go grab our only bargaining chip.”

Sean disappeared down the stairs with the king following him.

Ian was moving to the port side of the boat where they’d first boarded.

A woman rushed by them, screaming as she ran for the cabins.

Jumping to the lower deck, Ian turned back and held his arms up. Without a single hesitation, she leapt into them. The speedboat was still in the water with Taral standing at the helm.

“I need you to get her out of here,” Ian said.

“Where is the king?” Taral asked, looking at the decks above.

“He’s taking care of business. Just get her to shore so I can take care of mine.” He started to push her toward the boat.

“You’re not coming with me?” It was a stupid question. She’d known it the minute the words came out of her mouth.

“Baby, I don’t even have a gun right now. I can’t protect you while I try to find one. Please.”

He couldn’t leave his brother behind. She understood that. Sean had come here to back him up. Sean had a kid. Ian felt responsible for Sean. He wasn’t picking Sean over her. He simply couldn’t help his brother while she was in danger. He was just being Ian Taggart.

She had to love him for who he was.

She kissed him, throwing her arms around his neck. “I love you. Stay safe.”

“The king is staying?” Taral asked. “He is remaining on board?”

Ian stared down at her, but he spoke to Taral. “Get her out of here and I’ll go protect your king. He told me to tell you he commands this.”

Taral nodded and held a hand out to help her on board. He gunned the engine.

Charlie watched as Ian began making his way back to the upper decks. His body moved with a predatory grace as he made swift work of the stairs. He disappeared into the main deck cabins.

She needed to get to the shore, get to Simon. They would find a way to help Ian and Sean.

The speedboat was damn fast when Taral opened it up.

Which he wasn’t. He eased the boat out and then made a swinging turn away from the beach.

“What are you doing?”

He shook his head sadly even as he pulled out a Taser. “What I have to do, pretty one, though I wish the king was here as well. I love my king, but I love my head on my body, too.”

Panic threatened to seize her. They were going the wrong way. They were going toward the pirates and the gunfire was slowing. That really wasn’t a good thing because she was pretty sure it meant that most of the guards on the boat were dead and all the pirates had to do was jump on board and start slaughtering people.

She had to make a move and fast. She had to hope that f*cking Taser’s darts didn’t have much reach. Turning, she began to jump and then a shock hit her.

Her teeth clenched, her body shook. Out of control. No stop to the pain. It raced along, screaming against her every nerve.

She hit the deck of the boat, trying to get some control over anything as electricity made her body a vessel of pain.

The boat kept moving. With the darts attached to her back, it seemed like Taral didn’t feel the need to guard her. From her vantage point, she could see the big driver turning the boat toward the very man she’d been trying to get away from.

Tears squeezed out of her eyes as the pain began to fade. She was limp, her muscles drained and unmoving.

And couldn’t her husband have included a freaking cover-up with the ensemble? It was stupid, but it went through her head. God, she didn’t want to become a prisoner in a white, barely could be called a bikini.

The gunfire was sporadic now, little volleys and small explosions. She could hear shouting in several different languages.

The sun shined down on her. The beach would have been a good place to have a honeymoon. They hadn’t had a honeymoon.

She’d been too busy dying.

The boat stopped moving, and there was a soft thud as though they were brushing against something. Then the boat listed to one side and settled back into place.