Deep Rising (An Outside the Lines Novel) (Entangled Select) (25 page)

“Dangerous.”

“Necessary. We’ll disable this boat before it leaves the harbor.”

Right. The two-point approach to planting the charges harked back to Jared’s military days. Uncle Sam didn’t do things singularly. And neither would they. One set of charges and detonators for the hull. A separate set for the engine room. They’d argued, oh, how she’d fought him against boarding the boat, but she knew there was no other way.

“What shall I do?” Giovanni asked.

“Pick us up.” Jared pulled a wetsuit from the duffel bag. He kicked off his shoes. “Be ready to call it in once the charges detonate.”

Good. Then he planned to involve the police. It’s not like the officials wouldn’t respond anyway, once an explosion occurred in the middle of the bay…

“You say they must go underwater,” Giovanni said. “How can you do this?”

“Each brick is packaged in a waterproof casing, with a suction disk.” Squatting for a second time, Jared pressed one brick against the console. It stuck to the wall.

The Italian grinned.

Jared lowered himself completely to the deck and began individually synchronizing each cap. All of the charges required manual activation, and calibration to a single electronic trigger. Lana watched him carefully.

“You remember what to do, after they’re affixed?”

She squatted next to him and showed him the steps he’d taught her. “Good girl.” He grinned.

His smile changed his whole face, brightening his eyes and causing something warm to smolder in her stomach. And when he was this close to her… The scent and strength of this man made her want to wrap her arms around him and never let go.

“When do we begin?” Giovanni asked. “Shall I draw closer now?”

“In a few minutes.”

Jared looked at her in a way that made her chest hurt. She didn’t know what he was going to say, but she didn’t want to hear it. Without thinking, she took the short ladder into the galley. She paced the small space. Jared followed her into the hold. He sealed the hatch, offering them a measure of privacy from Officer Giovanni.

“Lana, honey…” His eyes crinkled, and he looked at her with such adoration and
love
she felt her heart swell in her chest.

She bridged the space between them and kissed him, letting him know with her lips and tongue and touch that she loved him too. “I want a week’s vacation after we do this. Someplace warm. Shark-free.”

He laughed. “You got it.”

His cell phone rang. He glanced sharply at the number, but the caller ID flashed “unavailable.”

Without her asking, he put it on speaker. “Hello?”

“It’s me.”

“Why aren’t you calling me from a Company number, Gordon?”

Lana didn’t know what to make of the CIA director calling them, minutes before they planned to blow up a boat, without any jurisdiction or authority to do so. Her mind reeled with possibilities. If this really went to hell, she supposed she and Jared could face criminal charges. The plan was more to immobilize than destroy, but if lives were lost, they could be charged with murder too. She gulped, estimating jail times.

“This is—and pretty much has been from the beginning—outside jurisdiction,” Gordon said.

“I’m retired,” Jared told him. “We had a deal. I prevented the tsunamis. I removed Sergei.”

“Correct,” Gordon agreed. “However, it would seem you’re still operating within a CIA capacity.
Right
, Jared? Because you would need the approval and support of this government to avoid being convicted of breaking half a dozen US and international laws.”

Oh, shit. Here it comes
.

Jared didn’t seem fazed by his boss’s threats. “If you’re calling to try to dissuade me, you’re wasting your time and mine.”

“You wouldn’t be where you are without my tools, my contacts, and Company backing,” Gordon reminded him. “I can pull the trigger on you at any time.”

Trigger?

“I’m well aware of that, sir. As you’ll recall, I said kill me or set me free. But you’d better warn whoever you send that I won’t go down without a fight.”

“Jared, shut the hell up. I don’t reward courage and loyalty with murder.”

“Then what do you want?” When Gordon didn’t reply Jared said, “It isn’t over. I’ve sighted the gunman from La Palma. I’m closing in on him as we speak.”

“Who’s next on your list?”

“The Wolf.”

“And then?”

“The Company mole.”

“Fair enough,” Gordon replied. “Though the Company threat is…neutralized.”

“Right.” Sarcasm laced Jared’s tone. “Like the good ol’ US of A can handle having a mole in the uppermost divisions of the CIA. You’d never let the media paint our defenses as that incompetent.”

Whoa, boy. And now he was insulting his boss.

“Jared!” she hissed.

“The mole is dead, Jared. And you’re correct in the sense that no, there won’t be a ten-day news spree on C-SPAN. Nor will the investigation that is currently under way be made public anytime soon. But don’t think for a second that I won’t uproot each and every person connected to this treachery.”

