Chapter 21

Once Leo made sure Ruby was safely in the cabin below - he prayed that she listened to him and stayed down there - he returned to Xavier's side and looked out at the sea behind them.

The boat tailing them was undeniably closer. They still had quite a lead, but that might not last forever. Xavier was a decent helmsman, and Leo had also spent a fair share of time on sailing vessels, but there were a lot of variables at play. They'd been able to catch up with Nash and his team yesterday, but a lot of that was luck - and the fact that Nash hadn't expected any hot pursuit. If their rivals had managed to get a faster boat...

"What do you think - should we break toward the open sea?" Xavier asked. "Or take our chances by putting in at the next harbor and trying to escape them on land?"

"Honestly, I have no idea." Leo glanced toward the ladder that led down into the cabin. "Do you think they're after Ruby? Or us?"