Page 99 of Shallow Remains

The roar of an explosion filled the air. Eve fell back, clutching her throat.

A piece of metal stuck out of her skin, blood pouring between her hands. Her eyes were wide with panic.

Maddy tore her gaze away and struggled to her knees to look behind her.

Lachlan’s boat was obliterated, the floating wreckage in flames.

She sucked in a painful breath. “Lachlan!” His name tore from her throat in a primal scream, shrill and agonized.

Her stomach pitched. She scanned the surface frantically, searching for any sign of him through a haze of tears.

He can’t be dead. He can’t be, he can’t be…

She spotted a flash of orange near the edge of the wreckage. Cried out when she recognized his flotation suit.

She shot a glance at Eve. She was lying still on the deck, eyes half open, her hands on the shrapnel in her neck.

Maddy ignored her and stepped to the helm. Fumbled one-handed with the controls, her broken wrist cradled against her chest. She had to get to Lachlan and pull him out of the water. Get him to shore.

The engine wouldn’t start.

“Come on!” she yelled, trying it again.

Nothing happened.

Her gaze cut back to Lachlan. It looked like he was on his back.

If the boat wouldn’t go to him, she would go on her own.

She couldn’t see a life jacket on board. But Lachlan needed her.

Heart pounding, on rubbery legs she stepped onto the edge of the boat, took a deep breath and jumped.

FIFTY-TWO

The shock of the cold water took her breath away.

When her head broke through the surface a second later she heaved in a ragged breath and gave an involuntary cry. Oh shit, shit, shit…

With effort, she rolled onto her stomach and began swimming toward Lachlan. Kicking her legs in a breaststroke pattern and pulling herself with her one good arm.

The pain in her other was sharp and nauseating, and being in the freezing ocean without a lifejacket scared her. This was nothing like swimming in a pool. Knowing there was nothing beneath her for hundreds of feet was terrifying, the rolling crests of the waves battering her.

Overhead in the distance, she spotted something coming through the clouds. An aircraft of some kind. She kept going, gaze anchored to Lachlan, the slow pace frustrating and disheartening. “Lachlan!”

She swam harder, pushing down the fear, fighting against despair and the cold that was already turning her limbs numb. “Lachlan!” Her voice was shrill.

He was only a few yards away now. She kicked with all her might. Stretched her right hand out, straining to grab hold of the nearest part of him she could reach.

His eyelids fluttered weakly when she finally pulled him to her.

A soft sob broke free. She clenched her icy fingers around a handful of his jacket, kept treading water. She didn’t see any blood, but he was definitely hurt. “Lachlan, look at me. P-please look at me…”

He groaned. Opened his eyes slowly. “Mad-dy,” he mumbled. His lips were slightly blue around the edges. He seemed to be having trouble breathing.

“Yes,” she whispered back through her tears. He recognized her and could speak. That had to be a good sign. “I’m here. Please hold on.”

She began towing him back toward the other boat. Or tried to, but with only her tired legs to propel them, it was like towing an anvil through the water.