Her Secret Pirate Read Online Free

slumped and stopped moving for a long moment.
    No! No, no, no, please God, no!
    Rebecca choked o ut the strangled sobs stuck in her throat. Her feet felt like lead as she tried to run forward . Then she saw Zone sit up. His hand moved to his belt.
    “Hostile down. Ambassador and Miss Powers safe. Is all clear to go up on deck? Over.”
    “Zone,” she breathed out, relief making her knees weak. She fell into her father’s arms. All she could say was, “Dad. Zone.”
    “Becky!” Her father’s voice sounded far away.
    She tried to focus. Her limbs felt like jello, refusing to cooperate. Her brain kept repeating “he’s okay, he’s okay” even as the whole violent scene replayed over and over in h er head .
    “With your permission, sir.”
    “Yes, yes, o f course.”
    Suddenly it was Zone carrying her. She looked up, his face smeared with red, green and black, and never had he looked so good. She said his name again and felt like an idiot for having broken off with him because of a stupid argument. He wasn’t a killer; he’d put her and her father’s lives before his. She almost lost him.
    “It’s all right,” he reassured her. “Your father’s safe and you’re going to be okay.”
    “I didn’t faint. I can walk,” she said.
    “I much prefer this.”
    He held her against his chest and it felt so good to hear his strong heartbeat. She reached up and touched his face. “I’m sorry about our argument. I was wrong.”
    He smiled that sinfully sexy smile, making her forget the rest of he r planned apology. He shook his head, mouthing “okay” before setting her on her feet at the stairwell.
    “Thank you,” her father said, “for coming here in time. I never realized anything was wrong and let Panfilo into the safe room when he said it was him. It’s Zonovich , isn’t it? I barely recognize you without that bandanna.”
    “Yes, it’s me, sir.”
    “All clear.” Someone said from above. “We’re escorting the Ambassador to our ship ASAP. His security detail will have to be verified.”
    It made sense the SEALs weren’t going to trust anyone right now. They went out on deck and Rebecca watched as the ambassado r shook hands with the men garb ed exactly like Zone. Only four of them against all the pirates? She knew about the SEALs’ training, of course, but reading about their skills and watching them in action—okay, just one, but at close quarters—were two different things.
    Contrast to the suffocating silence while she was hiding, there was now a frenzy of activity on deck. Those who had accompanied her father. The crew. The rest of the security detail. The only group not moving were the four SEALs, who stood and kept their attention on the Ambassador. She listened to their quiet exchange while her father went over to talk to Johnson, his security chief.
    “All hostiles accounted for. All the security detail,” one of them said. “The media’s flying in. Let’s hope we get off before they arrive.”
    “Yeah. At least we have our best make up on for their cameras.”
    “Damn, Cumber, we should’ve brought our Hollywood shades, man.”
    “Unlike you guys, I look great with or without them. Nice first shots there, three for three.” The tallest of them thumbed toward the far end of the deck. “What happened to your face, Zone? Pirate got you?”
    “Small resistance,” Zone replied. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
    “He was busy talking, I bet.”
    “Busy something-something, I bet.”
    “Can’t blame him. I heard he and the Ambassador’s daughter were…acquainted.”
    “Dude, he practically begged Hawk to let him come with us. Bet you they’re more than—”
    She tugged at Zone’s belt. He took a step back and lowered his head so her words were for him alone.
    “You’d better text me your next shore leave. We need to talk,” she murmured. “After today, I definitely prefer you as the pirate.”
    His smile was slow and hot, the kind that promised more than talking.