Page 79 of Under Pressure

The guys exchanged glances. Sean was sure the thought had occurred to them all. They were facing something much bigger than just a coup from a walnut-sized European country—whatever was happening now involved at least fifteen countries and a heck of a lot more families than that. Common sense said they hand it all over. Get more people involved. It’d be safer for them and Ryker in the long run, but . . .

“No,” Mack said. “I dinnae think we can do that. Barrett has made it more than clear that they’re looking to confiscate and keep everything they find—as payment for protecting Ryker.”

Gray nodded. “The way I see it it’s our job to protect you, Ryker. We had this over, and our biggest lead to find out who tried to kill you—who took this in the first place, is gone. Taken over by a team of Washington bureaucrats.”

“And the moment we ‘and over the treasure,” Mack said. “Your protection detail switches ‘ands to The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.”

“You’d be lost in the system in days,” Knox said.

“With no protection,” Aaron added. With this much money at stake, Sean wouldn’t be surprised if Ryker were dead within a week.

Ryker nodded his understanding, an uncharacteristic frown covering his face. He’d wanted to be more optimistic than what they were all being about what would happen if they handed this all over now.

“Agreed,” Sean said. Their unit had been together so long, they sometimes forgot that not everyone understood the shorthand, or sometimes no-hand, of the way they operated. They’d all come to the same conclusion and had skipped the talking about it bit. Ryker hadn’t been with them long enough to interpret that. Not all of it, anyway. No, they needed more time. Time to figure this out. He clapped Ryker on the shoulder. “You’re stuck with us,”

They returned the gazes to the four boats that moved their way at an impressive clip. The boats were black with chrome trim. There were two speedboats and two larger boats, like Sean’s salvage boat, but newer, with cranes. Since the last time they’d seen them, Titan Green had switched out his nondescript flag with a picture of beer on it, for a flag with his company’s name. That wasn’t the only thing that’d changed. Since the space shuttle incident, Titan had gone from two boats to four, from six employees to ten. And they were bringing in bank with all the publicity they’d gotten.

Sean opened the gate to the Bluebell, his hand caressing over the smooth wood he’d sanded down to perfection. Mack stepped over to the speed boat making it rock in the water and lowered his voice. “Who invited the roaster?”

“Knox,” Gray practically growled under his breath.

“Because I’m a genius.” Knox said stepping up between the two men. “You’re welcome.”

The boats slowed as they got nearer, and Titan Green stepped up to the bow, resting a foot on the bench seat as if he were posing for a magazine photo shoot. As soon as they were in hearing distance, Titan called out with a big cocky grin on his face, “If I had a dime for every time the Navy called the Marines for help.”

Gray fisted his hands at his sides. “I’ll kill him.” He stepped forward, but Knox yanked him back by his arm.

“We need his help, remember?” Knox asked.

“In your dreams, laddie,” Mack yelled back.

Titan tossed a rope to Mack, who tied it off. His other boats pulled up, and the men tied them all off until they’d formed a circle around the dive spot. Titan stepped into Sean’s boat with an empty green bean can in his hand. It rattled. He handed it to Gray.

“I believe these are your nuts.” Titan grinned and stepped away.

After the article in the paper came out, Sean and Gray had dumped a bunch of nuts and bolts onto the deck of Titan’s main boat. As soon as he started driving, he would’ve heard them rolling around and spent half his time out checking the engine. Looked like he was finally able to take down his sign.

It’d been a brilliant idea. Only, it caused Titan to retaliate. This morning, Sean had found his boat’s ropes glued to the dock. Which is why they’d been late getting here.

Titan stepped past Gray and Knox and up to Sean. “So, what are we doing here?”

Sean stared out at Titan’s men.

A small smirk lifted Titan’s lips on one side. “I’d trust them all with my life.”

“You may have to,” Sean said.

Titan frowned.

“Come on, let me show you what we’re up against,” Sean said.

There was a quick shuffle of boats, with Gray, Wolfe and Knox going over to the Bluebell and Aaron, Liam and Ryker coming onto the speedboat. Sean pulled up the video from last night’s dive and walked them through the whole thing. Including, and namely, the treasure.

Titan scrubbed a hand through his brown locks, Mack breathed into a fist, and Liam rested his hands on his hip as he hunched forward almost like he was going to be sick.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Liam asked.

From Aaron’s boat, Wolfe called out, “What should we have done? Come to the base with a loudspeaker and say ‘We have an announcement’?”

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