13. Ava
Chapter 13
Ava
My hands feel numb and ache from gripping the scuba jet so tightly, but I don’t dare loosen my hold despite how much the red diamond is stabbing against my chest. Though, right now, I’m so angry I could rip it out of my wetsuit and let the quarter of a billion dollar gem sink to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. But that would mean taking my hands off this scuba jet and the shore is still too far for me to swim and not be seen by the helicopter that is hovering around the island and our hire boat.
So I hold on tightly.
My head feels woozy, dizzy at how fast the device is speeding. Schools of fish dart away as I zoom past, startled by my intrusion into their world. My body vibrates with the force of the speed, and I feel like I could pass out any minute.
My lungs burn, desperate for more air than my snorkel can provide at this pace. I can hardly breathe as I speed, and the rush of water past my ears is deafening, drowning out everything but the frantic pounding of my pulse.
I so desperately want to look back and find Seb, but I fight the urge, knowing that every second counts.
I take deep breaths through the snorkel, hoping I don’t aspirate.
The deep blue of the Mediterranean surrounds me, beautiful and terrifying in its vastness. Everything feels like it’s so far away.
As I push the scuba jet to its limits, a new fear creeps in. This device doesn’t have the battery life to get me to the mainland.
The thought sends a chill through me that has nothing to do with the cool water. I try to push it aside, focusing instead on the distant shoreline that’s slowly growing larger.
I’m all alone in this vast expanse of blue with only my wits. At least, this machine keeps me alive and free. It’s strangely thrilling and absolutely terrifying in equal measure.
I feel powerful, outsmarting those who thought they had cornered me.
But as I feel another twinge in my lower belly, I also feel incredibly vulnerable, wondering what was pumped in the air that’s made my body peculiar.
Seb and I always had a plan, if this was ever the outcome. If one of us was in peril, the other had to get to safety before planning a rescue attempt.
I was on my way back to the boat when I saw men zipping down thin rope onto the vessel, and I knew I didn’t have the time to think about Seb.
I groan at the churning in my guts. I just know this is much bigger than my usual outwitting security personnel in a hotel. So much bigger.
As the mainland nears, a burst of adrenaline courses through my veins, making every sensation suddenly sharper.
I wriggle against the pinch on my chest, acutely aware of the diamond pressing against my skin. Yet, I’m still not sure if this was a failure or a success.
Time will tell.
I grit my teeth, ignoring the ache in my muscles and the fear growing in my gut. I’ve come too far to give up now. Whatever happens, I’m determined to see this through to the end.
A sharp, intense pain suddenly engulfs my insides. It’s so excruciating my fingers loosen on the scuba jet. And for one heart-stopping moment, I gasp as I nearly lose my grip entirely.
As I struggle to maintain control, the diamond digs deeper into my chest, sending waves of pain through my body.
You can do this.
The shore is tantalizingly close now, the strip of golden sand promising not only safety but relief.
The pain intensifies, causing my vision to blur and making it difficult to focus.
My insides feel like they are being torn apart, each jolt of the scuba jet sending fresh agony through my core.
I bite down hard on my mouthpiece, tasting rubber and salt.
And just when I think I can’t endure another second, the scuba jet sputters and dies.
Fuck!
The sudden loss of momentum nearly dislodges me from the device. Panic blooms in my throat as I realize I’m still too far out to touch the bottom.
With throbbing arms, I release the now-useless jet and swim.
Trying to stay underwater,
Trying to evade capture.
Each stroke is torture, the pain in my gut is kindling into an inferno. But the alternative is unthinkable. So I push on, one agonizing stroke of my arms at a time.
The distance isn’t that far away now, but with the pain in my abdomen, it seems impossible.
Slowly and painfully, I close the gap.
My lungs scream for air, my muscles burn with exertion, and just when I think I can’t go any further, my feet brush against the sand.
Relief floods through as I push through the last of the shallows and stumble onto the shore, collapsing onto my hands and knees before I rip off my mask and snorkel. I gulp in lungfuls of air between sobs of pain and exhaustion.
For a moment, I kneel there, water lapping at my thighs, my entire body trembling.
Move Ava.
Wearily, I push my hands and toes into the sand and force myself to my feet.
I’m not safe yet. I need to move, to hide, to get as far away from the water as possible.
As I stagger up the beach, one hand pressed to my aching abdomen and the other touches the diamond through my wetsuit, a grim smile tugs at my lips.