Jared grunted.

“Concentrate on your current objective. Our intel shows that The Wolf is within a half mile of your location.”

She’d suspected the assassin character they were tracking would reunite with his employer, The Wolf. Lana was all for killing two birds with one stone. Well, not
literally
killing them… Although heaven knew that madman needed to be stopped.

“How?” Jared asked.

“Our voice recognition satellites intercepted a call to him from a source named Matteo.”

This was their man.

“Do you need support?” Gordon asked.

Jared’s mouth dropped open with an audible pop. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he finally murmured.

“Don’t act so surprised,” Gordon snapped. “This is what the CIA does.”

“How long before they would be in position?”

“I can assemble a military team. An hour, tops.”

“I’ll get back to you,” Jared evaded.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“No, sir.”

The phone disconnected and Jared grinned. “I’m inclined to believe my boss, but fool me once, and shame on them. Fool me twice…”

“Do we need them?” she asked.

“Pisani will respond. Interpol will be all over this place by the time US support arrives. It may be better that way.”

Unaccustomed to dealing with the logistics of foreign intelligence agencies, Lana decided that Jared likely knew best.

“This is it, honey,” he said. “We do this, we can go home. Start our lives—together.”

“I’m ready.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“Take the boat alongside,” he told the Italian. “It’s time.”

Giovanni untied the lines and pushed the boat away from the bulkhead. He idled along the dock and cut left, toward the more industrial area where the cargo carriers and giant cranes dominated the harbor.

Jared stared at the towering ship. “Lana and I will drop over the side and plant the charges. I’ll board and take care of the engine room. If you see flares, call it in and come get us. You have the number for my boss.”

“I’ll handle it,” Giovanni assured him.

Jared glanced at Lana. “You’ll need to swim two piers over to the rendezvous point.”

“I know what to do.” She drew her hair into a ponytail.

Wind blew over the water, kicking up small waves. The boat bounced over the water, slowly moving past the first channel marker. They passed the empty docks and approached the large cargo ship. He moved to the bow and Lana stepped beside him. He checked her tanks and adjusted her mask. She tested her breather and then claimed the bag of Semtex and drew it onto her chest like a front-facing backpack.

“I love you, you know,” he whispered.

“Hmm? Tell me again when we’re back on shore.”

He laughed, actually laughed. With a wink, she pushed backward off the boat. Damn, but he
loved
this woman. He followed her into the water.

They surfaced and waited for Giovanni to continue past. From the channel, they were maybe a hundred yards from the cargo ship. Their surveillance hadn’t noted many people aboard the vessel, but that didn’t mean this would be an easy task. He hated that Lana was anywhere near the explosives—they were quite stable and wouldn’t blow without the blasting caps and detonators, but still. And he definitely didn’t like her anywhere in the vicinity of Matteo or The Wolf.

She kicked out and after a few strokes dropped below the surface of the water. He forced himself to turn it off. To shut her out of his mind. If he didn’t concentrate, he could make a mistake. And mistakes would get one or both of them killed.

He kept pace with Lana, occasionally surfacing to check their position since any form of light beneath the water would give away their location. When they neared the bow, he halted her for a moment and just held her hand.

She pulled out her breather and his and kissed him. Her lips warm amid the cool water, her sweet taste mingling with the salty water. Then she was gone, diving and swimming past him, so focused and capable that it made him love her even more. As if that was possible.

He followed her even though it wasn’t part of the plan. He kept back a few feet, so as not to scare her. There were lights along the dock, but they didn’t offer much illumination. He could barely see her movements as she placed the first charge. The tiny green light showed that the Semtex was properly activated. He moved with her as she positioned the second and third. Confident that she’d manage, he reluctantly swam past her to approach the opposite side of the boat. While he swam around the mammoth cargo carrier, he considered the giant propellers. The twin blades were huge, easily thirty feet across. Just one charge. One blast to each and the ship would be rendered completely useless.
And if they start up those engines, you’ll be mincemeat.

Too risky.

He kicked quickly around the props and moved in along the dockside—he wasn’t about to let Lana get crushed should the cargo vessel somehow bang against the dock—and fished a bar of Semtex from his chest pack. He cradled it beneath his chin while he set the first disk. He affixed the charge, waited while it blinked to life.
Set
.

