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  Daniel’s arm shot out like a tentacle, wrapping around The Professor’s throat, and rested the MP5’s muzzle against his head. “Where’s your gun?”

  The Professor’s voice was calm. “Hello, Mr. Knight. It’s in my hip holster.”

  Daniel yanked the gun out and tossed it into the water.

  “Well played.”

  “Where’s Katie?” Daniel tightened his choke hold.

  “She’s with Giovanni and he’s expecting me. Then he’ll toss her body out to the fishies.” The Professor chuckled.

  “I guess we’d better not waste any time.” He pressed the gun tighter against the man’s head. “Why is he waiting for you? Why not drive back to shore after he tosses Katie overboard?”

  “That’s not the plan. He’ll need a ride back to shore.”

  Confirmation of Daniel’s assumption. “He’s planning on leaving Katie out in the middle of the ocean in a boat?” What was he missing?

  “Something like that. I give you kudos for your bravery. Although, I’d call it foolhardiness,” The Professor called over the loud engine.

  The boat slammed down on a wave.

  Daniel gritted his teeth against the pain pulsating from his ribs. He shifted his arm to keep pressure against the wounded side. “Funny, I’d say working for a criminal is stupid.”

  “What do you think will happen when Giovanni sees you? He won’t hand Isabella over without a fight.”

  Daniel considered the words. He needed a bargaining chip. Had Katie already told Giovanni she had the locket?

  “I’m sure you’ve thought of something.” The Professor gripped the wheel.

  The MP5 was a great convincer and Giovanni wasn’t expecting him. If The Professor alerted him to Daniel’s presence, he’d lose the element of surprise.

  He gripped the gun, slamming the butt against The Professor’s head. The man slumped to the floor of the boat. Daniel grasped the steering wheel. In a perfect world, he’d toss The Professor overboard, but his injured rib prohibited that option. He hoped The Professor stayed unconscious. Another glance at the man had him debating slowing the boat to secure restraints. No time. Daniel would have to take his chances because nothing would stop him from getting to Katie.

  EIGHTEEN

  Katie inhaled a mouthful of water before she had the chance to hold her breath. She swam for the surface, bursting through like a dolphin, and spit out the salty liquid. The waves thrust around her and she treaded in a fury to stay above them.

  The boat’s engine roared to life, and Giovanni spun in the opposite direction.

  Her heart drummed in a panicked tempo.

  He was leaving!

  Alarm morphed into confusion as he changed course. Giovanni was coming back. Too fast. Dashing right toward her.

  Katie dove and swam lower avoiding the vicious swirling blades. She waited in the engulfing blue until her lungs burned from lack of oxygen.

  Unable to hold her breath another second, she kicked upward, away from the boat. Once she broke through, Katie sucked in air and oriented herself. Like a shark circling its prey, Giovanni drove around her forcing the water into motion.

  After several rounds, he reduced the speed, bobbing out of reach. “I was almost duped into believing you about the locket.” His form was silhouetted against the sky.

  “What if I’m not lying? Are you willing to risk losing millions of dollars?”

  The engine hummed as he drew closer, and she could see him clearly. Blood streamed down the side of his head where she’d hit him. Crimson marred his perfect features and accented his reptilian smile. “There is no necklace.”

  “Yes, there is. I have it in my pocket but I can’t grab it while treading water. You’ll have to let me back into the boat.”

  Silent minutes passed before he approached. Katie wanted to be stubborn and refuse the offered respite, but sheer exhaustion forced her to cooperate.

  Inches from grasping the edge of the boat, Giovanni shifted into Reverse and roared with laughter. “I’m not nearly as gullible as you. No wonder Mother and her lover found it so easy to lie to you. Give up. You’re going to die and I’m going to love watching it happen.”

  She closed her eyes. What reason did she have to live, anyway? She was alone and Giovanni would kill Daniel. There was nothing left for her. Daniel’s words from the day on the Manitou Incline touched Katie like a life raft, reminding her she could do anything since completing the climb. “Lord, give me strength. Rescue me.”

  “Glad Mother paid for swimming lessons,” Giovanni’s heckling words echoed.

