Michael considered them a moment, and said, “Follow me.” He unhooked a walkie-talkie from his belt and called for a car.

A few minutes later he and Julie were seated in the back seat of the same car they had arrived in. Luke was certain, compliments of Blake, the car now had a tracking device attached to its belly. If the car took a turn away from the ferry, he’d have men to back him up. He didn’t try to play the game of seducing Julie in the car this time. She seemed to relax next to him, as if she felt like it was over. What she didn’t know, and he did, was that if they were going to be taken out, it would be now.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Luke didn’t breathe again until he and Julie were out of the car at the ferry station. He took her hand and led her to the main building. He could feel relief shifting inside him, turning into something darker that had been beneath the surface since the moment he’d found Julie on the ferry.

“What happened back there with Arel?” she asked the instant they were inside the building. “I felt so in the dark while we were there and it was killing me not to be able to ask.”

“He’s going to give me a chance to prove myself.”

“When? How?”

“I’ll get a message like I did for the party.” He didn’t say anything else, fighting the rising storm inside him. She could have died. She shouldn’t have even been here to be at risk.

He glanced at the schedule board for the boats and then the clock and by pure luck they had a few minutes to make the next ferry. He wanted the hell off of this stinking island and he didn’t ever want to return, but would probably have to.

“Let’s go.” He pulled her along with him.

“Luke?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong? You could have been killed back there.”

“But I wasn’t.”

“And Jesse better thank the good Lord above for that.”

“It’s not his fault, Luke. He’s a great guy. I used that against him and I hated doing it, but I had to do this.”

He ground his teeth, biting back some choice words about Jesse. “This isn’t the time or the place,” he said, and made sure she couldn’t argue, he ducked a shoulder between bodies and inched them into the center of the herd boarding the boat.

Finally, they cleared the ramp and were on the boat, the cold wind gusting around them, and people spread out all directions, trying to find their perfect travel location. Luke made a beeline for the warmer cabins.

Julie grabbed his arm, halting their progress. “Luke–”

“Not here,” he said, still holding her hand. “Not now, when I’m this close to the edge. You won’t like what I have to say.”

She inhaled, pink spreading over her cheeks, her hair lifting off her neck in the wind. “Don’t blame Jesse for this. I tricked him.”

“Yeah well, he’s supposed to be better than that,” he said. “If he’s smart he’s already headed to the unemployment line.”

“This is insane. You’re blaming him for something I did.”

“I’m making him take responsibility for something that could have gotten you killed, and if you think Royce would feel differently if this was Lauren, you’re wrong.”

“If you wouldn’t have tried to make this decision for me, and ran off playing super hero, determined to get yourself killed then I wouldn’t have done this at all. I did the right thing, and I was trying to save innocent lives. And you. I was trying to save you.”

“I don’t need you to save me.”

“I don’t need you to save me either.”

“Yeah, well tough. You don’t get to make that decision.” A flash of that female guard searching her ripped through him. “I told you. If I have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you to some cave to protect you, I’ll do it.” He knew he was being dominant, even an ass, but the things that could have gone wrong back there were eating him alive.

“You have no right to do that. This is my life and my choice.”

He felt those words like a knife shredding his heart. “Right. Your life, and my role is just bodyguard and good time buddy. I guess we’re moving up. I used to only be the good time buddy.”

She sucked in air and shook her head. “No. That’s not true. You took what I said wrong.”

His cell phone buzzed with a text. “Blake is on the boat. He wants us to come to him in case we’re being watched.”

“I guess this fight doesn’t help our cover either. You were right. This isn’t the place for this.” Without another word, she turned and started walking. The conversation was over. Maybe they were over.

***

Ten minutes later, Luke stood on one side of the cabin with Blake, while Julie stood on the other, staring out of the sealed window.

Blake listened while Luke filled him in on the night’s events before he glanced at Julie, “I thought I was the one so good at pissing off women. You’re the cool, calm, diplomat that never gets rattled.”

Luke massaged the ball of tension in his neck. “I guess you’re rubbing off on me, because I’m excelling at pissing her off.”

“Love hurts so good.”

That got Luke’s attention. “Who said anything about love?”

“You didn’t have to. It’s been the white elephant in the room for months every time you two cross paths. I’m just glad you both finally decided to stop avoiding it so we all can.”

“And now it’s like a head-on collision on a crash and burn mission.”

“Three words. Make up sex.”

“Three words. Too pissed off. I’m trying to save her life and she’s trying to get killed.” But it was more than that. So much more. Blake studied him for several long moments.

“You do know she was trying to save yours too, right?”

“It’s not about her willingness to put her life on the line. I get what she did. I get that she cares about other people getting hurt because of her.”

“But you don’t think she cares about you?”

“It’s not about caring.” It was about how he’d felt when she told him he had no right to protect her, and not even really about the words spoken in anger. He got that she was pissed. He got that he was being overbearing and couldn’t seem to help himself. But those words she’d shouted had hit a nerve and underlined his concern that she simply couldn’t let him into her life.

Luke’s cell rang and he pulled it from his belt and frowned at Royce’s number, before answering with, “Why are you calling me from your honeymoon?” he asked, his eyes locking with Blake’s in question. Blake shook his head, telling Luke he hadn’t called him.

“What the hell is going on there?” Royce asked.

“Not a damn thing you should be concerned about. Go make love to your wife and leave me the hell alone.”

“No go, brother. I’m halfway home already in an airport. Jesse called me and yes, he told me everything, and yes, he’s packing his things. I didn’t want him to until we could all talk, but he’s insisting.”

“You won’t hear me argue his departure,” Luke said. “And as for what’s happening, since you’re already on our way home, I’ll be damn happy to have you here. Blake and I need backup we trust.”

“Oh hell,” he grumbled. “Just a second.” Luke heard him talking to Lauren before he returned. “Our flight was cancelled. We won’t be there until tomorrow around noon. Don’t go getting killed on me or I’ll dig you up and make your afterlife hell.” He hung up.

“He’s coming home,” Blake said before Luke could say anything.

“He is and as much as I hate interrupting him, we need him.”

The ferry sounded a warning as they approached the dock. “I’ve already told Murphy I’d update him when we get to land. We don’t need anyone from the task force anywhere near our place unless it’s absolutely necessary. We’ll be watched.”

Julie headed their way and Blake pushed off the wall. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds on your own.” He sauntered forward and Julie stepped to Luke’s side and held up his keys. “I stole your truck. It’s in the parking lot.”