Saylor shuffled in front, cleared the next room, then moved out. Slowly. Like she had that night. One hand braced on whatever was within reach, the other brandishing the gun. Despite what she’d claimed, she wasn’t sure she’d hit anything if challenged, but she’d try.
It took a ridiculous amount of time to plod their way along the corridor then up the stairs, each pulse of that weapon scrambling her brains. She wasn’t sure how Zain kept moving, Maddox slung over his shoulder fireman style, when she could barely hold the gun without it slipping free, the sheer burden of it weighing her down. Zain had secured Maddox’s wrists, but she still checked the guy’s condition every few minutes, just to be sure.
They staggered onto the deck, exhausted. Battered but not broken. She cleared the area as best she could with her ears ringing, everything doubled. Rain fell in steady sheets as the wind roared past, the waves higher than before, rolling faster, with less time between crests. What would be one hell of a ride if they actually reached her boat.
Zain leaned against the wall. “We need to find Chase and Greer.”
Saylor nodded. “Maddox implied they’d been subdued.”
“I heard what he said, and if Chase isn’t breathing when I get to him, Maddox isn’t making the trip back.”
Her stomach roiled, the cold truth settling like a lump in her gut. “We can leave him here until we locate them. They’re more important.”
“And have his minions cart him off? No way.”
“Zain, if there was anyone else left alive, they’ve abandoned ship, by now. Sailed off on whatever vessel Maddox had charted. Look at the ocean. This is worse than with theVigilant. I don’t care how skilled or tough his crew might be, this is suicidal, and they know it.”
Zain closed his eyes for a moment. “But you’ll try it.”
She smiled. “If there’s a chance I can pull one more Hail Mary out of my ass…”
He nodded, each breath wheezing through clenched teeth. Looking paler than he had below. Or maybe it was the wind and the rain blurring her vision. Those endless pulses messing with her sight in a different way. “I’ll leave him here, head to the bridge…”
Another pulse, and that one light by the crane surged, glowing twice as bright before shattering and plunging the deck into an oppressive darkness. Just like that night.
She tried to move, blacked out, rousing when Zain shook her shoulder. She blinked, groaning at the never-ending noise inside her head.
He wrapped one arm around her waist, bodily lifted her. “I’ve got Chase and Greer. They’re stumbling their way to the stern.”
“Are they…”
What was the word?
“Bruised. Definitely battered, but alive. Chase took Maddox, the ass. Your turn.”
“How long was I out?”
“Not long. Chase was already on his way down the stairs with Greer. It seems the sonar’s strength weakens with distance. Or maybe it’s malfunctioning.”
She nodded, too tired to ask for details, as they limped their way across the deck, each wave rocking the ship back and forth. Waves crashed over the bow, rushing water across the deck and into the open stairwells. A few more hits, and the ship would sink.
Chase still had Maddox slung over his shoulder as they reached the stern, the deck tilted off on an angle. He looked over the side, shaking his head before addressing them. “Your Zodiac’s there, but it’s not quite where we left it.”
Saylor gazed down, watching her boat bob and list a good thirty feet back. “Well, crap. There’s no way I’ll be able to pull it closer in these conditions.”
Zain cursed. “I’ll go in?—”
“No.” She held up her hand. “It’s not just swimming over to the boat. It’s getting it positioned correctly after without having it crushed against the hull. You all get ready. I’ll only be a few minutes.”
“Saylor…”
Zain’s voice trailed into a curse as she shucked herballistic vest, then palmed the railing and vaulted over, giving a healthy shove as she cleared the side. Cold air curled around her, everything freezing for a second before the water surged up — pulled her under.
She held her breath, waiting for the current to ease slightly before kicking toward the surface. She crested the next wave with a gasp, sucking in a lungful of air before heading for the boat, arms cutting through the water, kicking with every stroke.
The Zodiac bobbed out of reach, seemingly moving with her before slowly inching closer, four strokes for each incremental gain. Cramps clenched her muscles, the numbing cold stealing her strength as she gave one last push, latching her hand around the rear platform. It took her a few tries to pull herself up — avoid the twin outboards — but she managed to haul her ass over the side and collapse on the deck.
Two breaths.