  A breeze whispered over her as the warm water filtered through her fingers. Giovanni’s taunts faded into the background, becoming white noise.

  Greed is a selfish, insatiable taskmaster. Katie took a deep breath. “Too bad Anthony kept the locket’s secret from you. He must’ve planned to keep the money for himself.”

  Giovanni’s pause said she’d hit her mark. “If you’re lying, I promise your death won’t be quick. Neither will Mr. Knight’s.”

  Katie eyed the gun. “Daniel is alive though?”

  “For now,” Giovanni smirked.

  Squeezing her eyes shut, sorrow swooped and clung to Katie’s shoulders. She’d never get to tell Daniel how she felt. Yet the climb in Colorado, their walk along the beach and every moment in between had awakened her heart to the beauty of falling in love. For that, she was eternally grateful to Daniel.

  Giovanni moved toward her again, helping her into the boat. Shivering, she dropped onto the passenger seat.

  “Let me see the locket.”

  Katie dug out the necklace from her pocket. An idea sprang to mind. As Giovanni reached to snatch it from her hand, she tossed the locket to the floor. It slid along the moist fiberglass to the opposite end of the boat.

  Giovanni roared, driving his fist into her nose. Stunned, Katie fell backward.

  He turned to retrieve the necklace. She lunged, landing on his back. With her arms wrapped around his neck, she drove her fingers into his eyes. Giovanni screamed, tearing at her arms. He lost hold of the locket and it plunged into the ocean depths.

  Giovanni yanked Katie over his shoulder and body-slammed her to the floor.

  The last thing she saw was his fist before everything went black.

  * * *

  Daniel sped toward the black-and-white bobbing vessel, slowing as he recognized Giovanni and Katie. He gripped the MP5.

  Katie sat strapped to the helm, head drooping. Unconscious? Fury propelled him. Please be alive.

  Giovanni stood next to her, gun aimed at Daniel, holding a red duffel bag. “Mr. Knight, don’t do anything rash. This bomb could go off any second.”

  Katie groaned and looked up, blood streamed from her nose.

  Grateful she was alive and infuriated at her injuries, Daniel wanted to take her into his arms and never let go. The realization burst through him like Fourth of July fireworks. He loved Katie Tribani.

  “Daniel!” Katie cried. “You’re alive! Oh, thank God!”

  Giovanni set the duffel onto her lap. “What a delight you could join us.”

  “Spare me.” Daniel glowered.

  Behind him, The Professor groaned.

  “Get up,” Daniel ordered. The man rocked slightly with the waves. “Stand in front of me.”

  The Professor obeyed.

  Giovanni’s eyes narrowed. “Are all my men incompetent? No matter. I’ve built in contingencies. Show him your phone, Isaac.”

  “Isaac?” Daniel murmured. “I prefer The Professor.”

  “Clever,” Isaac grumbled.

  “Don’t move.” Daniel jabbed the man’s head with the gun.

  “You’ll want to see what I have,” Isaac argued.

  If Giovanni moved an inch one way or the other, he’d have a clear shot
. The danger of setting off the bomb kept Daniel from pulling the trigger.

  “Show him his sister.” Giovanni pressed the gun barrel against Katie’s temple. “Or do you need more motivation?”

  Daniel frowned. “Move cautiously.”

  Isaac pulled a cell phone from his sports coat pocket with exaggerated sluggishness, swiped the screen and held up the device.

  Brittany sat propped against a cement wall—a way too familiar setting—dressed in skimpy clothes, a skeleton of a human. Her long blond hair hung limply, and makeup smeared her pale face. Fury burned through Daniel. He reached for the phone.

  Giovanni sent a shot, whizzing inches from him. “Now, now, that’s not yours.”

  Isaac chuckled, tucking the device into his pocket. “Told you so.”

  “What is it?” Katie’s voice was shaky.

  Daniel clenched his teeth. “Where is she?” He knew the answer. Knew he’d been so close to rescuing her. Why hadn’t Priscilla told him?

  “I’ve always heard that siblings have a natural connection. I’m surprised you didn’t sense Brittany’s presence, in the very next room where you were held.”

