Page 16

N ate’s heart drummed in tune with his fingers on the tablecloth. Where the hell had she gone? He turned his wrist and glanced at his watch. She’d been gone more than ten minutes, and she wouldn’t risk making Carlos suspicious. Tony leaving moments ago couldn’t be a coincidence.

“Would you sit still and eat?” Ashley hissed with her gaze on her soup.

Apprehension danced over his skin. He set his spoon next to the bowl and leaned close to her ear. “Something’s not right. I’ll be right back.” He wiped his mouth with the thick white napkin and stood.

Ashley snagged his pant leg and her eyes narrowed on his. Out of the corner of his eye, Olga’s gaze lingered with interest on them. Ashley was right, he was acting weird, and it would draw attention. Only he didn’t give a shit. He’d learned long ago to listen to his gut.

“Please excuse me,” he said to the other couples. “I need to take this call.” He pulled his phone from his pocket, being careful not to let them see that no call illuminated the screen, and nodded at them. A few hands lifted in acknowledgement of his false excuse.

He squeezed around the table next to them, his attention on Maddie’s empty seat. Carlos dug into his soup, unconcerned. Carlos’s eyes lifted and landed on Nate. Recognition dawned in his green orbs and he straightened in his seat.

Nate clenched his hand around his phone and forced a tight smile. Carlos dabbed his mouth with a napkin and stood as Nate moved past his chair. “Hey neighbor. I was hoping we’d be at the same table,” Carlos said.

He extended his hand. Nate closed his fingers around Carlos’s smaller hand, and gripped it harder than he’d intended. The skin around Carlos’s eyes creased and he winced. Something flickered across his face and his pupils dilated.

“Yeah, that’s too bad.” Urgency scorched through Nate’s muscles, and his neck tensed.

Even white teeth flashed, and Carlos’s green eyes watched him carefully.

Nate suppressed the urge to sit Carlos’s fake ass in the chair and hunt for Maddie.

They were here for a reason, and he had to keep up the charade.

“I’d introduce you to my girlfriend, but she had to make a call.” His gaze dropped to the phone in Nate’s hand. “You going somewhere?”

Nate pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth. Carlos was a slimy bastard, but damn he was sharp. “Business,” he said with a smile. “No days off.”

Carlos shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded. “Ah, the joys. But the money makes it worth it. Go ahead and make your call, we can chat later.” He clapped Nate on the shoulder and winked. He resisted the urge to wipe Carlos’s grimy sweat off the material.

“Maybe we can catch a drink after the show,” Nate offered. His tone was light, and brisk. He moved past him and lifted his fingers in goodbye.

“I’ll be at the bar all night,” Carlos called.

Nate laughed with him and rounded another table, and then brushed quickly through the rest. His palm connected with the door and it swung open and into the hall. The bright fluorescent lights bounced off his smooth leather shoes as he raced down the hall.

Carlos had said Maddie was on a call. Did that mean she’d gone outside or to their room? He’d check the deck first, and then call Dylan and have him check their room. He exited another set of double doors and into a wall of cold air.

“Help!” A high-pitched scream hit his eardrums and his senses went on high alert. He whipped toward the sound. Tony stood in front of the rail, Maddie lifted over his head. Her feet kicked and thrashed in the air. A spray from the waves below shot up to land on the deck at their feet.

A cold sweat broke out on his brow and he tore his feet from the floor, charging them. Maddie’s screams ripped through his heart and a lead weight dropped into his stomach. Blood pounded through his eye sockets. Goddammit Tony was going to throw her overboard.

The sonofabitch was going to pay.

He fisted his hand in Tony’s hair and yanked him backward. Maddie barreled out of his hold and landed hard on the deck.

She moaned and her hand clutched the side of her head.

Fuck, she was hurt. He held tight to Tony’s greasy hair as he tumbled back, but caught himself before he hit the deck.

Using his momentum, Nate brought Tony’s head down on the metal rail.

A sickening ring echoed through the air and Tony crumbled to his knees.

Blood poured over his eyes from a wide gash across his forehead. Nate’s cellphone fell from his fingers and skittered across the deck.

Nate hooked his forearm around Tony’s throat and locked him in a rear chokehold. His eyes sought Maddie. She clung to the rail with both hands, her body hunched forward and her face stark white.

“Get out of here,” he mouthed.

She nodded wildly and moved away from the rail.

That had been close. Too fucking close. He couldn’t let his mind drift to what would have happened had he come out five seconds later.

Heat scorched up his spine and sat at the back of his neck.

A muscle in his jaw twitched. Tony’s hands gripped Nate’s arm frantically.

Short gasps came through his blood-stained lips.

“You were going to kill her—why?” The words rumbled through his throat with the effort it took to keep his tone level.

