Christmas Captive. Liz Johnson

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СКАЧАТЬ that Elaina and her father—and their bodyguard—were staying in one of the very best suites on the ship.

      The girl looked up, then down at her feet. “My dad’s not there and it...it feels like someone’s watching me.”

      The hairs on the back of Amy’s neck jumped to a salute. Helping Elaina make a more controlled turn so she didn’t bump into the other dancers peppered across the floor, Amy picked out her next question carefully. “Has your dad been leaving you alone? Has he had to make a lot of calls?”

      Elaina shrugged but turned it into a shimmy as the music hit a faster beat. “This is the fourth time since we left. Probably something for work.”

      Amy mimicked her niece’s movements, but with her mind engaged elsewhere, she was always a half a beat behind the music.

      She couldn’t picture anything but her brother-in-law’s face. His dark hair had turned gray at the temples, and she couldn’t be sure if it was from Alexandra’s battle with cancer or his new role for the State Department. His smile, which had captivated Alex from the start, had turned haggard.

      Amy stared at her niece, her features so much like Alex’s had been. But Elaina’s eyes were shadowed, haunted.

      Amy knew Michael’s focus on work had Elaina feeling lonely and neglected, but this didn’t seem like mere sadness. Elaina actually seemed afraid. Could she be right about someone watching her? But who? And why?

      The girl yawned loudly.

      Maybe she was just tired.

      But there was something about the way her voice shook when she said she felt like she was being watched. As far as cruise ships went, this was a fairly small specimen. But there were still enough people aboard that no one was really alone. At least, not for long. Maybe Elaina was just tuned in to the constant buzz of human activity.

      Or maybe someone was watching her.

      An elbow bumped into her stationary shoulder, and Amy jerked back, her fist automatically cocked beneath her chin.

      But when she met her would-be attacker’s eyes, she realized it was only Jordan and let out a quick sigh.

      “Sorry about that,” he muttered. “You okay?”

      “I’m fine.”

      He opened his mouth as if he wanted to continue their endless apology dance, but she was done. Done with him. Done for the night. Done forever. So she took her excuse and ran with it. “I have to get Elaina back to her suite. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

      He nodded, and if he tried to say anything else, it was lost as the DJ turned the bass up.

      Grabbing Elaina’s hand, she spun the girl toward the edge of the dance floor and the nearest exit. “It’s off to bed for us,” she singsonged despite Elaina’s frown. But the yawn that cracked her jaw once again proved that the girl was ready for some peace and a full night of sleep, whether she’d admit it or not.

      As they climbed the steps to the next level, Elaina asked, “Do you think my dad’ll be there?”

      “We danced for almost an hour, so I’m sure he’s back from his phone call by now. And he’s probably worried about you.”

      Elaina shook her head. “He’ll know I’m with you.” Suddenly the smooth skin of her face wrinkled with concern. “Will you stay with me if he’s not there?”

      Amy’s heart tripped at the fear that laced the girl’s words. Something was clearly off. Something that she couldn’t quite pinpoint. But after five years with the DEA and three with the Marines before that, Amy had learned to listen to fear. She refused to let it control her, but a little healthy fear had kept her alive more than once.

      “Of course. You know I’ll always stay with you.”

      With a squeeze of her hand, Elaina rested her head against Amy’s arm. “Promise?”

      The plea was familiar. Probably because Amy had asked it herself a hundred times when she was about her niece’s age.

      But before she could respond, a wave of goose bumps rushed down her arms. Along the interior hallway there wasn’t a breeze off the ocean to chill her. But something had set off her internal alarms.

      “You okay, Aunt Amy?”

      She whipped her head around to look behind them. The hallway was empty. “Sure.” She tried to sound more certain than she felt.

      There was a weight on her skin, like someone was watching them. Except they were all alone...weren’t they?

      And yet the sensation of being watched was as tangible as Elaina’s hand in hers.

      Maybe it was habit or so many years of training, but Amy grabbed the girl and pushed her into a shallow doorway, using her own body as cover. Amy measured her breaths to keep them silent, but Elaina knew no such trick. Her gasps were ragged, and they echoed in the corridor.

      She couldn’t identify the source of her concern, and this was the first time she’d felt this way on this cruise. But there was no doubt. Something was going on.

      It had scared Elaina.

      And now it was turning up every single one of Amy’s protective instincts.

      She peeked out from the little notch, looking both ways, but saw no one. Not even a shadow. The hallway lights had been dimmed, but there was still plenty to illuminate a moving figure.

      And there was no one there.

      She backed up, pulling Elaina with her and pressing the girl against her side. “Stay close.”

      Elaina nodded against her.

      Heart thumping faster than usual, Amy took another look behind them. Maybe it would be better to backtrack. To find someone else from the wedding party.

      Or she could keep going to the nearest protected place. Elaina’s suite.

      With slow, methodical steps she worked her way to the end of the hall, where it intersected with another. There she peeked around the corner. Two large forms were approaching and Amy jerked back, pressing Elaina against the wall behind them. Stretching a finger across her lips, she made the universal sign for quiet as heavy footsteps drew nearer.

      “Where’s the girl? She was supposed to be back by now.”

      “I don’t know. I was with you. Remember?”

      It sounded like the sarcastic guy got punched, and his groan echoed.

      “Shut up. Don’t try to be funny. I’ll call the boss. He’ll know where the ambassador’s daughter is.”

      Elaina flinched, a gasp escaping. She flung a hand over her mouth and stared at Amy with wild eyes that asked the only important question. Are they talking about me?

      Of course they were. What were the odds there was another ambassador’s daughter aboard this ship?

      Amy felt suddenly sick, bile rising in the СКАЧАТЬ