“You’re not listening. I won’t go. Nothing will make me go.”
He shrugged. “I’m sorry you feel that way. It’s no surprise to me, but I was hoping. Think about it.” He turned away. “You’ll find your backpack in the bathroom over there. Make yourself as comfortable as you can. The only thing I removed was that new phone you appear to have bought yesterday. I didn’t want to tempt you. And we’ll make sure that we don’t leave any phones or weapons around that might also prove troublesome.” He opened the door to reveal steps leading up to the deck. “Neal Cambry, one of my employees, is on the bridge. You’ll be getting to know him in the next few days. I told him to get under way in the next thirty minutes.”
“‘Under way’?” She sat up straighter. “Where are you taking me?”
“Down the coast to southern Mexico. Then we’ll take a flight out of there to Vadaz Island in the Caribbean. We won’t land on the island itself, just close enough so that I can deal with Nicos.”
She stiffened. “No!”
“Yes. You’ll go where I tell you to go.” He started up the stairs to the deck. “Even if you don’t cooperate, I’ll try to make it as painless as possible. It might not be as bad as you think it will be. I might just be able dangle you in front of him.”
“That’s supposed to reassure me?”
“It’s the best I can do. I don’t want anyone to get hurt if I can prevent it. You have the freedom of the ship … within certain limits.”
“Freedom shouldn’t have limits. I won’t go.”
He didn’t answer as he disappeared from view.
Tough. Very tough. That’s what Devon had said, and she was right. Margaret couldn’t remember meeting anyone harder or more ruthless. Nicos had been ugly and full of malice, but Lassiter appeared infinitely more dangerous. His determination seemed absolute. He might say he regretted doing this, but he wasn’t going to waver. She had seen it in every line of his face and body. Stop shaking. She could find a way to get away from him. She just had to look the situation over and then make her move.
They were on a ship. They weren’t supposed to get under way for another thirty minutes. How close were they to shore? She was a very good swimmer. That was how she’d escaped Nicos’s island and later managed to swim to Summer Island from that fisherman’s yacht all those years ago.
Okay, look the situation over, but she had a few minutes to rest and gather her strength. And try to gather any information she could about John Lassiter.
She looked around the bedroom. Good size. Fine polished teakwood. Probably a yacht, not a cruiser. Everything appeared top-of-the-line … and that meant money. So did the fact that Lassiter had been able to bribe answers about her from Nicos’s men.
She got to her feet and steadied herself. She was still a little stiff from being tackled by Lassiter. She went to the door across the cabin. A hallway with two doors opening off it. More bedrooms? That meant even more expense. If Lassiter was Nicos’s enemy, then he might have the funds to take him down. It must have frustrated him to find out that fear of Nicos had proved an even more powerful weapon than money when he had gone after him. She checked the drawers of the bedside table. Nothing. Should she go down that hall and search the other bedrooms?
No time. She had to find out if getting off this ship was possible before they put out to sea. She headed for the steps leading to the deck. She was still a little dizzy, but she could function.
She took a deep breath as the cool air hit her when she reached the deck. Her gaze flew to the bridge and she saw John Lassiter standing at the wheel with a tall, sandy-haired man. When Lassiter saw her, he inclined his head mockingly and said something to the man next to him.
Okay, her freedom of the ship evidently extended up here on the deck. She whirled to face the shore. Lights sparkled like a diamond chain along the bank. But those lights were a long way away from the ship, which would discourage most people. She could see why Lassiter had felt secure in untying her and giving her the run of the ship.
Too great a distance?
She would have to take a minute to decide. She had swum that far before, but she was tired and that was always a factor. If she passed up this opportunity, she might find another that was safer.
Or she might not.
Lassiter had seemed very determined and she didn’t know if he—
“Hello.” The sandy-haired man who had been talking to Lassiter was coming toward her. “I’m Neal Cambry.” He smiled. “Don’t worry. You’re going to be fine. Just do what Lassiter tells you to do. You probably think he’s been a bit rough on you, but he didn’t really hurt you, did he?”
“Yes,” she said bluntly. “And I don’t intend to do anything that either one of you tells me to do. Why would you think I would?”
“That’s what Lassiter said you’d say.” He sighed. “Change your mind. It will go much better for you.”
“No, it won’t. And I won’t change my mind. I’m not going back to Stan Nicos.” She was feeling panic at the thought and tried to keep it from showing. “That’s not an option.”
Evidently, she hadn’t entirely succeeded, because he said gently, “Look, you can work this out with Lassiter. Don’t be stubborn. He doesn’t want to hurt you. Talk to him. As long as he sees a way for him to get to Nicos, he’ll make it as easy on you as he can.”
“That’s what he told me,” she said bitterly. “I believe the word he used was dangle. It’s a word that didn’t impress me.”
He grimaced. “At least, he’s trying to be honest with you. Lassiter can coax the birds from the trees if he puts his mind to it. He’s chosen not to do that with you.”
She remembered that Devon had said something about how Lassiter had managed to mesmerize the people at Summer Island. She definitely had not seen that side of him. “No, he preferred knocking me out and kidnapping me.”
“He would have used money, if he’d thought you’d take it,” Cambry said quietly. “He said he couldn’t take a chance that you’d bolt again. Time was running out.”
“He was right. I wouldn’t have taken it.” Her gaze was on the lights on the shore again. It would be difficult, but she could make it. When she reached the shore, she could disappear and be safe. “And I have a right to do anything I want to do without him interfering.” She turned away from him. “And I won’t have you interfering, either, just because he pays you a fat check to do it. Now will you stop talking to me and just leave me alone?”