The ship had a draft of twenty feet. Neither he nor Lana would place the charges that low. The double hulls were designed to prevent against Titanic-like scenarios. Just below the water line, above the ballast chambers and reinforced steel beams. That was the sweet spot. He glided beneath the water, spacing the next charge about fifteen feet away.
Position. Lock. Set
.

Another fifteen feet.
Position. Lock. Set
. He wondered how Lana was faring. If she was safe. Midway through planting the charges, he heard the giant engines rumble to life.
Thank God I didn’t rig the propellers
. A Cuisinart-style death was not the way he wanted to go.

He chanced a peek above the water’s surface. Sure enough, the heavy lines were being lowered from the ship to the dock. Two men hustled up the gangplank behind him and it was raised.

Forty feet to the bow. Three more charges to set. He swam hard. Placed the next explosive. The water churned around him, and he felt the movement like a vacuum as the ship drew away from the dock. He kicked forward, fighting the pull. His body slammed into the hull as the boat turned by a small degree. He used the suction disk to anchor himself to the boat. Behind him, he watched as the boat idled away from the harbor. He stayed there, suspended, for several seconds, considering his options. He could abort. Just let go, send up a flare and await Giovanni’s pickup, or he could proceed as planned. The bottom line was, he couldn’t afford to let Matteo or The Wolf escape. They knew too much, were too dangerous. And he couldn’t leave the task to anyone else. He doubted the Italian government had the resources, and his own agency had proven compromised.

He released the first suction disk and spread his body flat against the ship. The steel hull moved past him, cutting through the water. Jared gauged the distance, estimated when he’d need to lunge upward to grab that small tread. He noted the depth markings on the hull, and kicked up with all his strength. His hand caught the indention in the hull. His fingers ached from the weight of his body and the downward force of the water, but he held tight and reached for the next rail. Within two more, he was able to kick off the flippers and slip his feet into the stair rungs. With precise movements, he scaled the side and slid over the rail onto the deck. Lights shone in the wheelhouse and three men were visible. From the distance he thought he saw a man that matched The Wolf’s features, but he couldn’t be 100 percent sure. . The deck was crammed with shipping containers. A crane occupied the aft.

“I wondered if you would come.”

Jared spun and drew his weapon in one move.

Matteo stepped from behind a giant container.

“
You
.”

Matteo tossed something at Jared’s feet. He kept his gun level as he glanced down for a split second. “You removed the bullet.”

The tracing round had allowed Jared to follow Matteo from La Palma to Naples. But if the bullet had been removed, then Matteo would’ve seen the tracking receptor. And
still
he had kept it on his person.

“You wanted me to find you.”

“
Da.
And I called The Wolf.”

Ah, so this was the transmission Gordon had intercepted. This man had
intentionally
led them here. Son of a bitch, he may have walked straight into a trap! “What do you want?”

The man’s blue eyes held nothing. No emotion. No expression. It was like staring into a void. Matteo glanced at the wheelhouse and then back again at Jared. “This has gone…too far.”

No shit. Triggering a mega-tsunami was madness of epic proportions. Again, he asked, “What do you want?”

“Immunity.”

“Where is The Wolf?” Jared asked.

“At the helm.”

Jared grunted. He could end this, here and now. Finish off The Wolf and take custody of this assassin. He didn’t know if Uncle Sam would make a deal with this particular devil, and he didn’t care. If this sick bastard wanted to be taken into custody, Jared would oblige him.

“Turn around.”

The man complied slowly, placing his hands in the air. Jared didn’t hesitate. He slammed his gun into the back of Matteo’s head. The Russian crumbled to the deck. Jared contemplated taking time to place the charges in the engine room, but he admitted to himself what he hadn’t been willing to tell Giovanni or Lana. The engine room would be damn difficult to find. And on a three-hundred-foot boat with a traitor unconscious at his feet, he didn’t have that kind of time.

Blowing up the props would’ve been best, but he still had one other option for rendering the ship immobile. He kept to the shadows and began fumbling with the Semtex. He set the charges beneath the wheelhouse. On his return to the rail, he hauled Matteo up and rolled him over the side of the boat. He held on to the man long enough to make sure he’d land feet-first. It was a hard drop, a long drop, and when Jared hit the water, he searched for the assassin. A glimpse of fair hair bobbed in the moonlight. Jared swam and grabbed the man, holding him securely around the neck. He waited a minute for the cargo ship to move farther away, deeper into the harbor and away from any boats that were anchored offshore.

