Free Navy SEAL Survival by Elle James Page B

interest to you, but might mean nothing, is that I saw a fin in the maze of rocks. I thought it was yours, but you managed to come back with both of yours.”
    Natalie’s breath caught and held for a moment then she released it. “It could have been Melody’s.” She took his hand. “Let’s go.”
    Farther along the marina they found a man willing to let them rent his small fishing boat for a crazy amount. Natalie didn’t care. Melody was in danger. The sooner they found her the better.
    Duff insisted on paying, then handed her into the boat. “Wear your life jacket,” he ordered.
    Natalie bristled but didn’t argue. She buckled herself into the jacket and settled back in her seat.
    The boat owner untied the mooring line and waved as Duff shifted the throttle forward and they eased out of the marina. As soon as the craft cleared the no-wake zone, Duff shoved the throttle forward and they sped out into the open water, bouncing over the waves toward the island reefs and the area where they’d been scuba diving.
    Duff seemed competent and confident at the helm. Natalie was a trained agent, but she’d never had the opportunity to handle a boat in a lake, much less on the open ocean where the stretch of water was so vast a person could easily get lost.
    â€œWhere did you learn to handle a boat?” she asked.
    â€œI grew up on a ranch.” His lips twitched.
    She shook her head. “Seriously. What did you ranch? Fish?”
    He glanced in her direction, a twinkle in his eyes. “I grew up on a ranch near Port Aransas, Texas. When we weren’t taking care of cattle, we were fishing. My dad taught us how to ride horses and fish before we were three years old. Mom cringed and let him. With four boys to look out for, she couldn’t tell him no.”
    â€œNo sisters?”
    Duff shook his head. “No. Mom was outnumbered from the get-go.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you stay and ranch?”
    â€œMy older brother followed in my father’s footsteps. My younger brothers and I all joined the military.”
    â€œAll Navy SEALs?” Natalie asked.
    â€œNo. My brother Jack joined the army and went into the Special Forces. Gabe joined the air force and flies F-16s.”
    â€œSo, you’re really a Navy SEAL?” Natalie stared at his arms and the tattoos laced across his shoulders and back.
    â€œI am.”
    â€œAnd you’re on vacation, not some operation you can’t tell me about or you’d have to kill me?”
    He grinned. “We’re really on vacation.”
    â€œLucky you to run into me.” She stared ahead.
    â€œAnd the English accent?” Duff prompted.
    â€œCompletely fake.”
    â€œThe name?”
    â€œClose. Instead of Natalia, I’m just plain Natalie.”
    Duff’s lips quirked on the corners and he stared across at her, as if assessing her. “I think it fits you better.”
    His smile warmed her insides. “I thought it would throw off the abductors long enough to think I’d make a good target.”
    Duff frowned. “Why would you set yourself up as a target? What makes you think you’d have a better chance of escaping once they had you?”
    She didn’t answer right away. Still unsure whether to trust him, Natalie didn’t want to reveal she had a GPS tracking device embedded beneath her skin. It would lead to a lot more questions and answers she wasn’t ready to give.
    She glanced at the island shoreline, recognizing the shape and features. “We’re getting close.”
    The coastline grew unfriendly and rockier.
    â€œThere.” Natalie pointed to the rock formations jutting out of the water.
    â€œLooks like the location.” Duff slowed the boat and made a wide sweep around the rocky shoreline. Waves lapped at the jagged pillars, making it very dangerous for a small boat to weave between them. Anyone who tried would smash against the