Chapter Twenty
Ezra hated leaving Sam behind even if it was the best thing for both of them. He placed an order at the grocery store that would be ready for him to pick up on his way home. That done, he headed to the office next. He kept a truck in a shed by the dock so he had transportation.
His headquarters were little more than a converted boathouse. It was big enough for a small office and to store their gear. He checked the files—because while they had a computer, Kent tended to write things down instead of using the machine—but found little more about the man who’d hired his firm. Dexter was playing his cards close. Not surprising, all things considered. The offices weren’t being watched, which was a bit of a surprise. Of course, they had no reason to believe Sam would come here, and they certainly didn’t know Ezra was a drakon.
Leaving the office behind, he drove back to his personal dock. His speedboat was tied up there. He planned to take it back with him when he returned home and tow the dinghy behind it. If he needed to get Sam off the island for any reason, the speedboat with its powerful engine was the fastest option. The only way faster was if he shifted and carried her over the waves himself, and since that would definitely cause unwanted attention, he needed the faster boat.
He glanced toward the island and took a deep breath. Knowing Sam was safe was the only reason he was able to be away from her for so long. Their relationship was still so new and tentative.
“Just do it,” he muttered. Standing around wasn’t going to get him anywhere. He needed to meet with Dexter and try to get a sense of the man who’d shot Sam. If he thought his crew was in danger, he’d find a reason to pull them off the job.
The big challenge would be in not killing the man outright for what he’d done.
Ezra took another deep breath, pulling the salt air into his lungs. He could taste the sea, which never failed to soothe. While it did bring him down a notch, he was still unsettled and knew he would be until he was back home with Sam.
He strode down the dock and climbed aboard his twenty-foot speedboat. It looked like any other recreational vehicle on the outside, was painted blue and white with no fancy or memorable designs. The real difference was in the engine. This baby could move.
He released the lines and started the engine. It roared to life, and he smiled as he eased the throttle forward. Time to get to work. He pushed the engine as hard as he dared, and the boat jumped over the waves. He adjusted the direction to assure the smoothest ride possible. With his feet braced and his hands on the wheel, he threw back his head and laughed for the sheer joy of being on the water.
The only other things that got him this excited were actually swimming in the ocean and being with Sam.
And Sam topped the list.
The spray and mist danced over his skin. Overhead, several gulls squawked as they dipped and dived into the water, hunting for something to eat. The sun sparkled on the waves. Beneath him, fish and plant life thrived.
He might be on a serious mission, but nothing could stop him from enjoying the ocean. The ebb and flow of the water was in his veins, the pounding of the waves echoed in his heart. He was a water drakon, and the ocean was his home.
The trip still took longer than he wanted. The wreck was quite a distance from his island, which was a good thing. The Knights had no reason to look that far afield for Sam. They probably would, though. They were nothing if not thorough.
As the Easton came into view, he studied the deck. There were divers in the water, so he circled around to the opposite side from where they were working and carefully made his approach that way. Kent waved to him from the deck. Ezra waved back but saw no sign of Aaron Dexter. That was disturbing.
The Easton was a thirty-eight-foot lobster boat with a fiberglass body and a powerful diesel engine. He’d bought it used a few years ago and had it refurbished. It had a galley and sleeping area for the crew. All the basic comforts of home, a necessity since they often had to stay on site for days, sometimes weeks on end. It was close quarters, but they made it work.
He maneuvered the boat into position and tossed the line up to Kent. “Hey, boss.” His business manager, who was also one hell of an experienced diver, caught the rope and tied it off. “I’ve been expecting you.”
Ezra climbed up the small metal ladder attached to the side of the larger vessel. “You know I can’t stay away.” It was his standard reply and usually true. He normally couldn’t wait to get to a dive site. Not this time. He’d much rather be on his island with Sam.
He missed her like he missed the ocean when he wasn’t near it. Like the water, she was a part of him.
“What’s going on?”
Kent motioned to Ezra, and they made their way to the port side of the boat. “Bill and Owen are in the water.” They were the experienced divers on the crew. “The Integrity took a couple of hits. There’s a lot of damage to the hull, but it may be possible to patch it long enough to get her out of the water.”
“Is the job too big for us?” It was a legitimate question since they were a small salvage operation and might need to subcontract some extra help.
