Hearts Afire Read online

  “Wa’alaikum assalaam,” she responded, wishing that peace would be with him, as well.

  Dr. Sayed moved to Maitlyn’s side, shaking an index finger in her direction. “You continue to surprise me,” she said.

  Maitlyn smiled. “I hope that’s a good thing.”

  Dr. Sayed nodded. “It’s impressive.” She embraced Maitlyn warmly, leaning in to whisper into her ear. “My son is my life. Do not forget that.”

  Maitlyn nodded. “Never. He is my world, as well.

  Chapter 14

  The ship had hit bad weather, and it rocked back and forth in the choppy waters. There was a lengthy line out the door of the medical office; many passengers sought relief for the nausea that had them looking a pale shade of green.

  Maitlyn stood on the top deck, peering over the rail out to the water. She was mesmerized by the heavy swell, the blue-green blanket peaked with white foam. She deeply inhaled the fresh air, a salty spray tickling her nostrils.

  Zak had gone back to the room to nap. He wanted to be well rested for the final game of the tournament. After lunch he’d been quiet and withdrawn, so Maitlyn had retreated to the ship’s library to read while he did his own thing alone. Things were good between them, and she was confident that after his win it would only get better.

  She was startled when Alexander suddenly appeared by her side. He held his hands up as if in surrender, a wide smile filling his face. She took a step back, regarding him with suspicion.

  “You scared me!” Maitlyn said, a hand pressed to the center of her chest. Her heart was racing.

  “I didn’t mean to,” Alexander said, his smile widening. “I saw you standing here alone and wanted to take a moment to apologize for upsetting you before.”

  She continued to eye him warily.

  “I should not have spoken out of turn about Mr. Sayed. I hope you can forgive me.”

  “It’s fine, Mr. Lloyd. I appreciate your apology.”

  He nodded excitedly. “I hate that things took a turn with us. I thought we had gotten off to a good start. I was almost certain that we were going to have a good time together,” he said. He drew his fingers across her arm.

  Maitlyn jerked her arm away, taking a step back from him. “Please, don’t touch me,” she said, raising her voice.

  She tossed a glance around to see who might be close. There was another man close by and a couple snuggling on the lounge chairs. On the other side, a handful of people were watching a movie on the big screen.

  Alexander held up his hands a second time. “I didn’t mean any disrespect,” he said.

  Maitlyn took a deep breath. “Alexander, again, I appreciate your apology. Maybe during another time or place things might have been different.”

  He turned toward the railing, clasping his hands together against the chest-high metal bar. Much like Maitlyn had just been doing, he looked down to the water below. “It’s something, isn’t it?”

  Maitlyn cut a quick eye to where he stared, then turned back to look at him. She nodded. “It is.”

  “Initially I was reluctant to cruise. With all the horror stories I heard. Between that one that hit the rocks in Italy and that one that caught fire and became stranded, it all made me a little nervous.”

  Maitlyn didn’t bother to respond as he continued.

  “The stories I found most interesting were the ones where people just fell overboard and disappeared. I imagine it would be kind of hard to just fall, though,” he said as he stood up on his toes and peered down. “That’s not an easy thing to do. I imagine it wouldn’t take much to toss someone overboard, though,” he said, turning to look at her.

  Maitlyn was suddenly uncomfortable, and her intuition kicked in with a vengeance. She took two steps backward. “Goodbye, Mr. Lloyd,” she said, turning abruptly and rushing in the opposite direction.

  Behind her she could hear him laughing. “Until the next time, Ms. Boudreaux!”

  It was only after she had secured the lock on the cabin door that Maitlyn was able to breathe. The deep inhale and exhale of oxygen slowly calmed her nerves, and the anxiety she’d been feeling subsided. Something about Alexander Lloyd scared her, and Maitlyn didn’t scare easily. She took another deep breath and stole a peek at her image in the entrance mirror. She didn’t want Zak to know about her encounter; she didn’t want anything to upset him before he had to play. She was probably just being paranoid unnecessarily, she mused. After swiping at her eyes, she pinched color into her cheeks and pulled a brush through her hair. Forcing a smile onto her face, she stared at herself one last time, praying that Zak didn’t sense anything wrong.

