Chapter 6: Deep Waters
The freighter cut through the Mediterranean, its massive hull slicing through the waves like a ghost in the night. The scent of salt and oil hung thick in the air, mingling with the low hum of the ship’s engines.
Jasper Hawke stood on the deck, watching the lights of Tangier fade into the darkness behind them. Too close. The operation was compromised, and now, he had to figure out how deep the rot went.
Footsteps approached. He didn’t turn.
“I assume this isn’t your first time fleeing a city under gunfire,” Evelyn said, stepping beside him.
Jasper smirked, keeping his gaze on the water. “Let’s just say I’ve had practice.”
Evelyn crossed her arms. “Whoever’s running this arms network, they knew you’d be there tonight. That means you have a leak.”
Jasper nodded. “Or someone wants me off the board.”
Evelyn studied him. “You think it’s internal?”
Jasper exhaled, the weight of the thought pressing against him. The agency wasn’t perfect—no intelligence organization was—but an inside player at this level meant they were up against more than just arms dealers. It meant someone was orchestrating the entire game.
He finally turned to Evelyn. “You said you were supposed to kill me. Who gave the order?”
Evelyn’s smirk was brief. “The kind of people who don’t leave names.”
Jasper didn’t break eye contact. “Try me.”
She studied him, then sighed. “The directive came through an encrypted channel, routed through multiple dead ends. All I had was the target—your name—and an instruction: neutralize with discretion.”
Jasper frowned. “Why change your mind?”
Evelyn tilted her head. “You’re not the only one who doesn’t like being played.”
Jasper let that settle. Trusting her fully wasn’t an option, but right now, their interests aligned. That would have to be enough.
Behind them, Idris emerged from below deck, his expression tense. “We have a problem.”
Jasper turned sharply. “What now?”
Idris jerked his head toward the ship’s bridge. “The captain just got a transmission. There’s a vessel trailing us.”
Jasper’s instincts sharpened. “How far?”
“Close enough.”
The Hunters Become the Hunted
Jasper moved fast, climbing up to the bridge. The captain, a weathered man with graying stubble, turned as they entered.
“I don’t like trouble on my ship,” he grumbled in Spanish-accented English. “But you seem to bring plenty.”
Jasper ignored him, stepping toward the radar display. A single blip moved steadily in their wake, shadowing them at a calculated distance.
Evelyn leaned in. “Not a coincidence.”
Jasper nodded. “They’re waiting for open waters.”
Idris swallowed hard. “Pirates?”
Jasper’s gaze darkened. “No. Professionals.”
The captain adjusted his cap. “Then I suggest you deal with them before they deal with us.”
Jasper turned to Evelyn. “How long before they make a move?”
She considered it. “They’ll wait until the right moment—minimal witnesses, maximum control. If I had to guess, they’ll try to board just before dawn.”
Jasper’s jaw tightened. “Then we don’t give them the chance.”
Setting the Trap
They worked fast. Jasper and Evelyn secured weapons from the crew—an old but reliable AK-47, a few sidearms, and a rusted combat knife that Jasper tucked into his belt.
The plan was simple: force the enemy to make their move early, while the advantage was still theirs.
Jasper stood at the edge of the deck, scanning the dark horizon. Then he raised his rifle and fired a single shot into the air.
The response was immediate.
The shadowing vessel roared to life, accelerating toward them.
“They took the bait,” Evelyn murmured.
Jasper smirked. “Let’s welcome them properly.”
The Boarding Party
The enemy vessel was sleek and fast, built for speed rather than cargo. As it neared, figures in black tactical gear began preparing ropes and boarding hooks. These weren’t amateurs.
Jasper took position behind a cargo crate, steadying his rifle.
The first boarder swung over. Jasper fired—one shot to the chest, sending the man tumbling back into the sea. The second landed on deck, only to be met by Evelyn’s precise double-tap to the head.
More were coming.
Jasper ducked as automatic fire sprayed across the deck, bullets sparking against metal. He rolled, coming up behind another crate, and fired back, dropping another attacker.
Evelyn moved with lethal efficiency, weaving between cover and landing clean, calculated shots.
Idris, crouched near the bridge, held a pistol with shaking hands but managed to take down a gunman who got too close.
The enemy regrouped.
Jasper saw one of them raise a flare gun. His gut twisted.
“They’re signaling reinforcements!” he shouted.
Evelyn swore. “We need to end this now.”
Jasper didn’t hesitate. He grabbed a spare rope, sprinted to the ship’s railing, and swung onto the enemy vessel.
The fight wasn’t over.
It was only just beginning.
