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“Jacon!” I screamed. “Jacon, are you there? Shit! Jacon, she’s at the triple water towers! Hurry! Bring bolt cutters.”
The water swirled around Aurora’s shoulders and, seeing no other option, I dived in and swam to her.
“What are you doing? Now we’re both trapped!” Aurora shrieked. I took a deep breath, ducked under, and searched for the chain ends. Finding one, I tugged, trying to break it. I could hold my breath for nearly three minutes, so I worked hard. Surfacing, I took a few more breaths, ignoring Aurora’s panicked gaze, and dived back under. Daryl had made sure these fuckers would not break free, and when I surfaced, the water was up to Aurora’s chin.
“Tell Klutz I love him,” Aurora said plaintively.
“You’re not dying.” I hissed. Water lapped her lips, and Aurora spat it out. Aurora’s eyes shone with tears. I dived, and when I emerged, she shut her mouth and nose in the air.
“No matter what happens, I won’t let you die,” I swore as a dangerous idea came to me. Aurora’s head disappeared underwater, and I whipped a plastic bag from my pocket and swung it around, gathering air in it. I plunged and held the neck of the small bag securely. Grabbing her head firmly, I forced Aurora to look at me, kept the bag up, and held it to her mouth. Aurora’s eyes widened as she clutched me tightly. I signalled for Aurora to hold her breath as the bag emptied, and I kicked up to the surface before sinking back down and locking her lips against it.
To my surprise, Aurora remained calm as I repeated my actions over and over. I was tired and wondered if my brother would ever get his ass here. As I surfaced, a splash startled me, and two men appeared by my side. I took three deep breaths and dived with the bag for Aurora. A man appeared and held out bolt clippers, and I kept the bag locked to Aurora’s mouth. Aurora began struggling as a chain snapped free, and then the second and third collapsed, and I grabbed her and pulled her upwards.
I was shattered. My strength was gone, but I kicked upwards and found the surface a lot further away than I thought. After a lifetime, I broke water and dragged Aurora with me. Aurora was weaker than I liked, and her lips had a blue tinge. Jacon surfaced as I turned on my back and supported Aurora’s weight in a rescue position.
“Get us the fuck out of here, Jacon,” I whispered.
He nodded.
“Throw down a sling or something. They can’t climb a rope!” Jacon bellowed.
“Daryl?” I asked, shivering.
“Dead or soon-to-be, Lynda. You and I are gonna talk.”
“Expected that!” I retorted. I was the next youngest after Jacon, and we’d always been close. When Jacon was arrested, I had tried everything possible to defend him, but Dad held the reins and blackmailed me. If it had been something simple he’d coerced me over, I’d have stood by Jacon, but Dad threatened to throw my elderly grandparents out on the street. I couldn’t allow that to have happened, so I caved. They never knew how close they’d come to being homeless.
“Klutz, swing this harness under her arms and secure Aurora!” a guy yelled. Aurora’s weight was taken from me, and I sighed as I sank a little, and then a muscular arm yanked me upwards. I stared into a pair of bright blue eyes and a quirky smile.
“Can’t let the heroine of the hour die,” a grumbly voice said, and I shivered. The eyes smiled before meeting my brothers, and the humour faded.
“Last I knew, Lynda, you stuck with them and cut me off at my knees. Now I find you’re here allegedly rescuing my wife. We’re going to talk, and if I don’t like the answers, you’ll be joining Daryl,” Jacon said, and his voice was deadly.
“Fuck you, baby brother. You know nothing,” I spat in temper.
Those blue eyes cooled, and anger entered them.
“What type of bitch turns her back on an innocent man?” the guy asked.
Angry, I hit the water with my fist.
“The one who had no choice. Did you want Gramps and Granny to be homeless because that was the cost of supporting you, Jacon!” I snarled and swallowed water. I spat it out furiously and swam towards the harness coming back down. Without looking at anyone, I shoved my arms in and was hauled up. Jacon didn’t know what had happened, and I’d made sure of it. He’d been emotional enough, but if he’d known Dad was blackmailing me, Gramps, and Granny not to support Jacon, hell would have broken loose.
Still angry, I climbed out and swayed as dizziness hit me as my eyes focused on the ground. A guy grabbed me, and I clutched him tightly. Fuck, vertigo could not kick in now. I saw Aurora huddled below and concentrated on reaching my patient. Aurora was shivering, and her lips had a definite blue tinge. Someone threw me a heavy jacket, and I wrapped it around her shoulders while taking her pulse.
“We need to rush Aurora to the hospital. She’s suffering from hyperthermia and shock. They’re both dangerous,” I said, and an individual nodded.
Together with a guy behind me and her, we inched our way down the ladder. Now adrenaline was fading, I was feeling the usual signs of vertigo, and I almost fell to my knees and kissed the ground when my feet hit it. Jacon wasn’t saying much but hovering around Aurora and fussing over her. It was endearing to see my huge-assed baby brother worrying about his wife.
At the hospital, Aurora and I were rushed into different cubicles to my disagreement. I didn’t think I needed to see anyone, but guys called Drake and Gauntlet insisted, as I’d been in the water a while. Disgruntled, I submitted to a check and then discharged myself.
“You’re Lynda Edwards,” a Mexican man asked, approaching.
“Yes.”
“Detective Antonio Ramirez. My partner and I would like to ask you some questions,” he said. Despite his professional attitude, I sensed dislike under his façade.
“Fine, I need coffee. Let’s go to the cafeteria here.”
