Page 132 of Surfer's Paradise

And suddenly—he wasn’t breathing.

Fuck.

His vision blurred, a black halo creeping at the edges.

His body reacted instinctively, reaching for his regulator, trying to shove it back between his lips.

But the pain in his side was blinding, sharp and splintering every time he moved.

He felt his chest seizing, burning, the crushing pressure of needing oxygen but getting nothing.

A sharp pull in his stomach—panic.

Fucking no.

Stay calm. Get the regulator. Correct the dive.

He tried, but his body wasn’t responding.

And then—the second hit.

The current twisted again, and he was yanked sideways, his body slamming into rock again, harder this time.

Something cracked.

Ribs. Definitely ribs.

The pain was a live wire, white-hot, shocking through every nerve in his body.

His lungs screamed.

He reached again—but his fingers weren’t working right, his vision tunneling.

Black spots spilled across his sight.

And just as the panic fully took hold—

A hand gripped his vest.

Strong. Unyielding.

And a regulator was slammed between his lips.

Oxygen.

Burning into his lungs, but saving him.

His eyes snapped open.

Dom.

His face clear through the mask, his eyes locked onto Isaac’s.

Got you.

Isaac inhaled, the relief immediate and searing.

Dom signaled—are you good?

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