NICK WATCHED THE scuffle from Jay’s boat, his blood boiling as he fought the urge to have target practice with the man on board, but he couldn’t get a clean shot. When Kaylan jumped the man, he bit back the urge to cheer. Now they had a fight.
“Bulldog, get us close to that boat.”
His best friend gunned the engine and brought them even with the boat. Nick leaned over the side. The water splashed and frothed, trails from both boats winding behind them and disappearing into darkness. He dug his boots into the boat, trying to find traction.
“Hawk, you can’t jump!” Micah shouted over the wind. The sea grew choppier the longer they stayed out, and Micah fought to keep the boat straight.
A gun fired, and Kaylan fell backward.
“Kaylan!”
Their boat rocketed past as the other boat slowed, their speed decreased in the scuffle. The man turned and smashed Kaylan’s head.
“Hawk, jump now,” Micah yelled as he pulled even to the other boat again.
Nick didn’t think twice. He leaped right as the other boat accelerated. His gun tumbled loose and into the water as he hit the deck and rolled, slamming into the back of the boat. Nick pulled himself onto his knees, taking stock of anything close to him and hating himself for losing the pistol.
The man driving the boat turned and caught sight of Nick. Nick heard a string of Arabic before the man pointed the boat to the beach and accelerated. He turned and pointed his gun down at Kaylan, never transferring his gaze from Nick’s. Beads of sweat formed on the man’s forehead. His left hand shook, but his right hand gripped the gun without hesitation.
The man knew he’d been beaten. He closed his eyes, and dread filled Nick. A martyr.
Nick crouched, took a deep breath, then rushed. Even with a few inches on the man, he felt like he hit a solid wall. The man’s eyes flew open, and he fired a wild shot. Nick didn’t even have time to make sure it missed Kaylan. He used all his strength, shoved the man through the partial glass windshield, and sent him plummeting over the side of the boat.
Nick grabbed the wheel and jerked with all his might, but it refused to budge. He fought the accelerator, but the man had jammed the track, making it impossible for Nick to slow their speed. He yelled as they narrowly missed a rock. They were going to hit shore in a matter of moments, and this boat would blow. He was tired of exploding boats. He signaled to Micah they would need to jump.
Micah maneuvered his boat away, giving them space and slowing in preparation for removing them. Nick worried about hitting the water at this speed, but they had no choice. He knelt next to Kaylan.
“Kaylan, baby. Wake up. We gotta jump.” She groaned, blood pulsing from her head, but her eyes remained closed. Nick glanced up. Four hundred yards from shore and closing. No time.
He swung Kaylan over his shoulder, her long legs dangling. He shoved himself onto his feet, fighting the motion of the boat. Digging his feet into the deck with all his might, he ran and jumped.
His head plunged under water, and he lost his breath. The icy current seized his body. Kaylan slipped off his shoulder, and he grabbed her around the waist. Kicking with his remaining energy, he pushed them to the surface, breaking just as an explosion rocked the beach. He covered her head, shielding her with his body.
Heat seared his back even as the waves carried him farther away from the shore. Kaylan moaned in his arms, and Nick’s stomach dropped. He needed to get her out of the water. Now.
He scanned the darkness, finally spotting the boat. With a wave and shout, he caught Micah’s gaze and waited as his friend maneuvered closer.
As soon as Micah pulled even, he cut the engine and reached for Kaylan. Nick shoved her upward into her brother’s waiting arms.
Waves lapped at Nick’s face, and he spat salt water. Grabbing the side of the boat, he pulled himself on deck. He landed and rolled, for a moment too tired to move.
“C’mon, sis. You are not allowed to go out on me like this.”
At the strain in Micah’s voice, new adrenaline spiked through him. Nick crawled to where Micah bent over Kaylan on the deck, pumping her chest and blowing air into her lungs. Her face was deathly pale, and a gash leaked blood on her forehead. He reached for her fingers. Ice cold.
“Kaylan Lee Richards, you are not leaving me like this.” He pushed Micah out of the way and began to pump her chest, stopping to breathe into her mouth. Lord, please don’t take her. Not like this. Not yet.
With a shudder she gagged. Nick uttered a cry of relief as he rolled her over. Gasping and coughing, she threw up seawater.
“Thank You, God,” Micah croaked.
Nick pulled Kaylan into his arms as they shivered on deck. “I love you.” He kissed her forehead. “I love you so much. Don’t you ever do that to me again. The only one allowed to have near-death experiences from now on is me, got it?”
Kaylan laughed weakly, her voice scratchy from swallowing salt water. “I thought we were supposed to share everything.”
Nick kissed her forehead. “Not that.”
The sound of another boat engine broke through the slosh of water. “The Feds are here, Hawk. Looks like they picked up the others.”
“Megan?”
“Jay, Colt, and Titus have her. She’s fine. Looks like they caught Dmitri too.”
Kaylan wilted in his arms, tears streaming down her face in relief. “I can’t believe you’re here. I can’t believe you found us.”
Nick rose up on his elbows to look at Kaylan. He studied every part of her face. A bruise blossomed on her cheek, and he touched the spot gingerly, anger filling him at whoever had hit his girl.
“I’m okay, babe. But I never thought I would see you again.”
He cupped her face and kissed her bruise, her cut, then settled on her lips. He kissed away the terror and a long night of wondering. He kissed away the possibility of never seeing her or holding her again. They’d made it. And he would never let her go again.
“Break it up, you two. Save it for the honeymoon.”
Micah grabbed Nick and pulled him off Kaylan. Then he reached for his sister, wrapping her in a blanket as he pulled her into his arms. She nuzzled into her brother’s chest, her tears flowing unchecked. “We better call home. And just get ready for Mom and Dad to give you the lecture of your life,” Micah grumbled.
Nick hung his head in relief. Justice at last. They had Janus in custody, had caught the head of a major human trafficking ring, and hadn’t lost the girls in the process. Regardless of the struggle, he could live with the results.