Chapter 37
J ago
While my bride knew a thing or two about explosives, my hobbies had always been wrapped up in speed. Fast cars. Motorcycles. And speedboats. I’d taught myself about engines, making myself useful when my father had been certain I’d never amount to a damn thing.
I’d souped up our utility vehicles to the point that very little could outrun us. My work on my father’s favorite cigarette boat had allowed him to escape an Italian Cosa Nostra Don who had decided it had been his time to meet his maker.
In turn, the Don and his entire family had found out how hot jet engine fuel burned.
I’d exchanged my hobby for my acceptance into my father’s world. But the love of speed had never stopped.
“My God. This is a boat,” Genevieve whistled.
We stood on the dock. My eyes had never left the cargo ship as it had slowly made its way out to deeper waters. “She’ll do.”
“I never noticed this one on your documentation listing assets for our contract.”
I threw her a look and lowered my binoculars. “I can’t share all my secrets. Now, can I?”
The light breeze had turned chilly and she folded her arms as she walked closer.
There’d been no sign of trouble. Now, nearing midnight, I was beginning to wonder if Antonio had purposely shared the wrong information.
“I don’t like this, boss,” Navarro stated. He’d walked the warehouse and surrounding area with other soldiers prior to my arrival. The search for a single sight of any enemy soldiers had come up empty-handed.
“I don’t either, but I can feel something is going down.
” It had been several hours since we’d arrived and the ease with which the ship had set sail kept a red flag high in my system.
I’d been in contact with the captain, and he’d seen no sign of trouble.
Still, I had the three speedboats I owned ready to go at a moment’s notice.
“What about the coast guard? Any chatter?”
Kruz had been monitoring the various stations and checking the Automatic Identification System located in the office of the seaside warehouse searching for other watercraft in the area.
“Nothing from any of the coast guard at this point other than the ships that were already given permission. And I can’t see any unidentifiable boats out there.”
“Keep looking. If they came out of Morocco, they possibly won’t adhere to the typical maritime rules.”
“No, they won’t. I’ll check on the other warehouses in the city as well.”
“Do that. This includes those on the Morales property. Correct?”
“Her soldiers have finally accepted their place in the alliance.” He grinned. “Not happily.”
“They can go fuck themselves.”
While the majority of our product had been transferred to the cargo ship, that didn’t mean there wasn’t enough left they couldn’t make millions selling it on the street. That wasn’t my main concern. The infrastructure was.
Since the buildings were highly equipped with communications and security systems, processes to refine the raw cocaine and additional weapons, if they were hit, it would take some time to recover.
“If anything goes down, I want to know. Navarro. Keep watch on the surrounding area. When they hit, they’ll hit hard.” The ship was now out of cellphone range.
“Got it.”
I remained where I was and watched as she stood staring at what I considered to be my most prized mechanical possession.
As soon as I walked closer, she slowly tipped her head over her shoulder.
“It’s an MTI Pleasure 52.”
“Mmm… Am I supposed to know what that is?”
“Think of it as a souped-up Lamborghini.”
“Wow. How fast does it go? Let me guess. One hundred and twenty knots.”
Chuckling, I stood staring at her, enjoying the way the brighter moon highlighted her gorgeous coloring. “One hundred and fifty-six knots or one hundred and eighty miles per hour.”
Genevieve whistled. “Fast. And unusual. Did you tinker with the engine?”
“Perhaps.”
“You have many talents.”
“Yes, my wife. I do.”
“How many do you own?”
“This is a rare piece but hidden in the cove over there are four Cigarette 515s. Almost as fast and quite useful in bailing from difficult situations.”
“You are a master of crime.”
I turned to face her. “I do what’s necessary. The game is getting harder to stay on top of and it’s becoming more difficult to know the players from the righteous.”
“Don’t you mean self-righteous?”
“Perhaps a little of both.”
We stood quietly staring out at the Mediterranean Sea for at least another fifteen minutes.
A single shout shoved us both on edge.
Footsteps pounded closer, more than one set. When Kruz came into view, I instantly tensed just as the soldiers rushed in our direction. I met them halfway, Genevieve closely following. “What is it?”
“The captain just made contact. They have a cargo boat paralleling them. I checked and it appears to be on the same course,” Kruz gritted out. “Now there are signs of fast-moving boats heading toward them as well.”