  “You’re a liar. That picture could’ve been taken anywhere. Or you could’ve moved her.” The words weren’t convincing in Daniel’s ears. For once, he knew Giovanni spoke the truth.

  “Are you sure? Tell you what, let’s make a trade. Your life for your sister’s.”

  “I’m not making any deals with you. Give me Katie before I shoot you and finish this twisted game.” Daniel shook with rage.

  “You and Isabella will share a fate. However, I’m not completely without compassion. Your sister’s worth nothing to me. The bigger question is whether she’s worth something to you?” Giovanni waved Isaac over. “Secure Mr. Knight.”

  Isaac shifted and Daniel leveled the gun between the criminals. “Take one more step and I’ll test the trigger.”

  Giovanni sighed. “You’re wasting valuable time.”

  “You’ll kill Brittany because she can expose you.” Daniel’s mind raced with options.

  “She’s so inebriated, she doesn’t have a clue where she is. I can drop her off on the same corner I picked her up and she’ll be fine,” Giovanni answered.

  Daniel’s neck warmed at the insinuation.

  Katie’s eyes pleaded with him. “Daniel, save your sister.”

  “Listen to her.” Giovanni cooed. “I’m a businessman, remember? I’m giving you a surefire deal. And please hurry. The bomb’s on a timed detonation device, set to blow in about...eight minutes. We can continue this ridiculous standoff and all of us will die. Or, Mr. Knight, you can trade places with me and save poor Brittany.”

  Katie nodded.

  “Tick tock,” Giovanni taunted.

  “Daniel, it’s the right thing to do,” Katie implored.

  “I’ll agree if you let Katie go too,” Daniel said.

  Giovanni shook his head. “Nope, that’s not going to happen. Hand Isaac your gun now. One. Two.”

  Impossible choices, but he had to do something. Daniel shoved the MP5 at Isaac.

  He grinned, jabbing the gun between Daniel’s shoulder blades. “Let’s shoot them and save ourselves a boat.”

  “Your opinion is neither appreciated nor required,” Giovanni said. “Transfer Mr. Knight over here.”

  Isaac frowned and complied, jerking Daniel’s arm upward.

  Daniel cried out at the blaze that radiated from his ribs. Isaac took the opportunity to drive a punch into the already inflamed area. Taking flex-cuffs from under a hidden seat compartment, he tied Daniel’s wrists together.

  “Move.”

  Daniel slid awkwardly across to the fishing boat with Isaac following. When they reached the back, Giovanni tossed Isaac a rope, and he bound Daniel to the railing.

  “Good job,” Giovanni praised.

  Isaac gave Daniel a toothy grin at the compliment as Giovanni climbed into the speedboat.

  How many minutes had passed?

  “Enjoy your last moments.” Isaac laughed, turning to join his boss.

  Giovanni pointed the gun at Isaac and his grin fell. “You’re going to keep Mr. Knight and my sister company.”

  “But I—” Isaac paled.

  “I won’t tolerate incompetence.” Giovanni pulled the trigger, silencing Isaac.

  The man tumbled into Daniel’s legs and rolled to the floor.

  Giovanni shifted the speedboat into gear and jetted away.

  “Mr. Knight,” Isaac gasped.

  Katie’s eyes widened. “He’s still alive.”

  “I guess I didn’t choose the winning side either.” He attempted a laugh only to suffer a bout of coughing. Red seeped through his fingers.

  “How do we disarm the bomb?” Daniel bent his leg to the side, removing the knife from his boot. He twisted and slid the knife behind him, sawing at the flex-cuffs.

  Isaac grimaced. “Brittany is at the house.”

  “The bomb!” Daniel pressed. His angst worked against his fine motor skills, and he dropped the knife. Bending, he grasped hold and returned to cutting through the plastic.

  Isaac shook his head. “It’s on a timer. You can’t. Shut it off.”

  “Untie us!” Katie screeched.

  “I’m sorry, Isabella.” Isaac dragged himself toward her, tugging at her restraints.

  “Please. Hurry!”

  The knife slipped through, releasing Daniel from the plastic restraints. He jumped up and rushed to Katie.

  “Is Isaac...?” She blinked.

