Mironov also got to his feet. “I’m going to offer my assistance. After all, the silos were prepared by my people.”

“No, you stay. Both of you stay,” Dmitry said quickly.

Yegor’s frown deepened, and he quickly glanced at Abby before turning back to Dmitry; he switched to Russian.

“What are you doing?”

Mironov stayed on his feet and also spoke rapidly in his home tongue. “You work for me, Dmitry Torshin. You will stand down immed—“

“Shut up, fool!”

The billionaire froze, confused.

“Your authority has now expired. We will be taking this submersible… in a different direction.” His eyes slid to the huge Yegor. “Want to be rich?”

Yegor’s brows went up, and his look went from surprise to horror. “Nyet!”

The single word was more a shout, and carried a hint of anxiety that also seemed to bunch his huge shoulders. He locked eyes with Dmitry, the smaller man returning his fierce stare.

“What’s, going, on?” Abby’s voice was small and she shrank back into her seat.  Mironov tapped her shoulder, and then quietly motioned her to her feet.

Yegor began to rise, and the huge man filled the entire front of the small craft. His hands flexed, and he continued to shake his bear-like head.

Dmitry’s grin returned, and spoke a soft word or two as the big man continued to advance on him.

Like magic, a small gun appeared in Dmitry’s hand.

Yegor froze, and his face went a deep, dark red. The huge man lowered his head, his muscles bunched and then he charged. For a big man, he covered the few feet in the blink of an eye.

*   *   *

Gunshots. Two of them.

Jack stared at the Prusalka, his mouth open, but then snapping shut. He began to run, sliding on the moss-covered rocks, falling, gathering himself back up and running again. Greg and Cate sprinted after him.

The Priz Class submersible began to ease away from the rocky ledge. A small figure came out, fast, sliding down the side of the vessel and landing hard on the rocks and stayed down. The Prusalka continued to pull back, and was already ten feet from the ledge when Jack began to accelerate.

“Don’t!” Cate’s scream pulled him up at the very edge of the shelf.

Jack knelt by the fallen figure. “It’s Abby.”

Greg and Cate also came and crowded around the groggy woman. Jack stood, and as they watched, it looked like someone else was climbing out.

“Hey, I think that’s Yegor.” Jack cupped his mouth. “Hey, what the hell is happening? Get back here!”

The big man came up jerkily, his head first, then shoulders, and then when he neared waist level, his body slumped forward.

“Wha…?” Jack frowned.