“They plan on boarding and taking the entire ship and crew,” I snarled.
“Get to the boats, now. Send me the coordinates of both cargo ships. Benito, Lazarro, you’re coming with us.
Take the satellite radios. Use them when necessary.
” The assignments had already been made, the boats loaded with the necessary weapons, including several explosives, some recommended by Genevieve and others that I normally used.
We had enough firepower to blow up anything getting in our way.
The satellite radios had been a nifty purchase from the Italian army, which allowed me to stay in contact with my people when traveling on the ocean waters.
Including the cargo ship housing our product, if necessary, although that wasn’t my intention.
“Yes, sir.”
I grabbed Genevieve, trying to push her away. “This is where it gets dangerous, baby. Allow one of my men to take you back to the house.”
She pulled away from me. “Not a chance.”
“I don’t have time to waste.”
“Then let’s not waste any.”
Goddamn her. She raced toward the boat, lugging the bags she’d brought with her. Fuck. Fuck. I raked my hand through my hair, forced to follow. If we both made it out alive, she would never be allowed to come with me again.
Within seconds, we were heading away from the bay, rushing toward the plotted coordinates. While I’d navigated many ships in my years on Earth, the power of this one needed to be handled carefully.
Minutes later, I moved to full throttle. She remained right by my side, staring at the AIS, the green blips indicating other craft in the water.
The entire situation was dicey as fuck and during the almost hour-long ride, neither one of us said anything.
Both Navarro and Kruz were behind us, lagging only by a few minutes, a full squad of soldiers accompanying them. However, would the numbers be enough to stop the hijacking?
It was entirely possible this would blow up in our faces.
As well as end with significant casualties. I had to believe this wasn’t a ploy. If it was, our entire empire could be crushed in a matter of hours.
But this was just another risk in the enticing game of chess.
“What if this is a different game?” Genevieve shouted.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning if the cargo ship is the same size, what’s not to use ours as a shadow, attempting to throw off the coast guard?”
I thought about what she was saying. “Meaning this has little to do with taking our cargo, but in using it as a ploy to protect theirs.”
“Exactly. Our ship will be taken, both of us arrested. An easier way for a takeover.”
Much easier.
My jaw clenched as I realized she could be right.
“Then we do what needs to be done.”
“We blow them out of the water?”
“Maybe, baby. Maybe.”
While we had no issue with the coast guard on our way out, if she was right, there was a distinct possibility the Algerians would be called to engage. Our route was close enough to what they considered their waters that they might cross the imaginary line.
And the bastards didn’t like me very much since I’d killed the previous incoming president, almost pushing their economy into a recession. Little had the people known how dirty the man was. His death had only made him a martyr.
It was entirely possible Fassi had learned about that since they were bordering countries.
The powerful engine in the boat didn’t fail me and soon we were able to see our cargo ship in the distance. It didn’t take long to discover they were under fire. Getting on the ship would be dicey as fuck.
“Benito. Take the wheel. Lazarro. You’re coming with us,” I directed. I pulled the radio into my hand. “Kruz. Navarro. Our ship is under attack. Kruz, take another boat and board the other cargo ship. Navarro, head in our direction.”
Genevieve tossed me my assault rifle and threw the strap to another one over her shoulder.
The men grunted out acceptance. This was as close to being a suicide mission as I’d allowed. But it had to be done.
I contacted the captain, hearing gunfire as soon as he connected to the radio.
“What do we have?” I barked out.
“Three boats. Lots of firepower. Several soldiers on board. They’re trying to get onto the bridge.” The bridge was blocked off, reinforced with steel under my direction. At least it should buy us some time.
“How many?”
“At least fifteen.”
Fifteen. I’d keep that in mind.
“Shift away from Algerian waters.”
“Yes, sir.”
Minutes passed that seemed to take forever as Benito maneuvered toward the embarkation ladder.
“Stay here. Just stay here,” I told her as I gauged success in getting her onboard.
“Trust me, Jago. I can do this.”
With every muscle tense, Benito slowed again, his skills decent enough he kept the two boats from colliding. Before we had a chance to climb on board, shots rang out.
In the next several seconds, firepower was exchanged. I pushed her down and took aim, catching two of them almost immediately.