She Was the Treasure All Along novel Chapter 302

The sudden change in plans threw everything off. It wasn’t just outside Loyce’s control—it shredded her timeline. If she made her move, she’d be taking on an entire ship alone. And she still didn’t fully understand the layout.

After a brief, hard think, Loyce sat up, sprang lightly, and pulled herself into the ceiling vent. Then she vanished.

Cold seawater had soaked the cuffs of her pants; she’d been moving through the lower levels for a while now. The engine room’s roar hammered her ears. The air reeked of oil, diesel, and rust—thick enough to taste.

By the glow of emergency lights, she spotted exactly what Aaron had described: behind the main engine, in a rear corner, a square object wrapped in waterproof canvas, locked down with heavy chain. Bright new wiring—too clean, too colorful—coiled around it like snakes, disappearing into a dark cable run.

There it was. The bomb.

Loyce melted into the machinery’s shadows, eyes slicing over the surroundings. Two greasy mechanics in stained coveralls stood with their backs to her, arguing as they worked on a leaking fuel line battered loose by the storm. Tools hung off their belts—wrenches, a heavy hammer. One of them also had the unmistakable bulge of a handgun at his lower back.

Charging in would be loud. Loud meant attention. Attention meant the upper decks. Loyce’s gaze cooled. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the two ether vials Sapphire had given her. Perfect!

Holding her breath, she moved like a hunting cat—soundless, close.

“Dammit, it’s leaking like a busted pipe!” one mechanic snapped, bending to check the line. “Mr. Quinn won’t pay for proper repairs on this junk—”

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