Page 49 of Turn the Tide
She paused, blinking at the pilot’s face, visible through the helicopter’s front window. She swore she couldseethe surprise in his expression as he spotted her, see the moment he decided to leave the two men behind and blow the rig withallof them trapped here, if necessary. If that helicopter took off, they’d be dead. All of them.
That’s when she ran.
Oh, not to safety like a smart person, but straight into oncoming danger.
Like an idiot.
At the door to the helicopter, she grabbed a handhold and pulled, sending a half-assed prayer to whatever gods might be listening. With luck, she could keep the pilot distracted while the rest of the team took out the two newest threats.
“Morning!” She went for cheerful, but her voice squeaked out, frantically high.
“Oh…”
She leaned forward, trying to keep his eyes on her. “Hey! Emily Marquette. Remember me?”
“You’re not—?”
“Sorry. That’s Dr. Marqu—”
Outside the chopper, someone opened fire.
“Fuck!” The pilot turned to the front, hands flying over the controls, and lifted them up abruptly, swooping into the air. Zoe fell to the side, hard, and gasped when something thumped in beside her.
Eyes wide, she turned. Hunkered beside her, finger to her lips, was Leo. Jesus, she’d never been happier to see someone in her life.
Her stomach dipped when the entire thing banked to one side. She just barely kept down the protein bar she’d scarfed before leaving the island. Shit, he was tilting the helicopter. Trying to get them out. She slid and just managed to grab hold of a dangling strap before plummeting to her death.
And all the while, they got farther from the rig.
No, please. No.If they got too far away, he could blow the place up—with Eric and the others in it.
Fear choked her, made breathing hard. But if she gave in to it, they’d die. All of them.
Slowly, things came into focus. The doors, wide open, air whipping inside. Leo sliding toward the opening. She wasn’t anchored to anything. They tilted, and she was out.
Zoe’s mouth opened on a silent scream, and then… No. No, Leo’d caught onto the edge of the front seat.
Her big, dark eyes flicked around, looking for something else to hold on to. Without a moment’s hesitation, Zoe reached out her free hand. Too far. Leo was getting sucked out.
“Help us!” She screamed it as loud as she could, put every little bit of angst and anger and fear she had into that sound. Maybe, through the screaming blast, the pilot would hear her. Maybe he’d listen.
But it might as well have been a whisper at the bottom of the ocean.
It was one of those moments—and she’d had a few in the past twenty-four hours—when the choices just stared at her. And the choices were easy: risk falling out of a fucking helicopter to save her new friend, or do nothing.
And watch her die.
In the front seat, the pilot yelled. Zoe reached as far as she could… Leo’s fingers grazed hers… She stretched, and Leo slid another inch away.
Zoe let go of the seat belt, shifted, jammed her foot into the space between two seats, and reached.
Their hands clasped. Leo’s was warm and solid. Zoe pulled with all her might, straining her legs to stay in place, and slowly, the other woman’s body slid up and onto the aircraft’s floor.
Zoe caught her breath, spotted another strap hanging low enough to grab on to, and reached for it.
That was when the pilot put the gun to her head.
The barrel was frigid against her temple. She didn’t move a muscle.
