Page 173 of Her Reluctant Hero
She spat into a facemask, rubbed the spittle over the rubber seal and slipped it over her head. “Watch me.”
She dove in, trying not to gasp as the cold water hit her skin and closed over her head. She swam along the guideline.
Adrian had one arm twined around the rope, his eyes on his watch. He looked up when she paddled toward him. Surprise lit his eyes behind his mask. She tapped her wrist. He nodded, then dragged his finger up and down, questioning her missing scuba suit before miming a shiver. She acknowledged his question by wrapping her arms around herself, then grabbed his wrist to look at his watch. She was chilled to the bone and shaking with relief at finding him at the proper depth, though he’d had about ten minutes more bottom time than he should have.
He wrapped his legs around her, drawing her close, but his body heat didn’t permeate his suit, much less her body. He folded his arms around her. Slowly the water between them warmed.
Suddenly, the line twisted, disorienting her. Her first instinct was to cling to it, but it could wrap around her, tying her up. She and Adrian released at the same time, swimming in opposite directions. Out of nowhere, another diver swam up to wrap his arms around Adrian like a linebacker. Stunned, she watched as the bigger man pinned Adrian’s arms to his sides, not allowing him to maneuver.
She skimmed her hand down her hip, encountering her clothes. She hadn’t taken the time to get a dive knife, and Smoller wouldn’t have allowed her to if she had. Adrian didn’t wear one, she saw. She was only armed with her wits.
Grabbing the line in both hands, she attempted to wrap it around the attacker’s head, but his tanks prevented her from getting close enough to him. She slapped at his head, to get him to release Adrian, luring him after her instead. The man merely swatted her away, as if she was an annoying gnat.
Rage darkened her vision as she floated back a few feet. He wanted to hurt Adrian, and she had to stop him. She swam forward again, through the churning water, and reached between his body and Adrian’s. Locating the release on his weight belt, she pulled.
His sudden buoyancy surprised him, and he shot up through the water, away from them. Except when he released Adrian, Adrian started to ascend too. Mallory grabbed his ankle, dragging him toward the rope. He closed his hand around it, anchoring himself before swimming upward, toward the underside of the barge. They reached the air pocket where the pontoons lifted the frame of the barge above the water.
“What was that about?” she asked breathlessly. Seawater slapped at their faces. They wouldn’t be able to stay long, but they needed a chance to talk.
“He thought I should have been working faster.” Adrian’s tone was too damn calm for her peace of mind. She grabbed his chin to turn his face toward her.
“Adrian, he was trying to hurt you.”
Adrian pulled off his mask. “He was pretty pissed.”
His calm aggravated her nerves further. Did he not realize the danger they were in? “We have to get out of here. I don’t think Smoller’s sane, Adrian. When he talks about the box, his eyes get wild.”
“I know.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Have you been able to speak to anyone?”
“Only Linda, and she’s a mess. We need to get her out of here.”
“You need to contact Toney, since you’re on the boat with him. I’m working on a plan.” He kept his voice pitched low, so no one above could hear them. “It’ll require a great deal of swimming. Do you think you’re up to it?”
She couldn’t tamp down her impatience. “I don’t see I have a choice.”
“I’ll leave you messages under here to let you know how the plan is progressing.” He motioned to the beam he was holding onto.
“And you want me to do nothing?”
“It’s the only way to protect you.” When she took a deep breath to protest, he talked over her. “I know you can take care of yourself, but Smoller is not a man to tempt. Trust me.”
He pushed her away so he could look in her eyes, then kissed her hard as he moved toward the edge of the barge. “I’ll go first.”
Adrian surfaced to find himself peering up at several black circles, pointed at him. The barrels of automatic weapons. Talk about feeling out of control. Hands reached in the water and pulled him out before he could warn Mallory. He didn’t think Smoller would kill them—he needed them—but looking down a gun barrel was damned unnerving. He turned to watch Mallory surface. Before he could note more than the fact her skin was downright blue, her eyes terrified behind her mask, he was dragged onto the barge. He rolled toward the edge to reach for her. He fell onto his back, helpless, when Smoller grabbed her, pulled her against his chest, and pressed a gun to her head. Adrian’s heart jumped in panic. Smoller had lost his mind and he didn’t care who suffered. Well, if Adrian suffered, all the better, and Adrian couldn’t imagine a worse pain than watching the woman he loved hurt.
“It’s come to my attention, Adrian, that you don’t intend to do what you’re told.” He gestured to the deck behind Adrian. He glanced over to see the man he’d fought with doubled over in pain as his comrades surrounded him. “He ascended too fast. I’m suspecting the bends, but perhaps that is something you planned.”
“Better him than me,” Adrian said, his gaze on Mallory. He wouldn’t take his eyes off her again, as if he could will her to stay safe.
“Actually, yes. You’re more valuable to me than he is. However, I can’t allow you to defy me like that. There has to be a price to pay.” He wrapped his hand tighter around Mallory’s ponytail. Adrian saw the skin at her hairline stretch, her eyes widening. He ground his teeth as he saw the barrel press into the soft skin at her temple, when she squeezed her eyes shut as she waited.
“Look,” Adrian said, stepping forward, one arm out, blood roaring in his ears as he assessed the situation. He couldn’t cross the distance fast enough to knock Smoller aside. If he did, he might still be too late to protect Mallory. “I’m sorry. I didn’t plan to die down there today.”
“Well.” Smoller loosened his grip on Mallory a bit, but Adrian couldn’t let himself relax. He knew the man too well. “Perhaps I wasn’t clear. But you need to know not to defy my authority.”
Adrian’s bowels iced when Smoller raised his eyes to Adrian. He saw the cool hate in them. God, no, not Mallory.
“It won’t happen again,” Adrian said quickly. “I understand, all right? What will it take? Anything—” Panic ripped the last word out of him, even as he knew the price of that word.
Smoller shook his head sadly. “No, I know you, Adrian. You’re too headstrong. You need a lesson.”
Mallory’s whimper floated across the water toward him. He’d make the jump. He’d have to. His whole body tensed as he readied himself, only to snap in shock when the shot rang out.