  As she climbed the stairs to the second level, she could hear Zak snoring softly. When she reached the top of the landing, she spied him sprawled facedown against the mattress. He was buck naked, and as she tiptoed to the foot of the bed, her eyes were drawn to the curve of his backside. His bottom was like a nice-size basketball that needed to be palmed. As if he was reading her mind, he reached a hand behind his back and scratched his left cheek. Maitlyn slapped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud. Even as he slumbered, his presence made her instantly comfortable. She felt safe whenever she was with Zak. She stood watching him for some time, and then he rolled across the mattress and sprawled on his back.

  Maitlyn undid the buttons to her slacks, pushing them and her thong down to the floor. She lifted her shirt over her head and reached around to unsnap her bra. She suddenly needed to feel him. She needed to feel her skin against his skin. She was desperate for his touch. She crawled up between Zak’s legs, slowly easing her body against his. Lying on top of him, she molded her body to his, her legs sprawled open atop his, her arms resting where his arms laid. Zak instinctively wrapped his arms tightly around her.

  * * *

  Maitlyn snapped out of a deep sleep when Zak kissed her forehead. He smiled sweetly.

  “What time is it?” she asked.

  He glanced at his watch. “Almost seven. I need to head up to the casino.”

  She sat up quickly, throwing her legs off the side of the bed. “Why didn’t you wake me? I didn’t realize it’s so late.”

  He shook his head. “It’s not. I just need to be there early. We won’t start playing until sometime after nine. You have plenty of time, so don’t rush. Just meet me when you’re ready.”

  She nodded. “I will. We can celebrate your win with a late-night dinner?”

  He leaned in to kiss her again. “That sounds like a plan.” He headed toward the stairs, then turned back to face her. “How do I look?”

  Maitlyn smiled. “You look great,” she said. And he did, decked out in a Tom Ford double-breasted tuxedo. It was classic black, with matching wide-peak satin lapels and satin trimming along the cuffs. He could have easily donned the cover of GQ magazine.

  With a wink of his eye, Zak blew her a kiss and bounded down the stairs. Happier than she could ever imagine, Maitlyn headed into the shower.

  * * *

  The players had been introduced to a fanfare of applause. As Zak slid into his seat, the dealer announced the beginning of play.

  Zak tossed a glance toward his viewing box. Maitlyn was nowhere to be found; only Izabella and her father were holding court. He looked down at the platinum-and-diamond watch on his wrist. He thought she would have been there by then, but she was late. He imagined that she was probably putting the final touches on her formal attire, pairing the perfect shoes with the formfitting satin-and-lace gown she planned to wear. He looked forward to her making a grand entrance and turning the heads of every man in the room. Imagining that moment lifted his mouth in a slight smile.

  Hours later Maitlyn still had not made an appearance. Zak was suddenly concerned, and it showed on his face. He gestured for the cruise director, and the woman tripped over her feet to g
et to his side.

  “Yes, sir, Mr. Sayed. How can I help you, sir?”

  “I’m concerned about Ms. Boudreaux. Would you please have someone check my cabin for her?”

  The woman nodded. “Not a problem, sir.”

  Returning his attention to the game, Zak called, pushing in his chips to match Dr. Prentiss’s bid. Alexander Lloyd raised, a smug smirk on his face.

  Zak lifted his eyes to look at the man. He tried to get a read on what might be in his opponent’s hand. Alexander stared back, his eyes wide with excitement.

  “You’re welcome to fold at any time,” Alexander said, shooting glances to the other two players before staring back at Zak.

  Zak called again, matching Alexander’s raise. Another fifty thousand dollars had been added to the pot. Both Talley and Prentiss folded their hands. The dealer laid out the last card, and Alexander’s face flushed a deep red. He struggled to keep a smile on his face. He bid, and once again Zak met the challenge. The dealer called for them to turn out their hands. Alexander took a deep breath before laying a pair of sixes and a pair of aces on the table.

