Page 43 of Corrupted Lies

Which waywasup?

If she swam too far in the wrong direction, she’d get lost and drown in the depths of the ocean.

Unprepared as she’d been for the explosion to come when they were still so close to the boat, Alannah hadn't taken a deep breath of air before she was shoved down deep below the surface, and already her lungs were screaming at her for air.

For oxygen.

For life.

Only she didn't have any to give them.

Desperately she swam, trying to find something to guide her. Then she saw it. Fire. It had to be whatever was left of the boat that hadn't been torn to shreds and littered throughout the ocean.

That was where the surface had to be.

Focusing all her energy on swimming toward the fire, which in some ways seemed counterproductive considering someone was trying to kill her with fire, Alannah gave it everything she had.

If she couldn’t get up there in time …

Then whoever this final man was involved in the plot to cover up their crimes would get what he wanted.

She’d be dead.

Jake could be, too.

An arrow of pain shot straight through her heart at the thought of the explosion killing Jake. What would she do without him? Not just right now, alone out there in the middle of the ocean, at night, with no boat and nothing solid to hold onto, but for the rest of her life. She needed Jake. Needed his steady, protective, no nonsense, tell it like it is presence in her life.

Neededhim.

Not a want, definitely a need.

With lungs feeling like they were about to burst, right when Alannah thought she wasn't going to be able to hold her breath for a second longer and would be forced to take in a lungful of sea water, her head breached the surface.

Fresh air finally available, she dragged in a deep breath, then another and another, until her brain began to process the fact that it was no longer starving for oxygen.

She’d come up about ten yards or so away from the remainder of the yacht. Close enough that she could still feel theheat, but not close enough that she was in danger. Smaller pieces of debris floated around, but as she treaded water, she scanned the ocean searching for something else.

Someone else.

For Jake.

Had he been injured in the explosion? Was she already too late? It didn't take long to drown, especially if you'd been knocked unconscious and could do nothing to save yourself.

Tears burned her eyes, and a sob worked its way up through her chest. When it left her lips, she was struck by what a pitiful, painful, soul-crushing sound it was.

But that’s what it felt like not knowing if Jake was dead or alive.

It felt like someone had grabbed hold of her soul and was trying to physically rip it out of her body.

“Alannah?”

Lost to her terror as she was, it took her a second to realize that the sound wasn't the ocean, wasn't the crackling fire, and hadn't come from herself.

Someone had called her name.

Relief hit her so hard it stole her breath and almost her ability to keep her head above the water.

As it closed around her again, she quickly snapped to her senses. “Jake!”

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