One minute she was standing calmly in the doorway, waiting for Xavier to finish his ridiculous inspection of her cabin, and the next there was an arm around her throat.

It all happened so fast. He must have been behind the door, must have been waiting for just the right moment to leap out and grab her - the moment when Xavier was as far as he could be across the room.

Xavier spun around, gun raised, but it was too late. The intruder had positioned himself behind ...