"The Ava I knew would've kept coming at me until she knocked some sense into my confused head. You didn't. You turned your back the same as I did."

"I did not!" she fumed. "First, in case you forgot, you were dead!"

"And then you saw me alive and well. Why didn't you do anything? We were at a shooting range with plenty of loaded guns. You could've had me on my knees within seconds. Instead, you walked away."

Ava rubbed her stomach, recalling her first flash of anger. "You're lucky I did walk."

"Afraid you couldn't win, even armed with a gun?" he taunted.

"No, I was afraid I would."

"What made you leave?"

She shook her head, fleeing to the deck to gulp down air. Sensing his presence behind her, she focused on the horizon and not that he was within arm's reach.

"Ava, I'm sorry. I really am. All I'm asking for is a bit of forgiveness. After prison, I . . . I wasn't the same. I was messed up. It took months for me to heal and that was only my body. I'm still f.u.c.ked up. I'm still . . ." He took a jagged breath.

She glanced over her shoulder. "So am I."

Remy read Ava's body language loud and clear. She wasn't comfortable with the conversation, and she didn't want him near. He had no one to blame but himself. Remy took the hint and returned to the captain's chair. He sunk down, giving his wobbly sea legs a rest.

While it didn't quite go well with Ava, at least he didn't embarra.s.s himself by heaving. Unfortunately, he didn't think he was in the clear yet, not with so many miles still to go.

It was twenty minutes later when he heard the door click open. Ava stood in the doorway, looking as lost as he felt. He motioned for her to come closer, hiding his surprise when she did. He pulled her onto to his lap and held her silently. She leaned against him and rested her head on his shoulder.

He lost track of the time as they sat there, not wanting to say or do anything that could spoil the moment. He held on tight, hoping he'd get another chance at the end of the day and the next. While his first reaction after his nap had been to toss her onto the bed, now he didn't want to ruin this. It felt like Ava was his again.

Remy knew it was temporary, having her back in his arms. Nothing was for certain, and the few hours they had left together on the boat might very well be their last. He hoped they wouldn't be. He hoped for more.

Ava pressed heavily against him. He looked down to find she had fallen asleep. He smiled, kissing the top of her head, breathing in her clean scent. She trusted him again. And where there was trust, there was the beginning of a foundation.

Feeling more content then he had in years, he relaxed into the chair, keeping Ava snug in his arms.

Remy stirred, nudging Ava awake. She moaned and cuddled into him. "Ava," he said, not wanting to startle her, but he needed her awake. "Ava, wake up."

He leaned over to pick up the binoculars from the console and peered through them. d.a.m.n! He kissed the top of Ava's head one last time before giving her a gentle shake.

"I spotted a ship," he said, his voice urgent.

She cracked her eyes open and sat up, squinting at the open water. "How big?"

He handed over the binoculars. "One o'clock."

She took them, scanning the horizon with the high-powered lenses. "It's an aircraft carrier," she said, breathless. "It's bigger than I had antic.i.p.ated. What are we going to do? We only have a little fuel, and that ship doesn't look friendly."

"We knew it wasn't going to be friendly," Remy said, not voicing the rest of his concerns. An ominous chill set in. He took back the binocular to study the ship as it cut through the water, searching for a name or distinguishing marks.

Armed men stood on deck. They were dressed in black with no identifying colors. That alone told him what he was up against, and it wasn't good news. The heavy weaponry both on their hips and slashed across their chests were top of the line and in excellent condition. Remy had the sick feeling these were a portion of the weapons stolen.

Large crates were stacked on the deck, each with a logo. His breath caught as the view focused and he saw the logo clearly.

Venom.

"Have you heard of Venom before?" he asked.

Ava didn't answer, her concentration focused on the ship heading their way.

Memories invaded before he had a chance to relax his mind. The word repeated over and over in thick accents. He didn't understand them at first, the language so choppy and forceful, like a hurricane in his head. When Remy finally did understand, he thought they were just repeating the word to add another layer of torture. It was effective if that was their intention. The word was permanently branded into his brain.

They had wanted information on Venom.

And Venom was sailing right toward him.

Remy watched as an alarm scattered the men into position.

"They've spotted us," Remy said. "Get below deck."

"Why?"

"If they only want me, then they have no reason to come looking for you."

"They'll expect me," she protested.

"I'll tell them I came alone."

"They'll board the boat. I won't escape," she said, digging her heels. "And I didn't come to escape. I came to end this once and for all."

"This is not the time to fight. We won't win. Not by a long shot. Our only chance is to split up."

Ava shook her head, protests forming on her lips.

Remy stooped and kissed her, silencing and stunning them both. But, like all things, it had to end. It was not meant to be.

Remy tore himself away. "I know you will come for me. It's the only way. We have no other options. Contact David and Boyer and get their help."

Remy could see the conflict race across Ava's face. She reluctantly nodded.

"Go. Hide."

"Bro . . . Remy-"

"Go."

"But-"

"You can tell me when you come and rescue my a.s.s."

Her eyes widened, and a wry smile hinted on her lips. "You're such a tragic la.s.s."

"I will be if you don't find me," he agreed, keeping his tone light. But just knowing Venom was closing in had affected him to a degree he was acutely uncomfortable with. "Go."

"I will find you," she promised.

He took one last glance at Ava as she hurried below, snapping the door shut.

