“You had to fucking leave Belizean waters? Are you shitting me? I’ve got the package. When the fuck are you going to be ready?”
The cold spray of ocean water splatters me and I still, not wanting to attract attention. My brain may not be firing on all cylinders, but I’m with it enough to know that information is my only weapon right now.
“Fuck. What the hell am I supposed to do? I don’t have five hours to float in the middle of the goddamned ocean, you fucking asshole. I’m not going back to Sweet Water.”
Another pause, and then Vander slams his hand down on something. “Goddammit, don’t you fucking tell me to figure it out. Get the boat back up here. Call me when you’re in position.”
“What happened?” a second voice asks. This one I don’t recognize, but it could be any of the employees from the island because it carries the same lyrical inflections.
“Change of plans. We have to find somewhere to wait for a few hours. The Belizean Coast Guard was sniffing around, so they went south into Honduran waters.”
“The Coast Guard? Not surprising, man. They sniff around a lot of those yachts. Making sure they’re not running drugs and sending smaller boats in to deliver.”
“Thank you for the Belizean maritime lesson, but what I really need from you issomewhere to fucking stop.”
“Hold on. Hold on. Lemme think. I might have a place. My cousin is the caretaker at Genie Caye. Shouldn’t be anyone there. New researchers come every other week, but this is an off week. I’m supposed to meet him there tomorrow to fish.”
“Where the hell is it?” Vander demands.
“Head back to Sweet Water and bear north like you’re heading to Dangriga. You can’t miss it if you look for the red and green lights.”
Back to Sweet Water. Back to Dane.
I need a plan. My brain starts spinning.
“Fuck, this throws off our whole schedule. I have to tell Anya.”
I knew I didn’t trust that bitch for a reason.
“Let me call my cousin first and check. We gotta make sure he doesn’t try to shoot us when we pull up. They get too many thieves out this way for us to just tie up to someone’s dock in the middle of the night.”
“Make the call. Now.”
Waves lap against the hull as whoever else is on board makes a phone call and speaks in a language I don’t understand. I keep my eyes shut, playing possum because the last thing I want is Vander’s attention on me. The less he thinks about me, the better.
But when we get near Sweet Water ... I have to get back to the island. Back to Dane.
The only plan I come up with is flawed on every level. Throwing myself while bound out of a moving boat into the pitch-black ocean is absolutely idiotic. But what other choice do I have?
Work on the ropes.
When the man ends his call, he says to Vander, “We’re all set. He’ll be waiting for us. Island is empty right now.”
“Good. Let’s move. Show me where to turn.”
The engine comes to life again, and I open my eyes to stare up into the sky. The Big Dipper is bright against the blackness, and I use it to find the North Star.
If only I could find my way back to Dane so easily.
Chapter 28
Dane
My head pounds and my limbs are heavy. It takes all the energy I have to open my eyes. The first thoughts that rip through my brain are about Kat. Where is she? Is she safe? How long have I been out?
Anya’s pissed-off voice slices through the haze in my head. “I thought we had a plan. What the hell happened? I did my part—we’re here and he’s ready to move.”
Since I don’t hear an answer, I assume it comes from the other end of her phone.