Page 187 of Her Reluctant Hero
Chapter Twenty
The cold water closed over Adrian’s head, his vision darkening as he struggled to remain conscious. He couldn’t let himself go under, he had to get to Mallory, had to get her away from Smoller.
Using every ounce of strength, in short supply after this hellish day, he held on to his senses and pushed himself toward the surface. He kicked weakly, needing air, struggling to get to Mallory.
Someone grabbed his bare foot and dragged him downward, beneath the boat. The air punched out of his chest at the sudden movement. He blew out a breath—his last, goddamn it, unless he could kick his way free. He was running out of fight, his body trying to quit on him.
Hard plastic bruised his lips. He jerked his head away but a hand grabbed the back of his head to hold it still. Air bubbles tickled his mouth and reason returned.
A regulator. Whoever was holding him was trying to give him a regulator. He opened his eyes against the salty water as he accepted the regulator, and looked into his brother’s eyes.
Oxygen and relief eased his chest and he gripped his brother’s shoulder, squeezed as hard as he could. Safe. Thank God. Safe. Toney wrapped his arm around his shoulders, his eyes crinkling slightly, encouragingly, behind his illuminated mask.
Adrian backed away, saw Jacob hovering at Toney’s elbow, each breathing through his own regulator, which meant they had equipment. Adrian nodded his relief at seeing the younger man. But now wasn’t the time to celebrate. He made the sign for Mallory’s name, pointed up. Toney nodded, motioned toward the bow of the boat. Adrian shook his head. She’d been closer to the stern.
Since Toney and Jacob were safe and here, with equipment, they could help him get her back.
Mallory stared at the dark water where Adrian had disappeared. She tensed, ready to dive after him, but Valentine wrapped an arm around her, holding her tightly against his body. The waves caused by Adrian’s fall had stopped lapping at the hull, and she strained to hear him surface somewhere, anywhere.
Adrian’s body couldn’t take another trauma. He was alone, hurt, and she couldn’t get to him. Helplessness replaced her earlier relief, and her knees sagged. She’d had him and lost him once more.
Now Valentine shoved her roughly toward the stern of the boat. She slipped on the slick fiberglass, went down hard on her knees and one hand, sending a shooting pain up her arm. The pain dulled her mind for a moment, and only when Valentine jerked her to her feet did she realize she’d missed her chance to go into the water.
Cradling her aching wrist against her, she staggered onto the deck, fighting past the pain to form a plan. She couldn’t count on Adrian to help her. He was too weakened by injury and blood loss.
If he was dead, maybe she should just let Valentine kill her so she and Adrian could be together forever.
Only Adrian—even in spirit—would kill her himself if she gave up.
She had to know what she was up against. She scanned the deck, the dock. This would be easier if she knew the odds, if she knew how badly she and Adrian had injured his men. Valentine had a gun, and she couldn’t overcome that, but she could outsmart him.
Before she could act, a wave rolled beneath the boat, sending her legs from under her. The rail of the boat rushed up to her, and everything went black.
Adrian, Jacob and Toney reached the beach, up against the cliff, away from Smoller’s boat, sheltered from the wind that drove sand across the beach. Already, Adrian’s brain whirled, bouncing from one idea to another, trying to figure out how to get Mallory to safety while staying conscious. His head spun and his stomach roiled—if he’d actually had anything to eat today, he’d be puking. Damn, he’d kill for some beef jerky.
“He’s got Mallory. Need to get her back. Safe.” He could barely put words together. “We have to move.”
“They have guns,” Jacob pointed out.
“But we have the element of surprise.” He swept his palm over his mouth, not wanting to take time, knowing they should strategize but itching to move. “I can’t tell how many men they have left. I saw one, in addition to Smoller and Linda.”
“Linda!” Jacob’s eyes snapped wide. “She’s all right?”
Adrian cursed himself for his callousness. He’d forgotten about the boy’s connection to Linda. Regretting that he couldn’t elaborate now, he waved a hand. “Long story. She’s on their side. Always had been.”
“No.” Jacob shook his head wildly, dislodging curls that tumbled into his face, his brow furrowed. “What?”
“Not now,” Adrian said through his teeth, his attention on the boat. No activity. Were they still on board? Had they realized he’d disabled it, seriously this time? They wouldn’t be getting far with water in the gas tank. He smacked his brother’s arm and inclined his head toward the beach.
The sand dug into his already mangled feet, making each step excruciating. He should have sent Toney ahead to see if Mallory was on the boat, but he couldn’t have borne waiting another moment longer. He had to get to her. No one else was coming to their rescue. The storm whipping to a frenzy overhead would keep help away.
Beneath his neoprene, he was sweating, partly because the sucker was damn hot and partly because his body was fighting the infection in his arm. But the black suit offered camouflage against the shadowed cliffs and that element of surprise was crucial when he was unarmed and weak.
“Now what?” Toney whispered as they watched for movement on deck, in the boat.
Adrian rubbed his eyes and scanned his memory for anything he and Mallory might have left behind in camp when they packed up. He was certain they’d been pretty thorough—they always had been, especially on remote digs like this. Damn their tree-hugger tendencies.
He’d have to find something on board to battle with and hope only the one bodyguard—looked like Brutus—remained besides Smoller and Linda, though, shit, they were probably the bigger threat. He couldn’t write off someone desperate to earn a father’s love.
