Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“He didn’t get away with anything but bogus data.”
“I screwed up, huh?”
“I’m going to tan your ass for strapping explosives to your body once I’ve got you out of this thing.”
She gave a nervous laugh. “Do you know much about explosives?”
He hesitated a second before answering. “I wouldn’t say much. I know some.”
“Bono, you’re risking your life for me.”
“You were willing to sacrifice yours for mine.”
“I thought if I blew up Godfrey and Doumar…”
“I know.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Quiet now, woman. Let me concentrate.”
“I didn’t want to betray you.”
“You didn’t,” he said tightly. “You decided to sacrifice yourself.”
“I still gave Godfrey the chip.”
He took a utility knife from his pocket and fiddled with the screws, perspiration running down his temples. “I know why you did it.”
“You found the trunk.”
“Yes. I’m flattered that you asked me to take care of your son, but we’re going to do it together, do you hear me?”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“Never stop believing, Sky. Don’t give up. Not for a second. You’ve got to think positive.”
“Doumar still has him.”
“We’ll find him.” He removed the screws and opened the plastic lid. “For what it’s worth, I love you, and I still intend to marry you.”
She laughed softly again, the action shaking her body.
“Shh. Keep still.”
“Promise me, if you can’t fix this, you’ll go and find Niels. Promise me you’ll remember good things about me.”
“Sky.” His voice broke on her name. “Don’t think like this. Stay positive.”
“I’m just being realistic.”
“I’ve got the wire.” He sat back and let out a tense breath.
“What’s wrong?”
“There are two black ones.”
“You don’t know which one to cut.”
“No.” He wiped his brow, a determined smile transforming his face. “We’re doing this together, all right?”
“Bono.” Her voice shook. “Niels.”
“Cain knows. He’ll find him. He’ll make sure he’s taken care of. No matter what happens, Niels will be fine. Do you believe me?”
“Yes,” she said through her tears.
He bent down and pressed their lips together. “I love you, beautiful. In life or in death.”
“I love you too.”
There was a warm light in his eye when he smiled at her. “I thought you’d never say that.” He inhaled deeply. “Ready?”
When she nodded, he offered his palm. She closed her eyes and traced the lifeline with the thumb of her free hand.
“Tell me, Sky,” he urged.
She blinked away her tears. “You’re right to trust your gut.”
“Okay.” He placed the blade under the left wire. “Here goes.”
With a snip, the wire snapped. Around them, silence prevailed.
He lifted his face toward the sky and closed his eyes.
“You did it,” she whispered.
“We did it. Come on. Let’s get this thing off of you.”
He cut the wires around her body one by one and carefully removed the jacket. “All done,” he said into the earpiece.
She flung her arms around him, crying and laughing simultaneously.
The firewall disappeared, revealing Cain’s team and Doumar, the only remaining people.
Lann walked up to them, a rifle flung over his shoulder. “We need to take care of that bomb.”
Bono wiped the perspiration on his brow with the back of his hand. “What do you propose?”
“We’ll let it detonate over the ocean. Can’t take any risks.”
“You mean drop it from the helicopter?” Sky asked.
“Exactly.”
“I have someone to deal with first,” Bono said darkly, glancing in Joss and Doumar’s direction.
“Don’t forget I can fly a helicopter too,” Lann said with a wink. “I’ll get the blast-proof case.”
When he was gone, Bono took her arm. “I’m going to deal with Doumar. You don’t have to see this.”
“I want to.”
“Fine.” He nodded. “It’s your right.”
Instead of looking scared, Doumar had a grin on his face. “I’ve got Niels somewhere safe. One word from me, or not a word at all, and he’s dead.”
Sky clasped a hand over her mouth, staring at Bono with wide eyes.
“Take us to him,” Cain said.
“I was wondering when you’d ask,” Doumar replied with a smirk.
“Stay and make sure we’re not followed,” Cain instructed Clelia. “I’ll send new orders once we’ve got the boy.”
Joss and Bono guarded Doumar in the back of one of the SUV’s while Sky took the opposite seat. Sara drove and Cain was in the front passenger seat.
“Status, Ivan?” Cain said into the earpiece.
With the earpiece Doumar had fitted, Sky could still follow their conversation.
“We found the boat,” Ivan said. “Maya cleared the water. It was docked on dry earth.” He paused. “The vessel was empty.”
“Sean?”
“No sign of Godfrey on land,” Sean replied. “I’m still looking, using the satellite.”
“Keep going.”
“Damage control?” Joss asked. “We’ve got the Dutch government’s cooperation, but with the Medusa spectacle word will get out about the arts we used today.”
“I think the team was right,” Cain said. “It’s time for the world to learn the truth. It’s time to stop hiding.”
“Left here,” Doumar said, holding Sky’s eyes with a smug expression.
They followed Doumar’s directions to a warehouse in an industrial area.