“Search the boat, boys,” Captain Hall ordered. “You can keep anything interesting you find.”

Someone tossed a rope ladder over the side of the Sea Witch, landing on the deck of the fishing boat. A burly member of the crew crawled down, while the other men held their rifles steady.

“While you’re down there,” Hall called to the man, “invite these three men to join us.”

The crewman waved his gun. “You heard the captain. Up the ladder.”

Lee wasted no time doing as ordered. Howard hesitated, then followed, with Dominick tagging the rear. Once aboard the Sea Witch, long-barreled rifles poked and prodded, huddling the men together into a tight circle.

Heart hammering, his mind grappling for an escape plan, Dominick prayed Sarah had hidden herself well. But a few seconds later, he heard her scream, dashing his hopes.

With a victorious guffaw, the muscle-bound brute dragged her from the cabin, squirming and kicking, while the other crew members launched a collective cheer…