  “Two pair,” the dealer called.

  Zak turned his cards over, not one muscle in his face moving.

  “Full house wins,” the dealer called, sliding the massive pile of chips in Zak’s direction.

  Alexander slapped both palms against the table, wearing his frustrations on his sleeves. Zak was not moved by the display.

  “This will be the final hand,” the dealer declared.

  There was a surge of electricity in the room, the crowd’s excitement ignited the air. Zak tossed a quick look over his shoulder. There was still no sign of Maitlyn. Something wasn’t right, and he could feel it.

  With the cards shuffled, the dealer dealt each player two cards facedown. He then laid five cards out on the board: the ace of diamonds, the ace of clubs, the eight of clubs, the six of clubs and the four of clubs. Zak checked his hand and passed the bid on to the next player. Dr. Prentiss went all in, moving ten million dollars into the pot. Ms. Talley stole a quick peek at her hold cards, then pushed all her chips into the pot.

  “All in,” the dealer chimed. “Nine million.”

  Alexander played with his chips and then pushed them to the center of the table, as well. “Raise!”

  “Raise,” the dealer repeated. “Twenty million.”

  Zak leaned forward, his eyes locked on Alexander. The room was dead quiet, and the silence was almost unnerving. Alexander stared back, confidence painting his expression. Zak studied his stack of chips as he pondered his move, his face revealing little. He looked around the room again, concern for Maitlyn foremost on his mind. Any other time and he would have toyed with Alexander, raising the pot a little at a time. But he wasn’t in the mood.

  Movement at the door pulled his attention. He watched as the cruise director eased to the captain’s side and whispered into the man’s ear. His old friend suddenly rushed from the room. At that very moment he was done. His concern for Maitlyn rose with a vengeance. Facing the twenty-million-dollar raise, Zak pushed all his chips in.

  “Player is all in,” the dealer noted. “Forty million dollars.”

  Alexander’s mouth twisted from one side to the other. He peeked at the two cards in his hand then lifted his eyes back to Zak. “I call,” he said. His arrogant tone grated on Zak’s last nerve. For the first time since the beginning of the tournament, Zak leaned back in his chair and smiled. Alexander’s eyes widened and his face flushed.

  “Everyone, turn out please,” the dealer called. He nodded at each of them.

  Dr. Prentiss turned out a flush, adding a deuce and jack of clubs to make his hand. Ms. Talley nodded. With a pair of fours in the hole, she had a full house. Next, Alexander laid out his cards, smiling brightly. He shot Zak a look, his eyes narrowing slightly.

  “Higher full house. Aces over sixes,” the dealer announced as he laid out Alexander’s hand, adding an ace of hearts and six of spades to the mix.

  Zak relaxed, leaning back comfortably in his seat. He slid his hold cards slowly to the center of the table, his eyes still locked with Alexander’s. And then he turned them, exposing the five and seven of clubs. The game was won with a straight flush.

  “High hand,” the dealer announced. “Our tournament winner, Mr. Zakaria Sayed!”

  The crowd erupted into thunderous applause and cheers. Enraged, Alexander jumped from the table and stormed out of the room.

  Zak stood and buttoned his tuxedo jacket. He shook hands with his fellow players and the dealer. A photographer rushed in to take pictures, but Zak’s mind wasn’t on having won the tournament. All he wanted was to get Maitlyn.

  He headed to the elevators, where he ran into the cruise director, his friend Simon and members of the ship’s security team. Stacy looked petrified, and concern pierced Simon’s eyes.

  “Where is she?” he questioned, looking from one to the other.

  Simon took in a deep breath. “We don’t know. Someone ransacked your room, and we can’t find her anywhere. The entire ship has been searched and I’m having my staff do it all again.”

  Chapter 15

  Pain throbbed through the back of her head as Maitlyn struggled to open her eyes. She was soaking wet and cold, and her body trembled from the chill and fright. Her hands and legs were restrained behind her back, and her mouth had been duct-taped. She was cramped in a small space, with little room to move. Her heart was racing, and it was becoming difficult to breathe.