“We’ll need some more muscle when we try to bring her up, but we can do the patch job ourselves. It’s a big job. The owner and the insurance company might decide to write her off. It won’t be cheap.”
Ezra stared down into the water. “Find out. If they write her off, we’ll salvage what we can for ourselves and sell it.” The waves hit the side of the Easton in a rhythmic pattern that was music to his ears, but it didn’t ease the tension mounting inside him.
He turned away from the water. “Where’s Dexter? I figured he’d be onboard watching our every move.” The owners or insurance company almost always had someone on board in the early stages of an operation so they’d immediately know what was going on.
Kent shrugged. “He was here, but he took off earlier this morning. One of his guys came out in a speedboat. Dexter left and Calloway, that’s the guy who brought the boat, stayed behind.” He jerked his head toward the water. “Calloway is a diver and insisted on going down with the team.”
Ezra’s stomach knotted. He forced himself to remain calm and act natural. He didn’t want to do anything to make his crew nervous or suspect there was anything wrong. “You check his credentials?” They’d never let anyone dive without first ascertaining if they were qualified.
“Yup. He checks out.”
“What about Dexter? Where did he go?”
Kent shrugged. “He didn’t say, but he didn’t head back to shore.” He pointed out to open water. “He went that way and then he headed northwest.” Before Ezra could heave a sigh of relief, Kent continued. “I’m not sure but he might have circled around about an hour ago and headed in the opposite direction.”
In the direction of Ezra’s home. “What’s he doing?”
Kent shrugged. “Who knows? He said something about trying to find a dinghy that went missing the night the Integrity sank. But who the hell cares about a dinghy when there’s a multimillion dollar boat below us?”
Ezra had to get off the Easton. Dexter was looking for Sam. He should have known the Knight would never be satisfied until he found a body.
“I’m heading out.”
“Already?” It was no wonder Kent was surprised. Ezra loved to dive. Well, he hated having to use the wetsuit and equipment when his men were around, but he never missed a chance to be in the water.
“Yeah.” He raked his fingers through his hair and strode across the deck. “Keep me up-to-date on whatever you find.” He turned and pinned his employee and friend with a steely stare. “Be careful on this one.” That’s the most he would say, all he could say without putting them in jeopardy.
This was an unusual situation since the Integrity had been excavating an older wreck and searching for artifacts. The possibility of treasure made some people a little crazy. Best to let Kent think that’s where the problem might come from.
“Always.” There was a new alertness in Kent’s gaze. He hadn’t lived to be almost fifty without being smart. The dive business was not for dummies, especially not the salvage and treasure hunting business. “We’ll watch our backs.”
Ezra vaulted over the side of the Easton and landed solidly on the smaller boat. It rocked, but he automatically adjusted his stance and hurried to the wheelhouse. “Call if you need me.” Not that he’d be able to come, not with Sam in possible danger.
“We’ll be fine,” Kent assured him. “We can take care of ourselves.”
Ezra waved as he maneuvered the boat away from the Easton. How had he missed Dexter on his way here? For one thing, he hadn’t been looking. For another, Dexter might have been pulled into any little cove searching for wreckage and Sam’s body. Ezra had headed straight to open water to make faster time and because he loved the exhilaration of riding the waves and feeling the cold wind on his skin.
He grabbed his phone and called the work phone that sat on his kitchen counter. It rang and rang. “Pick up.” Not that she had any reason to. Even if she heard it ring, she would have no reason to answer, would most likely let it go to message.
Reasoning with himself did nothing to ease the anxiety gnawing at his guts. His dragon wasn’t happy, either. The beast wanted out, and it wanted out now. In his dragon form, he could get home a lot faster than he could by boat. It was also day time and there was a risk of someone seeing him. That would put Sam, him, and his crew in danger.
Dexter needed to search every inch of shoreline between here and Ezra’s island. Trying to find Sam was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. She should be safe.
But should be wasn’t good enough. All Dexter needed was a lucky break, and Sam would be in danger.
Ezra pushed the engine as hard as it would go. If it overheated and shut down, he’d take the risk and shift. Every mile seemed like a thousand, every minute a year.
“Sam,” he whispered her name, and the wind snatched it away, pulling it out to sea.
