The yacht was a haven of blue water and golden sun until the captain's voice broke the silence. "Sir! A call from Mr. Samuel. He says it's urgent."
Max and Ruby surfaced, the water glistening on their skin. As they climbed back onto the deck, Max shot a sharp, protective look at the captain. "Turn your back," he commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument. He grabbed a plush towel, wrapping it around Ruby and himself before reaching for the satellite phone.
"Report," Max said, his tone shifting instantly back to the cold commander.
On the other end, Samuel's voice was tense. "Seron escaped, Max. He slipped out the back before the Feds could cuff him. He's gone to ground."
Max's eyes darkened, but he didn't look surprised. "Fine. Let him run. The more desperate he is, the more mistakes he'll make. We'll smoke them all out soon enough." He handed the phone back to the captain and turned to Ruby, his expression softening with regret.