If Tony figured out Maddie knew him, everything would go to hell.

His instincts told him to heft him over the rail, just as Tony had been ready to do to Maddie.

But killing him would affect the job. His gaze focused on the angry water only feet below them.

If he threw him overboard, he would likely be chalked up to another drunk that had gotten too close to the edge.

“None of your damn business,” Tony ground out against Nate’s hold.

“Wrong answer.” Nate lifted him to his feet. He’d get him to talk.

The wind howled and Tony’s dark strands hit Nate’s cheek. Tony’s body stiffened against him and a cry tore through him. He threw his weight back and Nate stumbled.

Nate’s feet scuffed against the floor but he shifted them forward before he toppled backward.

Tony’s fingers curled around Nate’s bicep and he flung them toward the edge.

Nate’s ribs hit the metal rail and pain shot across his back.

He grunted and pulled back on Tony’s throat.

He sputtered, and his legs trembled against Nate’s, but he didn’t lose consciousness. The fucker was an ox.

Nate lifted his knee and slammed it against the back of Tony’s leg. His knees sank, but he pressed back against Nate, digging the rail deeper into his ribs. Nate cursed. He tightened his fist and connected his knuckles with the side of Tony’s head.

He didn’t pass out.

Tony let out a long, low grunt and bent forward in Nate’s hold. His hand grasped behind Nate’s knee and lifted his leg. Nate hopped on his foot and kicked, but Tony didn’t loosen his hold. Tony tossed them to the side and Nate’s back rolled over the rail.

Fear pierced his spine as the spray hit him.

“Tony, stop!” Maddie cried.

Nate snapped his gaze at the sound of her voice. She stood on the deck, her body trembling and her hair and makeup askew. Fuck, she need to get out of here.

He opened his mouth to shout to her, but Tony threw his shoulder against Nate and he flipped over the edge.

He pulled with all his might. Tony’s back hit the rail and his feet lifted off the deck.

They sailed through the air. Maddie’s face filled his vision as they careened down.

Her eyes wide, her mouth open in a silent scream.

His heart split in his chest, sending pain through his nerve endings.

He sucked in a breath of the salty air and they hit the ice-cold water.

Tony’s weight sent them spiraling deep into the blackness.

He shoved Tony away from him and kicked his feet, his arms stretched above his head in search of the surface.

The restriction of his suit jacket kept his arms stiff.

His chest burned and water rushed into his nostrils.

He broke through the surface and hungrily breathed in air.

A wave lifted his body, but he stayed above the water.

The ship hummed away from him, lights from the stern of the boat glowed, offering the only illumination besides the moon.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Terror nipped at the back of his throat, but he forced it down.

He ran his hand over his face and brushed his hair off his forehead.

All he had to do was swim. Maddie had watched them go overboard, so she would notify someone.

Another wave came and tossed him through the thick, dark ink.

He unbuttoned his suit jacket. The material clung to his dress shirt as he freed himself of it.

He sliced his arms through the water and kicked toward the ship.

Its lights were now the size of tennis balls.

He swallowed over the lump in his throat.

His arm slapped against something hard and his heart slammed into his throat.

Tony lay face down in the water, his black suit barely visible against the raven tide.

Nate gripped the back of his collar and turned him over.

Blood covered his face and a stab of terror hit Nate with the force of a truck.

Blood was in the water.

Motherfucker. He forced the image of the vicious jaws of a shark tearing through his legs out of his mind.

He swallowed and pressed two fingers against the side of Tony’s throat.

Water hit him in the face, and he coughed and wiped his eyes on his shoulder.

His feet kicked steadily beneath him. Goosebumps sharpened on his skin and his teeth chattered.

Shit.

The soft murmur of a pulse beat against his skin. God fucking dammit. Minutes ago, Tony had been ready to kill Maddie. He deserved to die. Indecision tore through him. He wouldn’t sacrifice his life for this fucking scumbag. If the ship didn’t turn around in five minutes, he’d say sayonara to Tony.

A flash of bright orange sailed across the surface.

A floatation device. Maddie must have thrown it to him. He let go of Tony and dove toward it. His hand snagged the white string that floated behind it. He reeled it in, hooked his arm through the hole, and kicked back to Tony.

His legs burned as he treaded water, one hand around Tony’s chest, one on the buoy. Pins and needles stabbed through his skin and his breath came out in white puffs around them.

The lights on the ship were dim little specks now.

He closed his eyes and Maddie’s face filled his mind’s eye.

The gentle upturn at the end of her nose, soft spray of freckles beneath her eyes, and the full mouth he hadn’t kissed enough fucking times.

If he died here tonight, his only regret would be fighting Maddie.

The backs of his eyes burned and he inhaled through his nose.

If he was given one more chance… he’d do things right.