Chapter 19

19

They handcuffed Esly to the bed in the back suite—this time less painfully and with her cooperation: “I am the unknown. I understand.”

Altman pulled a chair close enough to the bed to prop his feet on the mattress. He’d wake up if Esly so much as rolled over.

Zoe was out cold on the couch close by Luke.

Nikita slouched lower on the couch in the main room and rested her head on Drake’s shoulder. She’d never been so comfortable around a man. She could go to sleep leaning on him, and maybe not even wake if he moved. He felt that safe to be around.

Drake rose to his feet and looked down at her. He tugged lightly on her hand.

“What?”

At Drake’s eye roll, she let him pull her to her feet, though she was unsure what was happening, at least for the first three steps. He was leading her toward the mast……