  Daniel glanced down. Isaac’s lifeless eyes stared past him. “Yes.”

  He grabbed the duffel bag’s handle, flung it away from the boat, then sliced through Katie’s restraints. She moved from the steering wheel allowing Daniel to shift into Drive. They sped toward the shore as an explosion rocked the waters.

  * * *

  Katie turned to see the mushroom of water burst into the air.

  They slammed against the rough waves. Daniel pressed his arm against his left side. Each hit on the water appeared to make him flinch.

  “Here, let me drive.” She took over the wheel, surprised he didn’t argue.

  “Katie, I need to tell you something.”

  “Okay?” She focused on steering the boat.

  “I love you. And when this is all over, and I’m holding you in my arms, I’m going to show you just how much.”

  Warmth radiated through Katie. “I love you too.” She clung to the boat to keep from lunging into his arms. “But...what about your career?”

  “Let’s get Brittany, then I’ll fill you in on my idea.”

  She shook her head and bit her lip, silently disagreeing. “I can’t believe you got away.”

  Daniel glanced at her. “I owe that to Priscilla. She knew all about Giovanni’s plan. Turns out Lorenzo’s quite the entrepreneur willing to work for the highest bidder. We had a little heart-to-heart.”

  She quirked an eyebrow. “Looks more like a fist-to-face.”

  Daniel chuckled. “That bad?”

  “Uh, yeah.”

  “Let’s hope Isaac’s cell phone still works.” He knelt and removed the device from the dead man’s pocket.

  Katie shivered, whispering a prayer.

  “Battery’s almost dead.” Daniel hollered over the engine noise into the phone. “Chief, it’s Daniel. We’re headed to Marino’s Florida mansion.” He paused. “It’s a long story.”

  Another pause.

  “Negative, sir. Giovanni will kill Brittany.”

  Katie hit a wave and Daniel clutched his side.

  “Sorry,” she whispered.

  “Please, Chief, send help.” Daniel studied the screen. “Pray he heard that before the phone died. It’s against my better judgment, but I can
’t risk losing Brittany.”

  “We’re a great team. If nothing else, we’ll buy time until help arrives.” Katie pointed to the yellow speedboat, parked at the docks.

  “Go slow. Be ready to speed out of here if I say so.” Daniel searched for any movement. “Looks deserted and the foreign car’s missing. Giovanni’s gone. Go ahead and dock.”

  “How do you know he isn’t waiting for us? His sports car’s still there.” She pulled alongside the wooden dock.

  “Because I tossed his keys into the ocean. He had to take the foreign car Isaac drove.” Daniel grabbed the MP5 and checked the magazine. He jumped out, securing the boat to the dock.

  Together, they ran to the hidden sedan.

  “Good job with camouflage,” Katie said.

  Once the coverings were removed, they climbed into the car with Daniel driving. He raced out of the marina. “Giovanni’s arrogant enough to believe his plan is fail-proof. I’ll drop you off at the nearest public place. Call for help while I go to the Marino house and rescue Brittany.”

  Katie shot him a look. “We’re finishing this together. Besides, whether you’re willing to admit it or not, you’re hurt and need my help.”

  The corner of Daniel’s lip curved, and the dimple returned to his cheek.

  A flutter in Katie’s stomach reminded her to refocus while awakening her to the truth. She’d fallen for Daniel Knight. The thought gave her pause. She was head-over-common-sense-crazy for him.

  “No sign of dust ahead means Giovanni has a good head start,” Daniel advised.

  “I realized something when Giovanni didn’t believe me about the locket. He had no idea it had any worth. That means he wasn’t the one who sent the attacker into my room last night.”

  Daniel met her eyes. “Anthony ordered the attack.”

  She nodded and swallowed. “Giovanni’s a psychotic maniac and I haven’t liked him from the beginning, but Anthony’s worse. I almost believed he was protecting me and wanted us to be a family. He was only using me to get to the locket.”

  NINETEEN

  Daniel floored the pedal; he couldn’t get to the Marino home fast enough. He parked a half mile outside the property under a grove of trees. “I’ll walk from here. The sedan’s quiet but I’m not taking chances of them spotting us before we’re ready.”