The Ashes of Pompeii (Purge of Babylon, Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page A

the way in.
    “Blaine, you first,” Lara said.
    Blaine got up and moved forward before jumping the short distance onto the luxury cruiser. He landed next to Roy, who was already tying up the rope. Lara had to admit, they were working pretty well for people who had never done any of this before. She almost felt like a proud parent.
    Adapt or perish, right, Will?
    She followed the men further onto the Trident while Maddie stayed behind at the lounge area to keep an eye on their boat.
    Lara climbed onto the deck with Blaine and Roy before unclipping her radio a second time. “Keo, we’re on our way now.”
    “Take it easy,” Keo said. “No rush. The captain woke up, and we’re having a nice talk.”
    “Try not to shoot him again.”
    “Yeah, yeah.”
    She followed Blaine and Roy toward the nearest ladder. The bridge would be on the top deck, which meant they had to climb two floors. That was preferable to traveling through the interiors, where anyone could be waiting around any corner. Out here, in the sun, she felt slightly safer.
    “What’s he saying?” she said into the radio.
    “He’s spinning a pretty interesting story,” Keo said.
    “About?”
    “How he and his buddies commandeered the boat. They’re originally from Mexico, you know.”
    “I saw the flag. He’s Mexican?”
    “Nope. Looks like a gringo to me.”
    “What happened to the owners of the boat?”
    “Let’s just say they didn’t give their pride and joy up willingly.”
    “They killed them and took the boat?” Blaine asked.
    Lara nodded. “Sounds like it.”
    “A Mexican boat staffed by an American crew?” Roy said from up front. “That’s a new one.”
    Blaine chuckled. “End of the world, man. Everything’s upside down these days. Monsters are real, silver’s more valuable than gold, and Mexicans are using Americans to clean the poop decks.”
    *
    They didn’t find the eighth crewman on the first deck. He wasn’t on the second one, either. The third also didn’t yield a hidden shooter, and they had to go inside this time in order to access the bridge at the front. Walking through the top floor, Lara almost slipped on the congealed blood in her path. Keo had left behind a hell of a mess as he took the boat last night.
    Blaine moved diligently in front of her, while Roy stayed behind outside in case someone tried to sneak up on them. He also kept an eye on Maddie. Will would probably have come up with a better system of watching each other’s backs; but then, Will was a soldier and she was just a third-year medical student masquerading as one.
    She and Blaine had to circle around two bodies before they reached the hallway that connected a roomy area—a combination entertainment center and living room, complete with couches and a big screen TV along one wall—to the bridge. One of the bodies was missing its head and lay half on and half off the floor, the rest of the man draped over a spiral staircase that connected two of the decks. The other body lay on its back in a thick pool of blood. His face was pale, lifeless eyes staring up at her as she stepped over him.
    “Keo!” Blaine shouted as he stepped around the second body and into the adjoined hallway.
    They heard the sound of a door opening, then Keo appeared. He had that German weapon of his and was clad all in black. He looked dry for someone who had been swimming most of last night. “I was wondering who was stomping around out here. You guys ever heard of a subtle entry?”
    Blaine ignored him and said, “We couldn’t find the eighth guy.”
    “I wouldn’t worry about him. He’ll poke his head up sooner or later.”
    “Where’s the boat’s captain?” Lara asked.
    “Inside, resting. Got questions? He’s in a very talkative mood this morning.”
    “I’m sure he is,” Lara said, reminding herself what a good decision it had been to recruit Keo onto their side instead of making an enemy out of him. It could have gone either way, but she had trusted her