A guard patrolled the deck. The man, bald, thick-necked and barrels for biceps carried an AK-47. Heavy firepower. Ryan let out a controlled breath to calm his careening pulse. He ducked behind a group of rusted steel drums without detection.
He held his breath as the guard continued past his hiding spot. He considered his options-wait until the guard came back by and take him out, or risk making a run for the door that led belowdecks.
The longer he remained undetected, the safer Meghan and Georgina would be because NYPD would be swarming the boat any second. The sooner he got to Meghan before the bad guys realized the authorities were on to them, the better. That left one option. He risked making a run for the door.
He slipped inside unnoticed. His heart pounded in his chest. Adrenaline pumped through his veins. Cautiously he searched for Meghan. The trail of water he left in his wake couldn’t be helped. He prayed no one noticed.
Men’s voices alerted Ryan of the approaching enemy. He evaded detection by slipping inside an empty room, which looked to be the galley. He crossed to another door, which led to the mess hall. Empty, as well. He found another door and went through to another corridor. He tried to get his bearings but decided it didn’t matter. He kept searching.
The faint wail of a baby kick-started a fresh wave of adrenaline. Sure the noise would lead him to Meghan, he raced to the sound and skidded to a halt outside an open door. A single overhead bulb cast shadows around the windowless room.
Ryan’s heart stalled in his chest. Fear pressed down on him as he took in the scene.
Meghan stood between a nasty goon and three innocent children, two infants lying on a blanket and Georgina sitting between them with tears running down her face.
The fierceness on Meghan’s beautiful face took Ryan’s breath away. She was strong and courageous and determined. His heart cried out for her.
The thug chanted at Meghan in a foreign language before snarling in English, “Give me the kid.”
Holding up a hand to ward off an attack, she shouted, “No. You are not taking her.”
She was protecting the children against a lowlife who would clearly do her harm. Pride for her swelled inside Ryan even as rage balled his fists.
“Move!” The goon lurched for Meghan. She danced back, nearly tripping over a baby seat.
Taking advantage of her momentary imbalance, the thug grabbed her and wrapped his beefy fingers around her slender throat. She clawed at him like a wildcat.
Crazed by the sight of Meghan being hurt, Ryan lunged for the guy with a guttural growl. He knocked him sideways. Ryan smashed his fist into the guy’s face. Twice.
“Ryan! Enough. Stop.” Meghan’s plea infiltrated his mind. “You have to stop.”
Her words drew him out of his rage. He abruptly halted midswing and realized the man wasn’t fighting back. Self-reproach and shame washed over him. He quickly checked the thug’s pulse. Faint, but there. The guy was unconscious. He’d live.
Ryan pushed painfully to his feet. His sore ribs throbbed. Guilt for losing his control swamped him. He’d been so enraged over what had happened to Meghan he could have killed the perp with his bare hands.
He gathered Meghan close. “Are you okay?” he asked, knowing she wasn’t, not really. How could she be?
She’d been shot at, kidnapped, assaulted. But she was in his arms and for the moment that was all that mattered to him.
She wrapped her arms around his middle and hung on tight. “I prayed you’d find me.”
“I prayed I would, too,” he said, his voice husky with fear and joy all bundled up into one strong emotion that seared him to his soul and scared him spitless. “God answered both of our prayers.”
He wanted to kiss her, but time was of the essence. They had to move. Now.
With one arm he scooped up the little girl and deposited her into Meghan’s arms. “We’re not safe yet.”
After securing the two babies in their carriers, he hefted one in each hand. “Follow me,” he instructed, hoping he could get them off the boat in one piece.
ELEVEN
Meghan ran after Ryan with Georgina on her hip. She still couldn’t believe he’d found her. God had come through for her. The whole moment was imbedded in her brain, burning in its intensity. One minute she thought her life was ending at the hands of a monster and then Ryan appeared.
She’d never been so happy to see anyone in her whole life. It was more than gratefulness at being rescued that made her heart pound. And made her mouth go dry with a fear far different than that of a physical threat. But now was not the time to process what she felt. They had to get the little ones off the barge and to safety.
Ryan led the way through the dining room and kitchen. He halted as shouts echoed down the outside corridor.
Her guard had been found.
She sent up another plea to Heaven.
“There’s a door that leads to the deck at the end of this hall. When we get out, head to the left side of the deck and hide behind a stack of steel drums,” Ryan instructed.
Holding Georgina tighter, she nodded, prepared to do whatever necessary to protect the children.
“On three,” he said.
“On three.”
He leaned close and placed a quick kiss on her lips. Stunned, she took reassurance in the intimate gesture. He would lead them to safety. She trusted him to.
They made it down the short hall to the deck. The minute they emerged, an armed man shouted a warning before pointing a large caliber rifle in their direction. The loud retort of a bullet leaving the muzzles startled Meghan.
“Go!” Ryan urged. “The barrels.”
Protecting Georgina with her body from the spray of bullets pinging off the deck, Meghan flew to the safety found behind the steel drums. Ryan made it behind her. He tucked the carriers with two screaming babies into a nook between two drums. He withdrew his weapon and fired back. The loud noise made Georgina screech. Meghan covered the little girl’s ears with her hands even as her own ears rang from the gun’s close proximity.
More gunfire exploded.
“Halt! Police!”
“Drop your weapons!”
Relief rushed the breath from Meghan’s lungs.
A deathly silence descended.
A man’s shout rang out. “Ryan Fitzgerald!”
“Here,” Ryan said and slowly stood.
Meghan followed suit. Her eyes widened. Uniformed law enforcement officers surrounded the bad guys left standing. Several were on the deck, dead or wounded, she didn’t know.
“We need help with the kids,” Ryan called out.
Officers rushed forward and carried the babies off the ship. Meghan wouldn’t release Georgina as she walked off the ship, careful to shield Georgina’s eyes from seeing the trail of bodies strewn across the deck. She averted her own eyes.
An officer escorted her to a parked cruiser. “It’ll be a little while before we get moving,” the officer informed her before walking away.
Meghan sank into the backseat and snuggled Georgina close. “We’re safe, little one. We made it,” she murmured. Ryan had promised they’d find Georgina and they had. He was an amazing man. Her heart filled with joy and tenderness.
A few minutes later Ryan joined her in the backseat. “We made it,” he said.
His words echoed her own thoughts. “Yes. Thanks to you,” she replied, entwining her fingers through his. The
