Page 54 of Echo and the Homicidal Sea Panda

Havoc grumbled something under his breath and stalked off toward Mael.

Tempest eyed Echo. She pulled out her cell phone and thrust it toward him. “Put your phone number in. We might need to gossip about this later.”

Echo chuckled and entered his number before handing it back. “Talk to you sooner or later.”

Tempest winked.

Echo crossed to where the boats were linked. Mael appeared out of nowhere and pulled Diego’s boat closer—and then helped him cross the gap. He untied the boat and blew a small kiss. Echo smiled before he spun to Diego.

“Ready to go?”

Diego didn’t answer him. He stared out across the water, appearing almost dazed.

“Are you okay?”

Diego finally seemed to notice him. He eyed Echo and frowned.“What?”

“Are you okay?”

Diego nodded, silent.

“Did something happen between you and Havoc?”

Diego shook his head. “No.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Diego whispered hotly before rising to his feet and starting the engine.

Echo sat down near the control panel as the boat propelled forward. The distance between their boat and Havoc’s grew until it became a small speck on the horizon. His worry multiplied the longer Diego was silent. Had something happened while they were underwater? If Havoc was going to be a problem, he needed to know. Echo searched Diego’s profile, looking for hints to his state of mind. Nothing stood out—until he saw what looked like a hickey behind Diego’s ear that absolutely hadnotbeen there earlier in the day.

“You’ve got something on your neck,” Echo yelled over the engine’s sound.

Diego touched his neck, searching around with his palm.

“Just under your ear. A red mark. Looks almost like a bruise,” Echo said.

Diego’s face froze, and his eyes widened. He reduced the throttle until the boat stopped and ran below to the small cabin. When he emerged a few minutes later, his eyes were wild and wide, though he wouldn’t meet Echo’s gaze.

“Havoc didn’t hit you, did he?” Echo asked, fighting a grin.

“You know damned well what this is, Echo,” Diego muttered. “Go ahead and have your fun.”

Echo smiled. “Is he a good kisser? Mael certainly is.”

Diego looked completely overwhelmed and scared. Echo’s smile faded. He’d hoped a joke or two might break the tension, but it clearly wasn’t the time or place for kidding around.

“You said Havoc didn’t do anything to you… are you lying to protect him? Or protect me?”

Diego’s brows knitted together. “Protectyou?”

“Because you’re afraid whatever he did might impact my relationship with Mael? If he hurt you, I need to know.”

“He didn’t hurt me!”

“Good!” Echo relaxed a bit. “Thenwhythis dramatic reaction?”

Diego met his gaze, and there was something in it that rattled the rafters in Echo’s brain.

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