…
Sam spent a couple of hours exploring Ezra’s office. He had some fascinating items alongside his colorful collection of seashells and sea glass. Like a kid in a candy store, she examined coins and pottery, admired jewelry crafted from beads and metal, and delighted in basic utensils and tools from bygone eras. She liked that Ezra had unique, one-of-a-kind artifacts alongside commonplace shards of pottery. They all had value to him.
The phone in the kitchen rang at one point, but she ignored it. It was the one Ezra used for work, and no one was supposed to know she was here. She was totally cut off from the world. It made her sad and jittery, but she shoved both emotions away and went back to studying Ezra’s collection.
For a short time, she was able to suppress her worry. She knew Ezra could take care of himself. But this was different. The Knights of the Dragon were nearby, and it was all because of her.
She left his office and went to the kitchen. She wasn’t hungry, even though lunchtime had come and gone, but she wanted some coffee. It had turned into a beautiful day. The sun shining in through the window beckoned to her. It would be chilly outside, it was after all November, but she could bundle up and take her coffee outside.
Leaving the coffeepot gurgling away, she went upstairs to Ezra’s bedroom. It was amazing how quickly his home had become familiar to her. She loved that it wasn’t too big, but every finish inside had been chosen with care, from the stone countertops to the hardwood floor. Big windows allowed light to pour in and offered wonderful views of the sea from all sides. The outside, made of log and stone, fit with the landscape.
The bed clothes were askew, so she took the time to remake it, smoothing the comforter over the top. This place felt more like home than anywhere she’d lived since her father had passed. She hadn’t realized just how much she missed having a real home, instead of just somewhere she slept and kept her stuff.
When the pillows were plumped to her satisfaction, she went to the closet. There was a stack of sweaters on a shelf, so she helped herself to one in a turquoise shade. It wasn’t a color she usually wore, but it matched Ezra’s eyes and made her feel closer to him. The garment was huge on her and fell to mid-thigh. She rolled back the sleeves, creating wide cuffs on each arm.
The wool was thick and soft and would be warm. She wondered where he’d gotten the sweater, as it didn’t seem like something he would choose for himself. It was yet another reminder that he had an entire life she knew little to nothing about. People who cared for him. People she didn’t know.
The few she’d had any contact with were just voices on the phone. She wondered if she’d ever meet any of them, or if her time with Ezra would eventually come to an end.
“Stop it,” she ordered herself. There was no point trying to predict the future. She left the bedroom and hurried down the stairs. Their relationship was complicated. She gave a snort of laughter. Complicated? That was putting it mildly. She knew most people would think she wasn’t in her right mind after all she’d been through, that her feelings for him weren’t real. She disagreed.
She loved him. And that meant doing what was best for him, no matter how much he objected.
And where was he? He’d been gone for hours, and she had no idea when he’d be back. The thought of him being around the wreck of the Integrity filled her with dread.
“Don’t think about it,” she muttered. The coffee was done, so she filled a mug and added sugar. The afternoon was waning, and she’d been cooped up all day. It would be smarter to stay inside, but what harm was there in sitting out on the front step, maybe wandering down to the dock to watch for Ezra’s return? His island was far away from where the Integrity went down. Besides, the Knights had their hands full with the salvage operation. Even if they were looking for her, they wouldn’t be anywhere near here. They’d be searching much closer to the wreckage.
Decided, she took her mug and strode to the front door. She hesitated for only a second before she opened it and stepped outside. The sun was beating down on the front deck, warming the area in spite of the bite to the wind.
She sat on the top step and inhaled the salt air. Ezra had created a mini paradise here. She wanted to wander the island and discover its secrets. There were trees in the distance, and she wondered how many different species there were. She recognized birch, poplar, and maple trees. It would be beautiful here in the summer. It was beautiful here now, but it was much starker, more primal. Only the firs and pines retained their needles. At the height of summer, there would be leaves on the trees and wildflowers in the open meadows.
She ignored the longing in her soul and sipped her coffee. But after only a few seconds, the deep yearnings were back. She wanted to sit outside on a warm summer’s night in front of the fire pit she’d spied out back. She wanted to look up at the night sky and see the stars. And she wanted to do it all with Ezra.
