Chapter 10 #2
Good to know. Heath grabbed the rope out of his pocket, spotted something he could tie the wheel to, and after the next burst of fire, he dashed over, corrected their course, and tied the wheel into position.
Up here was a small arsenal of machine guns.
Heath grinned, grabbing one, checking it over and peering over the edge at the boat. Their lights were still on, illuminating all four on deck.
Easy pickings.
He aimed for the captain, gave a short burst of fire from the gun, and ducked down again.
Return fire had more glass shattering around him.
He shifted positions, moving along the wall, and waited for the fire to finish and then peered up.
The boat had veered off course, and someone was climbing up to correct it.
Heath shot him and then spotted a man at the front of the boat with a fucking rocket launcher.
Heath swung his weapon and shot. A second later the rocket launched, but straight into the air.
One more to go.
He ducked down as another round of fire came and he shifted again, knowing the light from the machine gun fire would give away his position. Heath checked to make sure the captain was still restrained and found him full of bullet holes.
Shit.
He scanned the luxury boat for movement. The man at the front was dead on the deck and a second later the light disappeared.
The remaining smuggler must have shot it out.
Heath blinked to adjust his eyes and spotted a shadow entering the wheelhouse. Heath aimed, but before he fired, the boat decelerated and fell behind.
Smart man.
Heath waited until the luxury boat peeled away and headed in the opposite direction out of reach before he went back to the steering wheel. The panels were smashed, but they were still heading in the right direction.
Towards Dubai.
He wouldn’t get a great reception with two dead men on board and an Iranian naval boat which had been shot to pieces. Which meant he needed a better boat.
He glanced at the luxury boat. Only one hostile on board there, and he had six on this one.
He turned and headed after the boat.
He’d need Zoe to help him. He checked the panels and saw a switch for the deck lights, which he turned on. The three guards he’d disarmed were still tied up, but trying to get free.
He found the hailing device and said, “Zoe, it’s safe to come out. Come to the deck.”
While he waited for the hatch to open, Heath grabbed his phone and dialled Dobby.
“Sitrep.”
“You don’t want to know,” Heath said. “I’m going to commandeer a smuggler’s boat.”
Dobby didn’t skip a beat. “Zoe and the kids?”
“Safe, I think. The kids are still in the lifeboat heading towards Qatar. Can you contact Rambo and see if they’re still in the area? Need someone to pick up the kids.”
“Done.” Dobby relayed the information to someone else on the plane. “Zoe?”
He glanced at the hatch to find her climbing out. “With me.” He was gaining on the smugglers’ boat, which hadn’t seemed to realise he was coming after it. “Plan to head to the UAE when we’re done.”
“Flights are at five or seventeen fifteen,” Dobby told him.
Heath smiled. The team had been planning contingencies for his extraction. “Copy.” He leaned out the broken window and waved to Zoe. “Up here.” To Dobby he said, “Will report in when we hit land.”
“Copy.”
Heath hung up as Zoe appeared at the door, her face concerned as she stared at the shattered glass and then at him. “Are you all right?” She hurried to him, checking him over. Her hands on his arms and chest were soothing.
“Yeah. I need your help. We’re going to get on that boat.” He pointed to the luxury boat and picked up the hailing device. “Stop your boat and move to the deck with your hands up.” His voice boomed across the water.
Zoe gasped. Heath spun around and found her staring at the dead captain. He took her hand and tugged her towards him. “The smugglers shot him. Don’t look.”
She tore her eyes away and stared out the window.
He had another spotlight, which he moved to shine on the fleeing smuggler.
The man cringed, but the boat slowed and he climbed down to the deck.
“Everyone on board move to the back deck,” Heath ordered.
He doubted there were more people on board, but it was worth checking.
“Zoe, I’m going to pull alongside the boat and get on.
You stay here.” He handed her one of the handguns he’d collected and she took it reluctantly.
“It’s for your protection. I want you to stay here until I’ve cleared the other boat.” He showed her how to brace her hands around the gun. “Everyone is restrained, so this is just in case.”
Her dark eyes widened, but she nodded.
“When the boat is clear, I’ll bring it alongside and wave you to come over.”
“Why not stay here?”
“We’ve got six hostiles on board and this boat will attract more attention.”
“Won’t they come after us?”
“It’ll take them time to get free, and by then we’ll be long gone.”
“Are we going after the children?”
Heath shook his head. “Dobby’s getting Rambo to organise someone to pick them up.
They’ll be almost home by now.” He glanced at the luxury boat which was floating in the water and slowed the boat, getting the angle right and slowing further until they had almost reached them.
He checked his gun then squeezed her hand. “I won’t be long.”
Her nod was more confident this time. “Be careful.”
He grinned. “Always.”