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inches from hers, close enough to count the freckles across her nose and see the birthmark at the corner of her left eye. Close enough to smell her. And she smelled good; like a girl.
    Then her eyes moved and locked onto his. Anger burned in the dark brown orbs. She grinned, muttered “Merde!” and rolled off the table, coming to her feet on the left side of the cabin.
    Kavika jerked back. “Spike!”
    Spike spun, holding a length of fabric. “What the—?” Then she turned to look down the length of tables. “She’s after something, Kavika. Hold her!”
    Kavika stepped between the door and the young woman. “Who are you?”
    “Get out of my way, Maricone .”
    “ Los Tiburones ?” Spike said softly, but loud enough to be heard.
    The Spanish girl’s eyes flashed.
    “She’s a Shark, Kavika. She’s a drug runner.”
    The girl shook her head. “I don’t run product. I distribute.”
    “Then who?” Her eyes went wide. “Akamu?”
    “No way.” Kavika straightened. “No Pali Boy would do such a thing.”
    The girl snorted. “You Pali Boys. You all think you’re special. When it comes down to starving and feeding your family, you’re no different than anyone else.”
    Kavika moved towards her. “That’s not right. We’re not like—”
    Before he could explain, she feinted left, then dodged right, hitting the table and leaping over it. She slipped towards the door, but Spike moved faster than she anticipated. Long nails scraped the side of her neck, eliciting a scream.
    “Chito! Where are you? Hurry! Come!”
    The girl opened the door, but Kavika had managed to recover enough to reach out and grab a length of her dress. He jerked her back, the door slamming shut.
    “Hold it,” he snapped. “Who are you?”
    She swung a fist and caught him in the side of his head. It stung, but he held on. She hit him two more times before she realized it wasn’t going to do much good, then she reached to her front and tore the dress down the middle. Her small breasts swung free; sharks had been tattooed on her chest and stomach, but he barely noticed them.
    “Kavika!”
    His gaze snapped away just as her foot slammed into his midsection. He staggered back and gasped for air. He’d been trying to help until now, but the girl clearly didn’t want any assistance from him. He growled and felt his blood rise like it rarely had before.
    She saw the change in him and backed away, turning and confronting Spike, who had grabbed a length of wood. Spike swung it expertly, eviscerating the air in a complex geometry.
    Just then the door opened.
    Everyone turned for a moment to take in the surprised look on the face of the young Water Dog, still dripping from his recent swim in the sea. Spike’s brother Chito took in the scene with narrowing eyes.
    That moment was enough.
    The girl pushed Spike hard, then rammed her head into the young man’s midsection. His air left him with a woof , and she was out the door.
    Kavika was the first to move and followed her. But as fast and agile as he was, she was faster. She was across and onto the nearest ship by the time he was out the door.
    Chito and Spike cried out in their native Filipino. Suddenly, Water Dogs began to pull themselves from the water onto the ship. They gathered themselves, dripping, searching.
    But the living dead girl was damned fast.
    Kavika chased her for a moment, leaping across deck rails and running through living areas. He’d never been too good at traveling on the surface because of the sheer number of people and their closeness. He glanced at the rigging and noticed a few Pali Boys following him. He’d never get there in time. He could ask the Pali Boys to give him a hand, but he doubted they’d help him. After all, Kaja had given the task to him.
    Kavika slowed and stared across the decks. There was no sign of her.
    He trudged back to the Morgue Ship. Spike was chattering with Chito and half a dozen Water Dogs. When she saw him and realized he didn’t