Free Fire's Flame [Elements Book 1] by C. L. Scholey Page A

joked.
    “Hopefully this won’t take too long. The longer Melinda Barkley stays in hiding with those kids, the harder it’s going to get,” Flame said.
    Her hands clutched the rail for balance as the vessel moved from the dock and headed for open water. The waves were choppy and for a second her tummy rolled. No doubt Nimbus was spurred into action and the ocean was awash with his flurry of energy.
    Flame smiled as her friend Samuel came over to stand with them. “I know it’s a bit choppy but no word of a lie; it just started a little while ago. I swear it’s like the ocean was just given a secret and is literally rolling with it.”
    “Interesting analogy, Sam,” Flame muttered somewhat under her breath.
    “So, what’s the plan?” Ray asked.
    “As you both know, an arrest in international waters is tricky business,” Sam said. “I do have a suggestion, but it’s a bit dangerous.”
    “What do you have in mind?” Ray said.
    “We have the general location of Barkley’s yacht, even that bastard can’t see into planes. If we put Flame in a raft, monitor it closely from a safe distance, we may get lucky and have him pick her up. I doubt Barkley would leave a stranded beautiful woman alone in the ocean. Someone under his complete control would be too tempting to pass up.”
    “And you can bet the bastard will expect her to be grateful,” Ray said, his tone was a storm of emotion.
    “Well, we can’t go in with a war vessel, and you can bet Barkley has plans to make off to Argentina the second he has his kids,” Sam said.
    “Is the coast guard on stand-by?” Flame asked.
    “They are, but won’t move in until we get him out of international waters,” Sam said. “Planting you is stretching it, and I’m sure his lawyers will be looking for loopholes, howling foul, but hell, like Vegas—what happens in international waters, stays in international waters.”
    “As long as I’m on the vessel, I can do some damage, incapacitate it, make certain it needs to be towed to shore. Once he nears or hits land we have him, and you can call the coast guard to take him in. I’ll disable their communication so they can’t radio for another of Barkley’s vessels. Just keep it monitored and wait until it looks dead in the ocean. Maybe I can damage it enough so it will take on water,” Flame said.
    “I don’t think I like this idea much,” Ray grumbled.
    Flame didn’t like the idea any more than Ray, but this was their best plan and the easiest way to keep an eye on Barkley. Sam lit up a smoke and for a second, Flame caught sight of Fire’s furious expression in the lighter. The lighter was snapped shut and Flame breathed a sigh of relief. But at that moment the deck under her feet was pitched sideways by a large wave. They all gripped the rail to keep from stumbling.
    “Where the hell did that come from?” Sam shouted.
    Flame knew. It was Nimbus giving her a message from Ignis; he was pissed she hadn’t waited. She wasn’t worried; Flame knew Fire’s brother would watch her if she was set adrift on a raft. She just had to convince Fire she would be fine. Flame knew it wouldn’t be an easy task.
    Later that night, in her cabin, Flame took some pieces of crumpled paper and set them to burn in a cigarette holder. Fire appeared instantaneously, his face a mask of fury. He couldn’t board the boat with so little fire, but she definitely heard his annoyance as his voice thundered in disapproval.
    “I have a mind to send you back in a storm that will rock your insides,” he bellowed.
    “Keep it down,” she scolded. “This is my job. I need to get Barkley before he finds his wife and kids. I know once he’s in custody his wife will come out of hiding to testify against the allegations of death threats.”
    “Nimbus can board Barkley’s boat with the portal of a wave.”
    “Barkley can’t be arrested by an element. I have the warrant.”
    “He can drown the bastard.”
    “No, Fire. This is my