If she could find a decent hiding place, they might not find her. They could have spotted her already, but Remy didn't think so. He prayed they'd believe whatever BS story he gave them.

Without the binoculars, he watched as the dot grew bigger until the carrier towered over him, eclipsing the sun and sending him into a cold shadow.

Remy stood in the middle of the deck with his hands raised in surrender.

At least now he would get some answers.

He stayed silent as the men looked down at him, weapons pointed. The ship moved slowly alongside his boat, keeping enough distance so his boat wouldn't get tugged under their current.

An annoying bead of perspiration formed on his brow as a speedboat launched from the ship, veering in his direction.

Remy kept his hands raised as three men boarded. He knew their type-brash and quick to engage-and he didn't want to be unconscious or b.l.o.o.d.y for his . . . detainment.

Remy gritted his teeth as they gave commands in perfect English. No accent.

The f.u.c.king b.a.s.t.a.r.ds were American. Remy stamped down his anger. It wouldn't serve him to lose his temper now. Instead, he made a promise to find the person responsible and take him down.

As two men shoved Remy to the speed boat, one went below deck. Remy didn't bother to try to stop him. Even if the man was able to find Ava, he wouldn't be conscious long enough to do anything about it. Remy hoped she'd evade the man's notice, though. He was counting on her.

Once Remy and the two men had boarded the speed boat, the third returned without Ava.

"It's clear," he said, hopping over the rail and onto the speeder.

Remy didn't dare breathe his relief. He knew they were watching him, waiting for any signs.

"Light it," another said.

A bottle with a rag shoved into the top was lit on fire. Remy scrambled, bulldozing one man off the side of the boat in his struggle to get to the Molotov c.o.c.ktail. He wasn't quick enough. The bottle was launched.

"No!"

Chapter 10.

Remy blinked his eyes open to see blue sky above him. He sat up, wincing as his equilibrium shifted.

Ava!

Remy scanned the area, realizing he was on the carrier deck. The armed crew was at the rail, watching the burning boat grow smaller and smaller as the ship sailed away.

Acid burned in Remy's throat, rising like the smoke polluting the cloudless sky.

This was his fault. He should've known they wouldn't leave a boat floating around for evidence. He only prayed that Ava was able to call for rescue. Unless she was still hiding. G.o.d, she might not even know the boat was ablaze.

Remy wanted to shout a warning, but even that wouldn't do any good at this distance. The boat was so far away it looked like a flame on a candle.

He saw the explosion before he heard it. The sky lit in orange, then fizzled to nothing as smoke enveloped the area. Fear strangled him.

"I guess it wasn't all clear after all," a man from the speeder said after seeing Remy's expression. It earned a laugh from those around him.

Remy launched at him, slamming him to the ground with such force the man blacked out on contact.

They were going to pay for this.

Ava smelled the fire before she saw it. Smoke trailed like a heavy stratus cloud and blanketed the deck. The fire spread as if it was gobbling fuel.

Ava raced to the fire extinguisher, hoping it wasn't too late to save the boat. But she knew it wouldn't be long before it was engulfed, especially if an accelerant had been used. She sprayed the base of the fire, hoping it might buy her a little time, but the fire was out of control. She had to call for help.

Hurrying to the console, Ava had just enough time to initiate the emergency rescue call as she watched the fire spit sparks. She exited, having only given coordinates. She tugged a self-inflating raft to the railing. Pulling the ripcord, Ava pushed the yellow monstrosity into the water. The quick inflation knocked her down as the tight bundle ballooned in seconds. In the time it took to reach the water, it was fully inflated. Ava jumped in after it, the flames already licking at her heels.

Struggling with drenched clothes, Ava pulled herself aboard the lifeboat as she shivered from the icy water. She hadn't thought much of the man who had rented the boat to her, but she thanked the stars he had enough sense to keep an emergency raft on board. Not only did it save her from freezing or drowning, but it gave her rescuers something easy to locate. The way the fire was spreading, she doubted the boat would still be around when they arrived.

In fact, the blaze was already to the rear where the tanks . . .

Oh, c.r.a.p!

Ava dug her hands into the water, paddling to distance herself. Dammit! The raft wasn't budging.

Taking one last glance at the flaming bomb, she dove into the water, ducking under the raft. The water lit to an orange-red hue, shifting as an explosion sent t.i.tanic-sized slivers in every direction. Flames danced on floating lumber until they finally burned out, sizzling as the water extinguished them.

Ava pulled herself back onto the raft, feeling soggy and beat. The raft was unusually soft. She sat straight up, scanning the lifeboat. A thin stick poked out from the side, leaking precious air.

She crawled over to inspect it. If she left it alone, she'd be waterlogged within a half hour, maybe sooner. But if she took the stick out and tried to plug it with a finger, she might have even less time. Either way, time wasn't on her side. She was hundreds of miles from land, too far away for a quick rescue.

Ava tore the rough wood from the raft and pressed her thumb to the hole as air gusted out. She breathed a sigh of relief when it seemed to work. No air slipped past her thumb, but she now wondered how long she could keep it in place without succ.u.mbing to fatigue or a hand cramp.

It didn't matter. She had told Remy she would come for him. A promise was a promise. Plus, she had no desire to die, especially not out in the middle of the ocean.

But where would the ship take him?

Who were those men?