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?"

"Both, most likely," Xavier replied. He was looking forward, guiding their b