Page 29 of Silk Shadow

They left the hotel and walked the short distance to the marina. Yachts of all shapes and sizes bobbed on the inky blue water, their white hulls shining in the moonlight. It was a perfect evening. Still, balmy, not a breath of air.

High Yield was a forty-five-foot luxury yacht with a silver hull and a smart mahogany deck. It was also lit up like a goddamn Christmas tree. A sniper would have no problem locating the guests through his scope. Fairy lights twinkled on the railings and a warm amber glow emanated from within. Music swept off the deck accompanied by the sound of laughter and tinkling champagne glasses.

"Wow," gasped Emily, who must have seen her fair share of yachts. "She's beautiful."

"Welcome aboard." Robert offered a hand to help the women onto the deck, then pulled himself up, positioning himself to block Viper's way.

Unfazed, Viper scanned the dock before springing aboard. Boats were second nature to him. Typically, he approached via wet insertion, scaling the sides with caving ladders and using climbing gear. The ease of this boarding wasn't lost on him.

On deck, he surveyed the yacht. She was a beauty, no doubt about that. The soft listing made him feel right at home. It took him less than a second to find his sea legs.

"God, I feel like I'm already drunk," laughed Emily, clutching Izzy's arm.

"You'll get used to it." Robert strode ahead past a covered jet ski. Viper didn’t miss the arrogant swagger. This was his domain. These were his people. "Come on, let's find Casper."

Viper followed, analyzing the threat level. About fifty guests dressed in evening wear. The hot weather meant many had discarded their blazers. Shirts without jackets meant fewer places to hide weapons.

Threat level minimal, so far.

At least the yacht was a contained space, he could mitigate the risk onboard.

"Great, you're here!" sang a male voice. A rotund man in an unashamedly pink shirt came to welcome them. He had a cigar in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other. "Now we can set off."

"What?" burst out Viper.

Robert glowered. "Oh, that's Izzy's security detail. Got a stick up his ass."

Viper clenched his fists. He'd like to shove that stick up Robert's ass.

Izzy touched his arm. "Don't mind him. He's just jealous."

He frowned, unsure what she meant. Jealous of what? There was nothing going on between them. No reason to be jealous. It was obvious Robert had designs on Izzy, and she wasn't fighting him off.

The luxury yacht got underway. He felt the powerful engines kick in as it reversed out of its berth and then thrust forward into the midnight-blue bay. The smell of the sea swept him back to his training days when everything was fresh and exciting. Untold adventures lay ahead. Who would have thought that a decade later it would have all gone to shit?

Izzy and Emily got a drink and mingled among the other guests. He watched the heiress work her magic. It was effortless, a warm smile here, a touch of the arm there.

How is your sister? I haven't seen her in forever. No, the Hamptons were dreadful. Overrun by tourists, couldn't wait to leave. San Diego is so revitalizing.

Every now and then she'd glance at him, just to make sure he was still there.

The evening wore on. They finally anchored about twenty miles out to sea. San Diego was a sparkling jewel in the distance.

Viper did a lap of the yacht and returned to where Izzy was talking to Robert on the deck. He felt on edge but didn't know why. Arguably, they were safer here than back in the marina. Out here, there was nobody around to take a shot at her. Still, he knew better than most that just because you were out in the ocean, it didn’t mean there were no threats.

Robert had steered Izzy away from the rest of the party. Viper approached silently but stood a respectful distance away. As much as he didn't like the self-entitled prick, it wasn't his place to judge. Izzy’s life was her own, and he had no say in who she dated.

Robert, who'd been talking in earnest, glanced up and frowned. "For Pete's sake, can't we have a moment's privacy?"

Izzy tensed, he saw it in her shoulders. "It's his job, Robert."

"Well, there's nowhere to go here," he said with a snort. "Tell him to get lost."

"He can stay," she said tartly.

Viper barely concealed his grin.

Robert huffed but resumed their conversation in a hushed voice. Viper heard the words "iron ore" and "the company" as well as "members of the board." They were talking shop. He turned away.