In Too Deep

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“Sweetheart,” the leader said, “why don’t you jump on over here.”

It was a command, not a question. And Knox seriously disliked the predatory expression that accompanied the words.

“Don’t move, Avery,” Knox countered, even as she started to obey.

“What? Really?” She froze and a little spurt of relief shot through him. Not that it lasted long.

The leader smirked, his lips twisting. “That looks like some pretty expensive equipment.”

“It is,” Knox said slowly, grinding the words out.

“Here’s what we’re going to do.” Turning to one of his men, the leader gestured at their boat. Before Knox could move to block him, the guy crossed, planting both feet aboard their boat.

“Miguel is going to escort your pretty friend over here. Then, you’re going to follow.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because if you don’t, Miguel will put a bullet in her brain.”

Miguel smiled, the kind of psychotic grin that told him he not only wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger, but would enjoy it.

Knox had run into enough men like him in his career to recognize a sociopath when he saw one. And these men were all cut from the same cloth. They weren’t just in the business for the money, they enjoyed the rougher side of life that came with drug running.

He ground his teeth. They were outnumbered and outgunned. His best bet for protecting Avery was to do as he was told...for now. None of the men realized he was a SEAL. Had the training to take them out, if they’d just give him a small opening.

It was clear he was being underestimated, but that had always been one of his greatest assets...allowing him to blindside his opponents and leverage the power of surprise.

People genuinely liked him, often accepting his easygoing outlook on life at face value. For some reason, most people automatically trusted him. A quality that had made him an excellent interrogator.

Knox watched, helpless, as Miguel wrapped his hand around Avery’s arm and lifted her across the expanse of water into the opposite boat. She stumbled over the edge. Knox lurched forward, intent on helping, but before he could reach her one of the other men had a gun buried against his shoulder.

“How sweet,” the leader drawled.

At gunpoint, Knox followed, constantly scanning for an advantage he could use, but there was none. They were outnumbered and outgunned.

Miguel pushed him onto the backseat, forcing Avery down beside him. Thank God for small miracles, no one bothered to tie them up. Not that it made much difference, since two of the men still had guns trained on them.

From his position, Knox watched them hook a three-point line onto rings that were already anchored in the wooden box. The third man took the controls in Knox and Avery’s boat.

Knox had to bite his tongue when the man sped off, taking with him some damned expensive equipment. Losing it hurt. But not nearly as much as getting shot or watching Avery bleed would have.

Out of nowhere, Avery’s hand landed on his thigh. She squeezed. He wasn’t sure if the gesture was supposed to be a warning or reassurance. Either way, it worked because he felt his blood pressure slipping back down to something more manageable.

She wasn’t scared. Or was damn good at hiding it if she was.

“Are you okay?” he murmured, low enough that the whine of the boat engine would cover up their conversation.

She nodded. Loathing flashed through her eyes as she glanced at the men holding them hostage. That was good and bad. He appreciated her spark, but only to the extent that she could control it. The last thing he needed was for her to open that smart mouth of hers and land them in even more trouble.

“Keep a grip, Avery. Don’t do anything stupid.”

She glanced at him from beneath her lashes. “What’s your definition of stupid?”

Oh, shit.

* * *

THAT FIRST SURGE of adrenaline faded, leaving Avery shaky and angry. The men standing guard didn’t waver, not even as their boat bounced over waves. The dark eyes of those barrels stayed trained on them.

The longer they sat, the more tension she could feel winding through Knox’s body. The rock-solid curve of his thigh pressed her leg. Each time the boat surged over a wave his wide shoulder brushed against hers.

At first, she’d been praying they would make it out of this alive. But after she’d calmed down and realized that if the man in charge had wanted them dead, they’d both be sinking beneath the surface of the Caribbean Sea right now, she’d switched her focus. From that point on, she’d prayed Knox wouldn’t decide to play hero and do something that would get either or both of them shot.

About an hour later, dread dropped into her belly. She watched as a land mass materialized out of the unbroken blue. It didn’t take long to notice they were heading straight for the tiny island instead of passing by.

“Knox,” she whispered.

“I know,” he murmured back.

Suddenly, the reasoning she’d used to convince herself they were going to be okay wasn’t nearly as sound. Was this where they were going to die?

The boat sped up to the island, curving sharply about fifteen feet from the shore. As abruptly as they’d approached, the engine was throttled back. They idled, floating sideways, carried by their wake for several moments.

Turning, the leader flashed them a pointed look. “This is where you two get off.”

Avery looked over at the island. It was quiet and clearly deserted. “You have to be kidding.”

The corners of the drug runner’s lips curled. “I’m not. Nor am I completely cruel. Miguel will follow with a few supplies. Matches, rope, alcohol.”

“You’re all heart,” Knox said.

“He’s been watching too many pirate movies,” Avery muttered.

Another one of those roaring laughs erupted from deep inside the criminal’s chest.

“So glad I could entertain you,” Knox said.

“You’re going to have your hands full with this one, my friend.”

“I’m not your friend.”

The smile disappeared in a flash, making Avery realize just how much of a lie it had been.

“No, but you’re going to be smart and not start anything. I’m leaving you both alive.”

Knox spread his thighs and planted his feet firmly on the bottom of the boat. Avery could feel his muscles bunching, preparing for whatever was coming.

“And why is that?”

The corners of his eyes twitched, indicating that whatever he was about to say would likely be only half the truth. “You said yourself, I’m all heart. But if you push me, I’ll have no compunctions about leaving you on this island with a bullet wound while you wait to be rescued. And you will be, eventually.

“This island might be deserted now, but fishermen come by here on a regular basis. It’ll only be a day or two before you’re discovered. Enough time for us to be long gone.”

Avery could feel the frustration flowing off Knox’s body. It was ratcheting up her own tension to the point that she wanted to scream. And if she’d thought it might help she would have done just that.

But she was afraid it would upset the tentative balance and cause a chain reaction that would end with bullets flying.

So, instead, Avery stood. Knox turned, glaring at her.

“We’ll go quietly.”

Miguel followed, using the business end of his gun to indicate she should throw her leg over the side of the boat and jump into the water. She did as she was told, sucking in a sharp breath as the water rose to just beneath her chin.

Heading for shore, she didn’t even hear a splash as Knox entered the water, but before she realized what was happening, his strong arms were stroking through the waves right beside her.

As she reached the shoreline, Miguel growled out an order in heavily accented English. “On your knees.”

She threw a glance over her shoulder. Miguel used the barrel of the gun in his hand to wave her back around. Avery’s heart lurched inside her chest. Wasn’t this usually how drug dealers killed people? At least, it always was in the movies.

Slowly, she sank, the warm sand coating her wet knees and calves. It was soft and welcoming. Any other time she might have appreciated the pristine stretch of beach. At the moment all she could think about was the injustice that it was potentially going to become her final resting place.

Knox dropped down beside her. Twisting her head, she scanned his face. It was drawn and hard, his mouth grim. He stared straight ahead into the line of trees several yards away up the beach.

Something brushed her fingers where they hung uselessly by her side. Suddenly, they were tangled with his, gripped tight. He squeezed, giving her a moment of comfort before pulling away again.

A bundle smacked the ground off to their left.

“Do not turn around until you hear the boat engine or you will both die.”

Avery swallowed and squeezed her eyes shut. Waiting.

Behind them, the boat’s engine revved higher. Avery twisted in time to watch the sleek, black machine shoot away.