  Maitlyn squeezed her eyes closed tightly as she tried to shake the clouds from her head. She had to be able to think, to figure out where she was and how she was going to get out. The last thing she remembered was dressing for the poker tournament and being excited to go see Zak play. After she had checked her makeup one final time, there had been a knock on the cabin door. Frank and Gerard had stood on the other side, both offering to walk her down to the tournament. She had thanked them for the offer but had declined. As she’d turned to pick up her purse, something sharp had stung her on the back of her neck. She had barely lifted her hand to rub the assaulted spot when she’d felt herself falling forward toward the floor; then everything around her had gone black.

  She took another deep breath, desperate to stall the wave of anxiety that was threatening to consume her. She knew that she was moving, a steady bump, bump, bump over a hard surface. Maitlyn realized she was in a boat, a speedboat that was cruising at a high speed across the water. Above her she could hear voices but couldn’t make out what anyone was saying. She couldn’t begin to fathom why the two men had taken her or what they wanted, but knowing she wasn’t on the cruise ship frightened her even more.

  Maitlyn struggled to make sense of her situation. A speedboat couldn’t have been so far out in the ocean. With their next port of call being Greece and the ship scheduled to dock there in the early morning hours, Maitlyn reasoned they had to be headed in that direction, as well. The Greek isles were the closest body of land.

  Tears began to drip over her cheeks. If she were on the ship, there was a chance Zak could find her. But she wasn’t there, and she wasn’t quite sure he’d even know where to begin to look.

  * * *

  “I need to make a call,” Zak demanded, moving toward the ship’s radio room.

  The captain followed on his heels. “We’ll be docking in Greece in twenty minutes. I’ve already radioed ahead and the local police will board once we port.”

  Zak nodded. “What about the security tapes?”

  “I reviewed them personally. Two passengers knocked on your door and entered the cabin shortly before nine. They both exited twenty minutes later. They appear to be speaking with someone in the doorway, but we can’t make out who. However, I didn’t see her ever exiting the room or anyone else entering.”

  �
�I want to speak to those passengers. Who were they?”

  Simon gestured toward the security director, who flipped through his notes. “Mr. Frank Barber and Mr. Gerard Bruner,” he answered.

  Zak bristled. “I need to make that call,” he repeated.

  Ten minutes later, the ship’s operator was connecting him to an unlisted cell phone number. A familiar voice answered on the third ring.

  “Hello?”

  “We have a problem.”

  “Where are you?” Kendrick Boudreaux asked.

  “Docking in Greece.”

  “Where’s my sister?”

  Zak took a deep breath before answering. “They took her.” As he disconnected the call, Zak knew there wasn’t anything else that needed to be said. He knew beyond any doubts that if Kendrick weren’t in Greece before the ship docked that he’d be there shortly after.

  As the morning sun rose, the Hellenic Coast Guard was executing a massive search for Maitlyn in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. With the local police on his heels, Zak entered his stateroom for the first time since leaving it the night before. Both levels were in complete disarray with furniture overturned and papers tossed about. Someone had gone to great lengths to make them think that more had happened there than just Maitlyn disappearing.

  As Zak repeated the answers to questions he’d been asked over and over again, he knew that he had far more information than they did. He had no problems playing the role of suspect as the chief of police tried to piece together his own assumptions of what might have happened. Thus far, he seemed convinced that this was a story of a domestic dispute gone awry, a lover’s spat that had reached a point of no return, resulting in him hurling her body off the balcony to the ocean below. For the moment, though, Zak knew that wherever Maitlyn was, she was safe. He had something her kidnappers wanted more—two hundred and fifty million dollars.

  The local constable was growing frustrated with Zak, as he showed no ounce of emotion. Zak was sure that the officer would have felt better if he had been a sobbing lunatic, but his stoic demeanor made the pop-eyed man nervous. Detective Angelo Rossi finally asked him outright if he’d killed the woman and tossed her body off the side of the ship.