Page 30 of Exposed

Terror nipped at the back of his throat, but he forced it down. He ran his hand over his face and brushed his hair off his forehead. All he had to do was swim. Maddie had watched them go overboard, so she would notify someone. Another wave came and tossed him through the thick, dark ink. He unbuttoned his suit jacket. The material clung to his dress shirt as he freed himself of it. He sliced his arms through the water and kicked toward the ship.

Its lights were now the size of tennis balls. He swallowed over the lump in his throat. His arm slapped against something hard and his heart slammed into his throat. Tony lay face down in the water, his black suit barely visible against the raven tide. Nate gripped the back of his collar and turned him over. Blood covered his face and a stab of terror hit Nate with the force of a truck.

Blood was in the water.

Motherfucker. He forced the image of the vicious jaws of a shark tearing through his legs out of his mind. He swallowed and pressed two fingers against the side of Tony’s throat. Water hit him in the face, and he coughed and wiped his eyes on his shoulder. His feet kicked steadily beneath him. Goosebumps sharpened on his skin and his teeth chattered.

Shit.

The soft murmur of a pulse beat against his skin. God fucking dammit. Minutes ago, Tony had been ready to kill Maddie. He deserved to die. Indecision tore through him. He wouldn’t sacrifice his life for this fucking scumbag. If the ship didn’t turn around in five minutes, he’d say sayonara to Tony.

A flash of bright orange sailed across the surface.

A floatation device. Maddie must have thrown it to him. He let go of Tony and dove toward it. His hand snagged the white string that floated behind it. He reeled it in, hooked his arm through the hole, and kicked back to Tony.

His legs burned as he treaded water, one hand around Tony’s chest, one on the buoy. Pins and needles stabbed through his skin and his breath came out in white puffs around them.

The lights on the ship were dim little specks now.

He closed his eyes and Maddie’s face filled his mind’s eye. The gentle upturn at the end of her nose, soft spray of freckles beneath her eyes, and the full mouth he hadn’t kissed enough fucking times. If he died here tonight, his only regret would befighting Maddie. The backs of his eyes burned and he inhaled through his nose.

If he was given one more chance… he’d do things right.

CHAPTER 10

Maddie’s legs shookbeneath her and her fingers tightened on the rail. Pain shot up her wrists, but she couldn’t tear herself away. She’d thrown the nearest floatation device, but by the time she’d wheeled it out to sea, she’d lost him. Her chest rose and fell. She needed to get help. To hell with the job, she didn’t give a shit anymore. Nate could die. She tore her hands from the cold metal and her gaze landed on Nate’s phone. She scurried across the deck and brought the screen to life.

Her finger shook as she swiped through his text messages. She could call Ashley, but she was at the dinner. Another name jumped out at her. Dylan. That sounded familiar. She punched the phone icon and pressed the smooth glass to her ear.

Her eyes swept across the deck. Good god, if Carlos came looking for her, she’d have a hard time explaining herself. The phone rang and she stepped out of the light and pressed her back against the wall in the shadows.

C’mon, pickup, pickup.

“What the hell happened to your earpiece? You nearly blew my fucking eardrum.”

Her brow furrowed. “Uh, this is Maddie.”

Dylan’s sharp intake of breath pierced her ear. “Holy shit. Is everything okay? Where’s Nate?”

Tears prickled the backs of her eyes and her throat tightened. “H–he… went overboard.” Her voice trembled and moisture collected on her eyelashes.

“What?” He roared in her ear. “Where are you?”

She swallowed over the boulder lodged in her throat and squeezed her eyes together. Her chest ached and a sob threatened to bubble up. “I’m on the deck, at the rear of the ship.”

“Fuck,” he breathed roughly in her ear. The wind picked up and sent the bottom of her dress dancing around her legs. A shiver ran down her spine and she pressed her back closer to the wall.

She took two deep breaths through her nose while Dylan mumbled curse words.

“Okay,” he said, his voice strong and level. “Don’t worry, everything is going to be fine. I need you to get back to dinner, and hold it together. Can you do that?”

She sniffed and wiped the corner of her eye with her knuckles. “No.” A short laugh broke through the tears. “I’m a mess. I got attacked and—”

“You have to. If you’re gone much longer, people will come looking for you and find you like this anyway. And what will you tell them?”

She closed her eyes. He was right. If Carlos found her now, she’d have nothing coherent to say to him.

“Okay,” she said softly.

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