A lone tear tracked down her cheek. It shocked her, and she brushed it aside. There was no point in crying. What would be, would be. In the meantime, she’d enjoy her time with Ezra and do her best to protect him. Not that he liked that idea. He was all about protecting her.
Filled with a restlessness that wouldn’t abate, Sam stood and strolled toward the dock. The wind was much colder once she stepped away from the shelter of the house. She wrapped her hands around her mug, grateful for the warmth.
She wouldn’t stay outside much longer, but she needed to walk, to work off some of the nervous tension that wouldn’t leave her alone.
The dirt path had become familiar, and it took her little time to reach the dock. Two gulls swooped on the air currents, flying high and then diving back down toward the waves. There was a small stretch of beach on either side of the structure. She wondered if there was any large stretch of beach on his island. She’d always found walking helped her think.
The sound of an engine reached her ears. She put her free hand up to shield her eyes from the sun’s glare as it lowered in the sky. Was it Ezra?
She knew sound carried over the water, and it took her some time to find the boat. The small, sleek craft flew over the waves. From this distance, she couldn’t tell who was in the boat. She squinted as it got closer and could make out the shape of a single person on board.
Her heart leaped but then sank. What if it wasn’t Ezra? She was a sitting duck out here. The chances of it being someone sent by the Knights was slim, but no one was supposed to know she was here. Any locals would know Ezra lived alone, so they’d certainly remember seeing a woman standing on his dock. And if they talked, both her and Ezra would be in danger.
Stupid. It had been foolish to leave the house. She should have at least stayed on the deck.
She turned and hurried back up the path, hoping whoever was on the speedboat hadn’t seen her. From the sound of the engine, they were getting closer. They hadn’t turned away from the island.
Maybe she was being paranoid. Maybe it was a local out enjoying a sunny afternoon.
Her heart was racing by the time she hurried up the porch steps and ducked into the house. She leaned back against the closed door and took a deep breath. Then she cursed and glanced out the long, thin window beside the door.
The boat was slowing down, and the man on board was looking toward the house. Recognition came swift and hard. It wasn’t a local out enjoying a pleasant afternoon. It was Aaron Dexter, and he’d seen her.
…
Aaron couldn’t believe his good fortune. He’d known the bitch hadn’t died in the ocean the night the Integrity had sunk, but he’d never expected to see her standing on some dock. He had Karina Azarov breathing down his neck, and Sam Bellamy was outside looking like she didn’t have a care in the world.
He’d been searching the shoreline for hours, hoping to find a body or a telltale sign of wreckage, something he could use to get the leader of the Knights off his back. His life was hanging by a thread, and he knew it. The Knights of the Dragon did not take failure lightly.
Her distinctive red curls were a dead giveaway. There couldn’t be too many women around here with the same wild, out-of-control hair. He’d figured her hair was a sign of a passionate nature. Instead, she’d been a cold, frigid woman, turning aside his every advance.
If he was wrong, and the woman wasn’t Sam, no harm done, but he knew in his gut it was her, especially when she turned and hurried back to the house as soon as she had seen him.
It excited him to see her run.
He piloted the boat up to the dock, jumped out, and secured the line. There were no other boats around. He hoped this meant she was alone.
No matter. He checked the Sig Sauer in his shoulder holster and grabbed his Remington rifle. He had more than enough fire power, but it was the Ka-Bar knife strapped to his leg that he planned on using.
Sam would talk before he was done with her. If she still had the artifact from the Reliant, he wanted it. And he sure as hell wasn’t giving it to Karina. She’d turned on him at the first sign of trouble. No, if he recovered the artifact, he was going to use it to buy his safety in the ranks of another high-ranking member of the Knights.
Maybe he’d find someone to tell him more about it first. If it was a book of some kind, it was most likely written in some kind of code. The Knights were a paranoid, secretive bunch. Aaron wasn’t sure he believed in the whole dragon thing. It was outlandish, bordering on crazy. What he did believe in was power. And the Knights had a lot of it.
They had their fingers in every lucrative business on the planet—banking, commodities, technology, communication, and natural resources. They had influence in governments around the world. They had money and power, and he wanted his share of it.
He stepped onto the dock. From what he’d seen, this was a private island, which meant there was no one around to hear Sam scream.
His luck was definitely changing. He smiled as he started up the path toward the house.