Chapter 44

Chapter Forty-Four

R and stood at the helm in the cockpit and studied the controls. The vessel really was perfect for their cover story. Just the sort of thing a bodybuilding author of testosterone-filled spy thrillers would want to impress a woman he'd stalked across five thousand miles.

What a strange mix of truth and fiction they were playing. Kira, for her part, didn't have to fake a damn thing. She came to Malta to find out about her parents and yesterday had her world upended. At the same time, she'd gotten involved with an author who'd followed her to Malta.

The relationship was genuine on both sides, even if the author was sketchy in his actions.

All true.

But Freya had been wrong about Kira's acting ability. She could have pulled this off even if the essential facts weren't true.

She climbed the stairs to the upper deck with two cups of coffee and handed him one. "You sure you can drive this thing?"

He chuckled, kissed her, then took a sip before answering. "Sweetheart, I've not only been an officer in the Navy for most of my adult life, I'm also a SEAL. Sea, Air, Land… This is the sea part."

She rolled her eyes. "This isn't scuba! And we aren't jumping from a plane."

"I promise you, I can handle a boat much bigger than this." He cupped her ass. He really liked the not-fake part of this cover story. "Now, put on your bikini and sun yourself on the bow while I… drive this thing ."

"How do you know I have a bikini?"

"Hopeful thinking." He squeezed, then released her butt. "Too bad I can't take us out shirtless, but I'm under strict orders not to show off my muscles."

"This is ridiculously unfair," she grumbled.

"I didn't make the rules."

It would take an hour to get to their port on Gozo. The boat could get them there faster, but he was reluctant to open up the engines. He didn't want to draw attention, and they weren't in a hurry.

Kira spent the cruise sunbathing as he'd requested. Except she gave him a cheeky grin and removed her top once they were out on open water. She slathered her breasts in sunscreen, so he enjoyed the view even though it was a bit distracting.

After she was properly protected from UV rays, she picked up her cell phone. A moment later, his phone flashed with a text.

Kira

One of us should go topless, and since you can't…

He laughed. This was their last hour of even a fake vacation. Everything after this would be covert intelligence gathering. Kira's playfulness was just what they both needed before heading into battle.

She donned her top and cover-up as he turned toward the harbor. The boat had handled like a dream. Someday, Rand would insist on a do-over. A real vacation and chartered boat to travel between islands. They could return to Malta or stay closer to home and explore the Bahamas. Better yet, they could go halfway around the world to Micronesia. Palau was on his scuba bucket list.

But that would be in the future. First, they had to get through today.

B efore disembarking, they settled in the galley to make their final check and get the last update. The supplies he'd received from the Navy in the wee hours of the morning were locked in the lazarette at the stern, hidden beneath life jackets, extra hoses and lines, and spare batteries.

Teague Collins had yet to get a response from Nadia, but he'd keep trying. It was early at Little Creek—not yet 0300—but the team was ready.

They ran through their checklist, starting with the technology that would do the heavy lifting.

Kira and Rand each had a tiny spider drone that FMV was beta testing for Raptor. Leah Ellis, the woman who designed it, was married to a Raptor operative, and she'd provided similar drones to Diana to help with Kira's rescue six months ago. Kira owed so many people for that miracle.

She tested the drone, making sure she knew how to make it work, then tucked it away. It was unlikely she'd need it. At least, she hoped she wouldn't.

Rand had his baseball ring still camera and the video camera in the collar of his shirt that Freya had used yesterday to watch and listen to the meeting with Kulik. The Navy had taken over control of that feed today, while Freya and other Valkyries would be busy assisting elsewhere.

Rand fastened Kira's repaired pendant around her neck. Along with fixing the chain, a video camera with microphone were now concealed in the crown. Kira wouldn't have two-way communication, but everything she said and did would be observed by FMV and NSWC. She could turn off the camera and mic with a touch on the latch release if she needed privacy.

They took a few minutes to test distances, with watchers back at NSWC directing Rand to adjust the length of the chain so the pendant rested at the right height on her breastbone for clear video of objects four feet and farther away.

Once it was set, she turned off the camera. They would have a few minutes of privacy before they set out.

She turned to Rand, who wore light cotton vacation slacks and yet another Aloha shirt, this one linen and embroidered with red and yellow hibiscus flowers.

"You have an impressive collection of Aloha shirts."

"I had a few and borrowed the rest from Cal and other guys on my team. Cal provided the pants and shorts with concealed holsters—he sometimes does covert ops for FMV and needs to carry concealed while playing tourist. Thankfully, we're about the same size. The Hawaiian shirts are great for being loose and covering the holster."

She ran her fingers over the embroidered flowers. "And you look good in them." She took a deep breath. "Ready?"

"Yes. You?"

"I hope so. Is that good enough?"

"You got this, Valkyra."

She sucked in a breath, almost a laugh. The silly name had a sweetness to it. "Valkyra?"

His blue eyes were serious and warm. "A warrior unlike any other. Valkyrie and siren. That's my Valkyra."

Sirens were from Greek mythology, while Valkyries were Norse; this reminded her of Apollo and Freya, named by their parents for the ancient religions they each studied and taught. Freya was all that remained of Kira's personal history, and she found memories of Apollo didn't bring the bite of pain that usually accompanied thoughts of him. Between understanding more about herself—fourteen, not seventeen; a child who didn't have the emotional maturity for the relationship she'd believed she was in—and finally having addressed the unspeakable with Freya, she was ready to put the pain to rest and grieve the boy she'd loved.

She smiled and kissed Rand. "I like it."

It was fitting also because Freya was more family to her than Luka or Reuben, and Apollo would always have a part of her heart, in the same way she couldn't stop loving the parents who raised her in spite of what they'd done.

Someday, she hoped to understand. To lessen the accompanying anger. But still, the love for them would remain.

She tucked her cell phone in the outer phone pocket of her purse and headed for the stairs to the salon and rear deck exit. It was time to get to work.

A wall of heat met her as she slid open the glass door. Today would be even hotter than yesterday. And yesterday had been a visit to the underworld.

It had been lovely this morning to be on the water. The city would be sweltering. But it was a new to her island, new architecture, new history. A place she was fairly certain she'd never been. Of course, she'd been wrong on that point before.

She waited until they were in a taxi headed for the city before texting Juliette that she was on her way.

Her phone rang a moment later. Apparently, Juliette was a phone person, not a text person.

"Kira! So glad you're here. Did you take the ferry?"

"No. We chartered a boat for a few days."

"We?"

"My… client "—she flashed Rand a grin at the emphasis she put on the title—"is with me. You met him at the gallery. Rand Fallon, the author. He was quite taken with your work and is interested in acquiring a sculpture. Says he wants to put it in a book—but I think that's just for the tax write-off."

Juliette let out a musical laugh. "He is a clever man. And quite handsome, yes?"

"I should mention you're on speaker."

"Oh, I know, dear. See you and the extremely attractive Mr. Fallon soon."

The screen flashed with the words: CALL ENDED.

"I like her," Rand said.

Kira laughed. "I do too." The fact that she liked the woman scared her.

How deep was Juliette Vella in Grigory Laskin's schemes?