Page 86 of Playing for Keeps

“They’re going slow,” Ford chimed in. “Probably trying to fly under the radar. They won’t want any attention on them with the cargo they have on board.”

“That’ll come in handy,” the pilot, Thaylor, said over the headsets. “We don’t want to have to stop and refuel.”

“Any luck on the satellites?” I asked Angel, though I didn’t expect much.

“Nothing yet. I’ll keep working on it in case there’s still a need when we finally get one.”

The thud of the rotors became the only sound, the darkness of the night seeping into the cabin and filling my mind.

I’d done everything I could to bring Jen back to me. With Rose’s help, I’d raised myself off my bedroom floor, then pulled myself together and started making plans. With shaky confidence, I let my friends help me lure her back to the city. Helped her find a job. Find an apartment. Find a reason to come back.

I’d done everything I could to bring her home, and I wasn’t going to let her slip away now.

“There, on the right,” Thaylor broke in after what seemed like hours. “Is that the trawler you’re looking for?” He read off the boat’s registration number on the hull, and Thatcher confirmed it was correct.

The solid white, red, and green lights around the boat gave off enough light to see a minimal crew onboard. My eyes were peeled, searching for any sign of Jen. But there was nothing there. No girls. No Levi. Nothing but one man in the cabin and two men on the bow.

Once they caught sight of us, they started to move. Thaylor maneuvered the chopper toward the front of the boat as Lee and his crew got ready to disembark. Shots were fired before the six men were off the helicopter.

Thaylor swung the chopper up and around, coming along the port side of the trawler. I couldn’t see the action on the bow, but soon Lee and Warren came running toward the stern. My heart raced as I watched them, sweeping their guns around as they searched for any threats. Lee pulled to a stop, his gun going limp in his hands. And I wanted to jump for joy. Jump from the helicopter down to the boat.

Because there in front of him was Jen.

He helped her off her knees, pulling her to her feet. He tugged a knife out of his pocket and cut the ties around her wrists. Then he pointed toward the deck before turning his back to her and heading down the stairs with Warren on his heels.

My girl’s gaze turned toward the helicopter, the water being kicked up by the rotors surely spraying her in the face. Thaylor brought the chopper lower, brought it over the stern, nearly to the starboard side. And when Jen smiled up at me, my heart finally felt whole.

For a split second.

And then it was too late.

Something came running at her from the door next to the one Lee had disappeared through. It bowled her over, her body smashing into the handrail before tumbling into the lake. My heart stopped. My breath lurched. My hand yanked off my headset as the other unbuckled my safety belt.

Pull yourself together and go after what you want.

I leapt from the chopper, diving into the drink.

Icy water engulfed my body, squeezing my chest, my lungs rebelling against the cold. In the pure darkness of that black pool, I couldn’t tell which way was up or down. I fought against the choppy waves, lungs burning and head about to explode. Then a hand gripped my throat, pulling me to the surface but giving me no room to breathe.

“Little fucker,” Jim Parker spat as I gasped for breath. His face was crushed on one side, cheek caved, eye socket crushed. Even through the briny, fishy scent of the water, I caught the strong smell of alcohol and blood wafting from his mouth. “Think you can mess with me?”

His hand crushed my windpipe, stars dancing in front of my eyes. Then he plunged me back into the icy blackness, cold water burning my skin.

That blackness turned a sunny shade of Bahamian blue. A tropical breeze tickled my back, blowing my hair across my face. I swiped my hair out of my eyes, watching as Jen dove under the warm water, her body like the dolphins we’d swam with the day before.

“Vinny!” Her laughter rang like bells, the smile on her lips glorious. “Come swim with me.”

I shook my head as the water lapped at my waist. “I’m not that good a swimmer.”

Not like her.

Jen rose to the surface, standing in front of me, taking my hands and holding them to her chest. “Well, I am. And I’ll help you.”

“Yeah?”

“I’ll never let you get hurt.” She wrapped my arms around her waist, then slowly leaned backward, taking me with her as she sank into the warmth of the sea. We bobbed along, bodies entwined, mouths meeting whenever we could steal a kiss.

She held me up, her lean body supporting mine as we floated in the summer breeze.