Page 104 of Under Pressure

Stroup stepped forward, speaking in confidential tones to the SEALs at large. “But maybe you can answer me this—seeing as I’m doing you a favor.” He nodded back toward Jonah and his men. “These guys keep going on about some shipwreck and treasure worth millions, maybe even billions. Do you know what they’re talking about?”

Mack stepped forward and lowered his voice. “Worth billions? Are you shinin’ me on?”

Stroup shook his head. “They seem so sure—and are even more convinced you guys know where it is.”

“Wooeee,” Mack said, rolling back on his heels. “I can’t say we do. Hey, Liam. Do you know where there’s a sunken ship worth millions?”

“Billions,” Stroup corrected.

Liam shook his head. “I can say with a hundred percent certainty, that there’s no shipwreck with millions—”

“Billions,” Knox corrected this time.

“Right, billionson boardthat we know about,” Liam said.

Stroup leaned back, looking more amused than anything. Blue knew that look well, and after what he’d just pulled, she didn’t like it one bit. “Well, if you hear of one, let us know. We’ll call it interdepartmental cooperation. You know, you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours?”

“We’ll be sure to do that,” Gray said.

Stroup headed out, waving an arm in the air. “Let’s get our bad guys and get!” The Marshalls gathered up Jonah and his men and headed out. Only the pitter-patter of rain could be heard on the roof now.

Sean leaned over to Mack and whispered. “You got it out of the ocean?”

Mack nodded. “Every last euro, franc, gilder, krona, and peseta.”

Blue stared with fascination from one man to the next. They really were on a secret mission.

“Want to tell me where?” Sean asked.

“Let’s let it lie for a few days,” Mack said.

As his men headed out the door, Stroup came back. “Are you two ready to go?”

“We told you, they’re not going,” Don reminded him, and she could’ve hugged him.

“Not going to jail,” Stroup said. “But they’re both still very much in witness protection.”

“We want to stay,” Dad said.

Sean turned, and for the first time since story-time started, he looked Blue in the eyes. She didn’t see hate or disgust in his gaze as she’d unreasonably feared after story time, only love. He glanced from her dad to her. “You don’t have to stay for me. I’ll go with you.”

“Uh . . . I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Gray interjected.

“Court—” Knox coughed in his hand. “—martial.”

Don grunted and whispered under his breath so Stroup couldn’t hear him. “A bunch of retired Navy SEALs, huh?”

Knox shrunk under Don’s scrutinizing gaze.

“Blue,” Sean said, grabbing her attention back. “I mean it. You name the destination, and I’m with you to the end.”

Blue felt a smile splitting her face. “Anywhere?”

Sean pulled her into his arms. “Anywhere. As long as we’re together.”

She went up on tiptoe and whispered in his ear. “Diamond Cove Ferris Wheel, please.”

Stepping back, Sean blinked those long lashes of his at her in shock.

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