Page 91 of Controlled

Creed

Whoosh!

The rush of cold water as it slammed into my face was brutal, taking all the breath from my lungs. Debris was everywhere from the boat’s explosion, making it difficult to see anything. Rage like nothing I’d ever felt swept through me as I struggled to make it to the surface. Once I did, I was shocked at the intensity of the flames.

“Bella. Bella.”

The fact my estate had been compromised so goddamn easily and in the middle of the day was difficult to believe. That meant whoever was behind this had planned the scenario for at least a couple of days. Perhaps they’d gotten on the property when I’d been in New York. That would mean the asshole responsible knew she was with me earlier than I believed.

Or at minimum a reporter tipped the person off. Entirely possible. All the asshole would need was one night of clandestine operations to set the scene in place. Besides, the Romanos had connections all throughout the Midwest just like I did in the East.

My mind was in a very dark place, the adrenaline rush coursing through me significant and my rage only increasing. I couldn’t lose her. Not now.

Not ever. My Bella. Mine.

Mine…

I fought the water, spinning around in a full circle, unable to see anything through the smoke. My ears were ringing, my left arm in tremendous pain but it didn’t matter. I had to find her. I would save her.

The moment I’d leapt off the dock, landing on the stern, I’d rolled, catching sight of the bomb. The fuckers who’d planned the attack had made certain I wouldn’t leave by boat. There’d been no time to get Bella to safety. Either the bomb was triggered by the rate of speed she was going or by remote detonator, which meant someone was watching from afar, using binoculars to scan the perimeter.

I’d been too late. Why had she decided to leave now?

“Bella!” I yelled, cognizant there was continuous gunfire going off. When several shots hit the water, I was forced to duck under into the murkiness. The estate had been surrounded, Kane learning about at least fifteen enemy soldiers through Christen and another one of my men just seconds before I’d run out the door to protect the woman I…

Fuck.

Fuck.

I surfaced again, the gunfire still going off. As I shoved aside debris from the boat, I was starting to panic. Then I noticed something floating further out and fought my way through the smoke and fire toward it.

Oh, God, no. It was Bella face down in the water. I pulled my shit together, fighting the anger and self-loathing for leaving her alone. When she suddenly slipped under the water, I didn’t hesitate, diving in myself. The fucking water was too murky to see any further than a foot or so out but I swam in her direction, diving down even deeper when I was certain I was close.

Nothing.

She wasn’t there. Oh, fuck, no. I wasn’t going to lose her.

I spun around, going in one direction then the other before the burn in my lungs became too severe to stay any longer. When I popped to the surface, I gasped for air. I spun around again, refusing to give up. I threw my arms out as I barreled deeper, almost losing hope.

Then I felt something. Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around the object, realizing instantly it was sweet Bella. As I struggled with both of us to the surface, I made a promise to the woman I cared for more than I thought possible, and to myself.

If she died, I would go on one last hunt, rounding up everyone involved. And they would face the kind of predatory wrath that every man feared.

As soon as I broke us through the surface, I immediately pushed her onto her back, doing my best to listen for any breathing sounds.

There were none.

Fuck.

She was so cold, her lips almost blue.

I pinched her nose, forcing back her head at a slight angle, fighting the surge of the water from the explosion and the wind. When I placed my mouth over hers, I did what could have me driven straight to hell. I prayed I could save her.

Blow after blow, I tried to remember how to do this from doing nothing more than watching it on television. But I refused to stop, doing everything I could to give her life. My rage had already breached the surface, my need to slaughter someone, to spill the blood of dozens fueled the fire burning deep within.

“Bella,” I managed, returning to the task, feeling her life slipping away from me. But there were those who believed in the miracle of prayers and while I’d never fully believe in some unseen being, as the sun began to fade into the beginning of twilight, my own small miracle happened.

She coughed, spitting up water.

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