Chapter 9

Jackson went cold.

His first instinct was to drop down on top of Charlie, to protect her as much as he could. It took him a full minute to realize the gun hadn't gone off in the room with them. But it had been close - which meant the danger was still very real.

He leaped up and tugged up his pants. Charlie tried to get up, too, but he shook his head. "Stay down here. Lock the door. Don't open it for anyone but me."

Heavy footsteps sounded above them - then a curse and a shout.

Fuck. He stumbled over to the cabinet over the kitchenette, yanking open the door and shoving aside the cans of food. In the back of the cabinet was a hidden compartment where they stored a number of small handguns. He hadn't been wearing one. That was fucking careless. He threw a glance at the stairs, but no one was coming down. Vincent's journals and atlas were still on the table.

"Leo?" he called.

There was no answer.

He ran up the stairs. Leo was on his knees on the deck, gripping his arm. Dark blood o