Whatever happened on the island, the owner never expected me to get away with the most precious and exquisite diamond in the world. But against all odds, I beat him.
Me, an omega, outwitted the alpha on that island.
Now I know, whatever comes next, I’m ready to face it.
I just wish his scent wasn’t swimming around in my veins. Because despite traveling underwater, his pheromones are coating every inch of me. And I have to stop the part of me that feels like swimming back to the island and finding him, licking him clean of the scent on his skin before I slide myself over his cock.
My eyes roll. I need to get away.
I turn back towards the sea, scanning the horizon. My heart skips a beat as I spot Seb’s boat in the distance.
There’s a sleek, powerful-looking vessel pulling up alongside it. Even from here, I can sense the change in the atmosphere. Something’s happening out there, and I know it’s not good for me.
Adrenaline surges through me again. I need to move fast.
I stumble onto the road, waving frantically at an approaching car. It slows to a stop, and I lean into the driver’s window, my words tumbling out in rushed Spanish.
“Por favor, necesito ir a Marina Santa Eulàlia y luego al puerto de ferry. Le daré mil euros si me puede llevar ahora mismo.”
The driver’s eyes widen at the mention of a thousand euros. He nods quickly, gesturing for me to get in.
The ride is a blur of anxiety, knowing I need to get off this island.
As soon as we reach where the boat is moored at the Marina Santa Eulàlia, I rush to the vessel, my legs still wobbly from the underwater ordeal.
Once aboard, I head straight for the small maintenance hatch near the engine. And with trembling fingers, I pry it open and tuck the diamond securely inside, wedging it behind a tangle of wires where it won’t be easily found.
We have two safes on board. Seb will open one if he’s under duress.
Inside that safe is paperwork, a few thousand euros and a few cheap watches.
The other safe has our expensive items, the Rolex, the Patek Philippe watch, the diamonds, and jewelry we still need to sell. And I should put the diamond in there, but I don’t.
They’ll want the diamond returned. And as they know our vessel. They’re likely to find the other safe, but they’ll only get the ‘Circle of Life’ back in their hands by handing me my beta.
I take two painkillers and drink half a bottle of water before I strip off my wetsuit. Wincing with each movement, it’s not only my sore muscles but the ache in my stomach is also getting worse.
After pushing fresh clothes in a bag, I change into a dry pair of shorts and a tee shirt, before shoving my feet into a pair of Converse.
I wave at the man waiting at the end of the pier, holding two fingers in the air, letting him know I’ll be quick.
Once ready, I open the safe and stuff a wad of cash and my credit card into my pocket, and bite my lip.
I take my leather tote, the one I use on robberies sometimes. The one with a secret compartment that nobody can ever find. I retrieve the Circle of Life and hide it in my tote before I dash back to the waiting car.
My heart is thumping like crazy.
I check my watch as we speed towards the ferry port, before staring ahead.
Once there, I pass the driver the promised money.
“Your perfume,” the driver says in perfect English.
“I know.” Because, for the first time in my life, I know what my omega scent is.
I don’t smell of the beautiful cherry and almond tart I frequently eat; the smell I secretly hoped was mine.
No, my scent isn’t a sweet perfume.
It’s spicy, zesty, alcoholic and woody, and— I hate it—I smell like a fucking man.
Like that man.
Though, I’m sure it’s delicious on his body.
“Be careful,” the driver warns me.
“I’ll try.” I give him a little extra cash for his silence and for getting me here on time.
He nods gratefully as I stumble out of the car and rush to the ticket office.
My heart is pounding as I purchase a ticket and board the ferry just minutes before it’s set to depart.
As the boat pulls away from the dock, I allow myself a small sigh of relief. I’ve bought myself some time, but I know this is far from over.
After finding a quiet corner, I slump into a seat, exhaustion finally catching up with me.
As the ferry travels past the island I’ve just escaped from, I sink into the seat. But my heart drops when seeing Seb’s small hire boat traveling back to the main island.
I hope he has the same idea as me and goes back to Majorca.
That’s why I left him the boat, and a message.
Stick to the plan.
Only Seb knows what that means.
As Ibiza recedes into the distance, and Majorca gets larger, I close my eyes, knowing I’m safe. Yet still trying to ignore the lingering scent of the alpha that still clings to me and hope these painkillers will kick in soon.
Because I’m only as safe as an omega whose body is changing. And as an omega who is going into her first heat, I am far from safe.