The feelings she’d had when they’d left Joss’s house stirred inside her again, feelings of heightened senses and power. The salt in the air tasted stronger. If she strained her ears, she could hear the fish cut through the water as a school opened a path around the yacht. Changes were happening. Her confidence was growing, and it wasn’t just because she’d finally manage to lose her virginity. At the same time, she couldn’t shake a persistent feeling of frustration. It was as if something was stuck. That something fought to get out, and it scared her. Whatever it was, she had to believe it had nothing to do with a forbidden art. She didn’t want to be like her mother. She didn’t want to live with that kind of curse.
A speedboat pulling a skier cruised past them. The man on the skis waved. Maya lifted a graceful hand.
“Shouldn’t you avoid attracting attention?” Clelia asked as the speedboat turned and came back for another round.
Maya kept her eyes on the man in the wetsuit behind the boat. “I can’t help it if I’m noteworthy.”
The boat was making noisy circles close by. This could be her chance. With her heart beating in her throat, she bided her time. When the skier came past again, she jumped up and waved her arms in the air.
“Help!”
Instead of attacking her, Maya only snickered. To Clelia’s dismay, the skier blew her a kiss.
“Sit down,” Maya said, huffing. “He thinks you’re making a pass at him.”
Her hope fell. Maya was right. It was ridiculous to jump from a jacuzzi on the deck of a yacht and asked to be rescued. Of course the man thought she was coming on to him. Defeated, she sat down.
“Looks like Erwan abandoned you,” Maya said.
The mention of her grandfather’s name made her stomach clench. “What if he has?”
“That depends on Joss.”
“What depends on him?”
Maya smiled.
“I know you’re supposed to kill me,” Clelia said. “I heard Cain and Joss talk.”
“Don’t be so gloomy. Just enjoy the moment. Enjoy the sun. One minute at a time is a good motto for life.”
She imagined Joss with a gun in his hand aimed at her head. How would he kill her? Would he strangle her? Shoot her? Drown her? If it came down to that, would he let her choose like she’d asked? He said he wanted to help her, but would he have felt the same if they hadn’t had sex? If that forbidden night hadn’t happened, would he have executed the command without second thoughts? His sense of loyalty came from one physical encounter. It was safe to say the loyalty was misplaced. Then there was what Cain had said, that turning his back on his team and giving up on what he believed in would destroy him.
The noise of the speedboat zoomed in and out as it turned around them, but she wasn’t paying attention to the skier any longer.
Her thoughts were turning in circles. All she accomplished was giving herself a headache. “I want to go to the cabin.”
She had to work out a plan to keep herself and Erwan safe, and then figure out if she was indeed the person Joss was after, the firestarter he had to destroy.
Maya rested her elbows on the side of the tub. “We may as well catch some sun while I have to sit here and watch your ass.” Her red lips tilted. “Or would you rather be handcuffed to Joss’s bed?”
She kept her face stoic, but her voice failed at sounding nonchalant when she asked, “Where is he anyway?”
“Shopping in Vannes.”
“Shopping?”
“Our food has to come from somewhere.”
Bono came up from the lower deck. Stretching, he strolled to them. “I’m not made for water. I tried to lift some weights in the gym, but what I really need is a nice, long run on solid ground.”
“Missing your big, bad flying machine?” Maya asked, smiling up at him.
He cracked his knuckles. “You know me. I’m happiest in the air.”
“In case Joss hasn’t properly introduced you,” Maya said to Clelia, “Bono is our pilot.” She turned back to Bono. “You could join us. Water’s nice.”
Bono chuckled. “And risk having my neck broken by her boyfriend?”
“He’s not claiming her, so…” Maya batted her eyelashes.
“No thanks.” To Clelia, he said, “No offence.”
Maya smirked. “In that case, be a sweetheart and fetch us some cocktails.”
“You know how Cain feels about drinking on duty.”
Maya snorted. “Make it a booze-free one, for God’s sake, but if I can’t have the alcohol, I want the umbrella, the cherry, and all the trimmings.”
“You drive a hard bargain,” Bono said with a grin.
“I drive a lot of things hard.”
“Two virgin strawberry daiquiris coming up,” he said, laughing as he walked off.
“I don’t get the lot of you,” Clelia said.
Maya closed her eyes and tilted her face to the sun. “What’s there to get?”
“You kidnap me, and now you serve me cocktails in a jacuzzi. Is that how you treat all your hostages?”
“Depends on the hostage.”
“What gives me special privileges?”
Maya opened her eyes. “Joss seems to be fond of you.”
“Will fondness prevent him from killing?”
“No,” Maya said without missing a beat. “Not if you’re fencing for the wrong side. Joss will kill anything that’s evil.”
She swallowed. “Has he killed a lot?”
“Only when necessary,” Maya said. “He’s a pain in the ass, but he’s not bad. A bit tormented, but that adds to his charm, don’t you think?”
She wasn’t in the mood to discuss Joss’s charm. She wanted to fill in the gaps since the time he’d left town.
Bono reappeared carrying two tall glasses decorated with all the edible accessories a bar could stock. He walked like a tightrope artist, concentrating not to spill a drop. Despite the situation, Clelia smiled. The designation of daiquiri mixer definitely didn’t fit the big, muscular man. He looked out of his depth, whereas she could imagine him completely at ease with a helicopter’s cyclic in his hands.
Maya took her drink and blew him a kiss.