He pulled the flare from the band on his belt. He let go of Matteo to pop the cap. The bright pink light shot upward, sulfur and ash filling the air. It wasn’t more than a minute before an engine howled and grew louder as it drew beside them. Jared released the flare. He shoved Matteo against the boat.

“Take him. He’s an accomplice and an informant. He wants to strike a deal.” And Jared was inclined to let him. Much as it sickened him, wars these days were often fought hand-in-hand with mutual enemies. He’d learned long ago that there was no clear line between right and wrong. If they had the cooperation of a high-ranking player, why not exploit him? Especially since this man probably knew who the CIA mole was working for, or he could shed more light on Sergei’s actions and whether or not he had acted alone.

Giovanni grabbed the unconscious man and handcuffed him. Jared pulled himself over the bow. His eyes sought Lana immediately. She smiled. The vise that had been steadily clamping down on his chest loosened. With her safe and by his side, he could finally breathe again.

“Get over here, darlin’.”

She moved into his arms. He kissed her hungrily, held her probably a little too tightly. When he finally released her, he fished the electronic detonator from his pocket and tossed it to Giovanni.

“What’s this?” Giovanni asked.

“I thought you’d like the honor.” He tucked Lana beneath his arm and she slung her arm around his waist, pressing against his side. “The first blast will blow the holes into the hull. That should be enough to temporarily stop the boat, if it doesn’t sink it outright.”

Giovanni traced his thumb over the second button. “Is this for the engines?”

“Nope. The Wolf. When last I saw him, he was in the wheelhouse…”

Giovanni’s eyes filled with tears. “This is for you, Isabella.”

He pressed both buttons.

October 22 - 3:45 pm

Emerald Dawn
, Mediterranean Sea

Lana propped her feet on the balcony rail. Jared had wanted to stay in the area, in case he was called in to act on behalf of the CIA. His suggestion? A cruise of the Greek islands. She had to give him credit—the ship and surrounding islands were beautiful.

The waters below glowed like a slab of sapphire. Bright, endlessly blue. Whitewashed homes clustered along the hillsides of the steep islands. He joined her on the balcony, fresh from taking a shower.

“I could get used to this,” she said. The food aboard the ship was delicious and the scenery was stunning. But what she could really get used to was
him
. He stretched his jeans-clad legs as he reclined beside her and crossed his arms. The motion drew her attention to his tan, bare chest. Yes, she could really get used to seeing
that
every day.

“So.”

“So,” she replied.

They both laughed for a moment. He held out his hand and she took it, feeling his warm calloused fingers close around hers.

“I think I fell for you that first night on your porch.”

She squeezed his hand.

“I fought it,” he went on. “I had to. And I know I’ve made mistakes along the way.”

She didn’t want to rehash his treatment of her. She didn’t want to think about his distrust, or his anger, or how he’d left her behind when he first set off for La Palma. “Jared, it’s okay—”

“No, let me finish. I love you, Lana.”

Tears welled in her eyes.

“I love you beyond words, beyond measure. Hell, I didn’t even know it was possible to feel this way. If you give me a chance, I’ll make you happy.”

“I already am.” She’d never known such happiness. It transformed her, made her happy for each breath, made her savor every moment of being alive, of being by his side.

Together,
she reminded herself. Whatever came next, they’d tackle it together.

As if sensing her nervousness, Jared leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I want a family with you, Lana. So how ’bout making it official? I’ll probably always be a bit overbearing and on edge, but I’ll love and protect you for the rest of my life.”

What?

He pulled her off her chair and into his arms. Her head pressed against his chest and she could hear his heart beating, as steady and true as the man himself. He tilted her face to his. His lips were tender, so incredibly tender.

All or nothing . . . “Yes, Jared.
Yes
.”

This was the real deal. The emotions rising from someplace deep inside her, as powerful as the waves they’d fought to prevent.

“I love you, Jared.”

A persistent ringing echoed from the cabin.

“Ignore it,” he muttered. His hands began to peel her shirt down her arms.

“It could be your family…” She reluctantly rose from his embrace and claimed his cell phone from the bed. The unavailable number sent a chill along her spine.

“Who is it?” he asked.

She soundlessly passed him the phone.

Jared swore beneath his breath. He answered the call.

“Hello, stranger,” Gordon Quaid exclaimed.

“Lose this number.”

Gordon laughed. “Don’t hang up just yet.”

“What do you want?” Jared angled the phone so she could overhear.

“We’re still investigating the security breach. The contact you apprehended has proven very helpful.”

“Congratulations,” Jared said in a flat voice.