Page 33 of Guarding The Phoenix: Vol. 2

Mateo said over his shoulder, “Headquarters is sending air support. I gave them our location. We’ve got a helicopter in bound. They’ll cover us until we get to shore.”

I blew out a ragged breath. “Well, that’s something at least. What I want to know is how the fuck did they find us?”

“I’ve asked myself the same question,” Gideon murmured thoughtfully with a frown.

“And?”

Gideon stood with his hands on his hips and sighed. “We need to check the yacht once we dock, see if there’s a tracker anywhere on board. It’s the only explanation I can think of because none of us are in communication with them. And we might want to get Kylie a new phone in case they’re tracking that.”

“Fuck. Why didn’t we think of that before? Do you really think they installed a tracker on the ship?”

Gideon wiped his hand over his exhausted face. “It’s the most likely scenario. I need to grab some scuba gear once we dock and check out the hull. But then also go through the interior of this ship, including the engine room, and see if I can find anything.”

“We’ll have to keep Kylie occupied. We don’t want to freak her out any more than she already is. As for her cell phone, we’ll get her a new one when we dock.”

“Yeah, I have an idea about that. Mateo, inform command we need a small moving van at the dock. Have them secure dock space for us with close parking. Then we need a membership card to the closest warehouse store because Chase is gonna go shopping for supplies with Kylie and to get her a new phone.”

I was happy to go shopping with our girl. It would do her good to get away from the ship for a few hours. “We should pick up medicine and feminine products for Kylie, besides the foodstuffs we need.”

Gideon squeezed my shoulder. “That’s why you’re going with her. You can help her get everything we need. Just get us to San Diego first.”

“Yes, sir.” I saluted.

***

Kylie

The moment Chase left the safe room, I curled up on the cot. There was nowhere else to go in the tiny room. It sounded like we were at war. Why did Santos want me so badly? It made no sense whatsoever.

Over the last few years my life had been one terrifying event after another. But this attack and his obsession with me was different. There had to be more at play. For the second time, I had been referred to as the Phoenix.

Was that my bodyguards’ code name for me? I kind of liked it. In mythology the Phoenix was an immortal bird that cyclically regenerates. I liked the thought of that. Mayhap once I escaped Luka Santos’s clutches for good, my life would be reborn into what I want.

Once we arrived in port and the imminent threat had passed, I would ask. From the monstrous sounds of gunfire and explosions, I didn’t know that we would.

Terror settled into my soul. I clutched at the cot, trying not to upchuck the entire contents of my stomach. Was this how I would die? Alone, fighting a panic attack, trying to keep my gorge from rising. Would Santos come for me, or did he just want to sink the yacht? Did he think I knew something? That my husband told me his secrets? Because that asshole never talked to me about his work.

All he ever did was hit me and make me question why my life had been nothing but a series of tough choices that moved me from one hellscape to the next.

With the yacht swaying, I gripped the edge of the cot and held on. The ship started turning. And I whimpered at the sounds coming from the upper decks. It sounded like we had been dropped into a war zone. Thank god they were all former military.

Outside the room, the engines worked overtime as the yacht picked up speed. Even though I was exhausted from my night with Chase, I couldn’t fall asleep.

Eventually, the sounds of gunfire and explosions stopped. The loud hum of the motor lulled me to sleep, where I dreamed of my dead husband chasing me through the house Santos destroyed. I struggled to get away from him, but he found me at every turn.

A hand on my shoulder startled me awake, and I screamed.

“Hey, babe, it’s just me.” Gideon had crouched beside the cot.

I blinked. My bottom lip trembled. “Gideon,” I murmured in a pained whimper. I wanted to crawl onto his lap.

He must have seen the need in my eyes, because he gathered me in his arms and took a seat on the cot. I laid my head against his firm shoulder, breathing deeply as the last fingers of my nightmare dissolved.

I was in his arms. I was safe. That was all that mattered. We lived to see another day.

“Hush. We made it. We’re in San Diego. We’re going to refuel and restock while we formulate a plan. And we thought we should make a run to a warehouse store to get all the supplies you want, like fruit, veggies, and coffee creamer. How does that sound?”

“We can’t stay in San Diego?” The boat was fine, but I missed being on land.

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