When one of Cassie Spencer's high-rolling customers offers to take the waitress sailing in the Caribbean, Cassie figures she has nothing to lose-that is, until a gang of drug pirates attacks the ship and takes Cassie prisoner after slitting her friend's throat. Knowing that any mistake will be fatal, Cassie waits for the perfect time to make her escape. She makes a swim for Dead Chest Island, where, days later, she is rescued by brothers Doug and Nate Thompson and taken aboard their sailboat, Payback. But the murderous modern-day pirates discover that Cassie is still alive. Pursued by the smugglers' motor trawler, the crew of Payback must survive a dangerous waterspout, sea battles, and romantic entanglements to reach desired safety in Trinidad.