On the Hunt - Page 76

Giles struggled to get his bearings. “I can’t feel my legs! Taylor, help…?”

The sled swung around and struck Giles, breaking his neck! It then raced toward Taylor, targeting him with deadly precision.

“Harlan,” Taylor muttered. “It has to be Harlan…” He was controlling that damn sled from the surface, no doubt. Taylor gunned his Jet Ski and dodged behind a cluster of boulders. “Donovan! Where are you when I need you? Are you still here?”

“Yes,” Donovan said weakly. “I’m bleeding. And I need to find my Jet Ski. I’m not sure if I can—” Donovan interrupted himself with a bloodcurdling scream.

Taylor turned just in time to see that a huge, thick sea snake had wrapped itself around Donovan’s body and was literally eating his face.

Taylor stared in horror. Everything was going wrong. This shouldn’t happen to him. It had to be Harlan who was causing it all. All he knew was that he had to get away from this place before he died like that fool Donovan. He had to get the hell out of here!

He rocketed out from behind the boulders, narrowly dodging the sled as it tried to ram him again. He sped past the snake and Donovan, who was now nothing more than a shredded bloody cloud.

The sled was after him again, he saw frantically. It was like some robotic monster Harlan had created to destroy him.

Taylor gunned his engine and raced back through the opening and past the orange coral formations that had seemed so beautiful and majestic on their way in, when he’d been certain they were leading him toward all those jewels Kira had promised. Now he was struggling to get away with just his life.

He finally cleared the coral and broke the surface. There, in the distance, was a yacht he assumed to be Harlan’s, where Kira was undoubtedly headed. Bitch. Bitch. Bitch. She had done this to him. She and that demon from hell Jack Harlan. But none of it mattered. He would still win. All he had to do was bring in more of his men and attack from another direction.

This wasn’t over yet.

CHAPTER

19

Death.

Screams.

Gurgling blood.

Kira’s audio connection had been restored in time for her to hear the horrible end that the sea snake had visited on Taylor’s henchman Donovan. But where was Taylor himself? And where was Harlan? She couldn’t catch a glimpse of either one. As long as Taylor was alive and had weapons, he’d be a danger to Harlan. She had to locate him…

Then she caught sight of Taylor heading through the orange coral at top speed. Was he trying to chase down Harlan? She couldn’t take a chance. She turned her sled around and headed toward Taylor.

She heard Harlan’s voice again. “Kira, where are you? Are you okay? I’ve lost contact with you.”

Kira adjusted her microphone. “Harlan, I’m heading through the coral after Taylor.”

“No!” Harlan said. “Keep away from him. I sent one of the sleds after him, but I think he’s probably reached the surface by now. I’ll go after him myself.”

“The hell you will,” Kira said. “Don’t you think you’ve done enough? Taylor has his own weapons and he might be expecting you. Your little gift of that remote sled was very welcome, thank you. But I’m not going to let you do this on your own. We’ll do it together. I’m heading for the surface. I’ll see you in a few minutes. Stop cursing and be there to watch my back.” She hung up and adjusted the sled for surface travel.

“You don’t have to be so cautious,” Harlan said as Kira climbed over her sled and boarded his motorized launch. “Taylor is nowhere to be found. I thought at first he might have headed for the yacht I leased to try to set a trap for us. But I left Belson on board and he said that wasn’t the case. He did, however, spot a Jet Skier making his way toward the east. He could have taken shelter in those huge boulders along the shore until he could arrange for pickup by one of his men.” He paused. “Or he could have moved to what he thought were greener pastures.”

Her gaze lifted to the massive cliff of the east ridge. She shivered. “Knowing Taylor, he’s going to want to cut his losses any way he can. He’ll go to Hathor Island. You should call Kalim and tell him what happened here. Warn him to be on the alert.”

“I’ll do that.” He pulled her into his arms. “But not just yet,” he said hoarsely. “I thought I’d lost you too many times during these last days. I want to hold you for a little while. Just hold you… Okay?”

She slid her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. “Why wouldn’t it be okay? If I remember correctly, that’s what I said to you the night this nightmare started.” She suddenly stiffened. “Before I remembered that Fiona might be a target.” She lifted her head and looked up at him. “And she might still be a target. She’s at Hathor Island, isn’t she? The nightmare isn’t over.”

“Don’t start worrying yet. She might be fine.”

“Might?” She turned to look at him. “And where is Mack? Is he still okay?” Her gaze flew to the yacht. “Is that where he is? Tell me he’s safe.”

“I sent him to be with Fiona. It appeared an ideal way to keep both of them safe. Do you agree?”

She drew a deep, relieved breath. “I think I do. I’m just used to taking care of all those kinds of details myself.”