Page 136 of Deep Tide

She glanced at the water again and caught sight of a dark shape just between the light and the shadow. A boat?

She looked at Gagnon. He kept his gun pointed at her chest as he climbed over the pipe. Sweat soaked his shirt, and the look in his eyes was cold and irritated, like she was an unpleasant chore he had to take care of.

Gagnon lifted his gun as he neared her. She grabbed the railing and threw her leg over it, and his face crumpled into a confused scowl.

“What the—”

She jumped.

•••

Nicole’s heart leaped into her throat.

“Holy shit, she jumped!” Owen yelled.

Sean scrambled to the front of the boat.

“Go!” Sean looked back at Joel. “Go, go, go!”

The boat surged forward, and Nicole caught her hand on the side as she scanned the swells, looking for Leyla.

“There!” she yelled.

“Where? Where?” Owen bellowed.

“There! By the big column!” She pointed at a bobbing dot on the waves.

Sean climbed onto the side and dived in.

•••

The water crashed over her, pushing her down with punishing force, then tossing her up again. She broke the surface and gasped for air.

Water filled her lungs, and she plunged down again. Panic set in as she fought for the surface, but the current was pulling her down.

She flailed her arms, straining for the surface, desperate for oxygen. The water was dark and churning, tossing her like a giant washing machine.

Which way?

Terror seized her as she tried to figure out which way was up. Her lungs burned. She needed air. She kicked and pulled, but the water kept sucking her down, down, down.

•••

Leyla!”

Sean pulled through the water, frantically searching for her dark head. Salt burned his eyes as he scanned the surface.

A wave swept him up, and he caught a glimpse of her.

“Leyla! Here!”

He swam through the swells, desperately trying to keep her in view. Her head disappeared beneath the surface, and terror shot through him. He powered through the water, arms and legs and lungs burning as he reached for her.

His fingers caught on something and he dove down, grabbing hold of her hair, her shirt, her arm. He dragged her up, hooking another arm around her body.

“Leyla!”

She coughed and choked, and Sean used his hip to thrust her up.

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