Page 159 of Rescuing You

No sounds came from the hatch overhead.

Did Waleed and his men even know it was there?

“You two all right?” Michael slid the life jackets off his arm and handed them to the sisters. He started to help Jasmine with hers.

“I can do it,” she said.

The steadiness in her voice surprised him. Despite the illness, she seemed strong. “Don’t forget the strap between your legs. You’ll need that.”

At her nod, he shifted to Leila. She’d already started clicking her life jacket in place. He checked, making sure it was tight enough. Mostly, just wanting to be near her. “What’d you stab him with?”

“A nail.” Her voice was low and raspy. “I waited, like you said.”

“Well done.” He wanted to pull her close. He wanted to tell her he loved her and he was sorry and he was never going to let her out of his sight again.

But not yet.

There’d be plenty of time for that later.

“How are you here?” she asked.

Her voice sounded like she’d come down with laryngitis since he last saw her.

“How are you alive?”

“Bullet grazed me,” he said. “And dazed me for a few seconds. Long enough for them to get you.” He held her shoulders and leaned away, straining to see her face in the dim light. She looked not like the man he’d made her up to be, but like Leila. Lovely, vulnerable Leila.

He pulled her against his chest, whispered, “I’m sorry. I love you.”

“You do not apologize. You are our rescuer. Again.”

He hoped she felt the same way after he told her the plan.

The cabin hatch was rattling against the metal wall. By the multiple voices, lots of men were trying to gain access.

“How many?”

“There were six at the airport, but when we came on board, there were more. I do not know.”

“You hear that, Brock?” Michael asked.

Brock said, “Copy.”

“Listen.” He shifted to address both women. “You remember before we got in the raft, I showed you how well the life jackets work?”

“Yes,” Jasmine said.

Leila nodded, but even in the darkness, he saw fear in her eyes.

“They’ll pull you above water. You just have to hold your breath when you go in.”

The wall hatch was about to give. They had seconds.

He climbed the ladder to the ceiling exit.

Maybe the men were all in the cabin.

Or maybe some were on the deck, hoping to trick him into the open. Where they’d shoot.