Page 146 of Blind Prophet

A hard object presses into my back, right below my shoulder blade.

“Walk.”

The pilot remains strapped in the helicopter.

Is he flying away? Or on standby?

I’m in international waters. They could shoot me, throw me overboard, and proceed as they desire. He could’ve killed me already. Had me poisoned or killed in my home. I’m alive for a reason.

I grab the lacquered railing, leaning into the rolling motion of the vessel.

Spotless white. Clean lines. The pride of the ship’s owner.

The stench of motor fumes blends with salty air.

“Keep walking,” the suit directs. “Along the side.”

He hasn’t searched me. He has to know there’s a tracker on me. Ryan and his team watched me leave. They have a plan.

But Geoffrey would know they have a plan. Does he have others positioned to eliminate pursuers?

I round the bend and enter a cabin.

Caroline sits on a pristine white leather sofa, her eyes widening at the sight of me, gray duct tape over her mouth.

My heart stutters. In two strides, I’m kneeling before her, fingers trembling as they trace the edge of the bruise darkening her eye, the dried blood from the gash above her eyebrow.

“My god, are you okay?” My voice breaks, relief and rage colliding in my chest.

She jerks at my touch.

Fuck. How deep is that scalp injury?

I grip the edge of the tape, the corner frayed and peeling off her skin.

“Uh-uh,” a male voice says behind my back.

Recognizing the voice, I look over my shoulder and see Luke.

And he’s not alone.

Geoffrey. In a suit. No gun.

“I'll let you remove the tape,” Geoffrey says, his voice no different from any other day in Colorado. “But only if she promises to be quiet. I have the beginnings of a headache, and you know what that’s like, right?”

I rip the tape off her mouth in one sweep.

She gasps, and I scan her body, searching for any other injuries. There’s no bomb currently tied to her.

The video he showed before was definitely altered. But is a bomb somewhere else on the ship?

“If you speak, dear, the tape goes back on. I didn’t plan to be so vulgar, but she’s quite the little she-devil. Almost didn’t get her here; isn’t that right, Luke? Did you know that Luke dated your wife?”

Caroline’s bright blue eyes ground me. There’s no terror, no fear. She’s searching mine, questioning, but she understands the most important element. I’m here for her, and we’re going to get through this together.

My absence of a response to his goading must prompt Geoffrey to focus on his next steps. “Now, you’ve seen her. I’ll give you five minutes. Then we depart.”

“You’re going with him?”

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