Chapter 22
twenty-two
Nev
Present
"Zander!" I scream as I jump-scoot the chair, the fucking chair I'm still tied to, closer to the railing.
Zander is moving but barely. With his hands tied, his body begins to sink below the surface.
And then in a burst of strength, like the whole lifting a car off someone scenario, I break my hands loose.
They're bloody and sore, but once they're free of the bindings, I untie my ankles from the chair.
The ghouls are having their moment of fun watching as the man who basically destroyed them all by himself sinks below the rough surface of the waves.
The water is turbulent, and a misty rain has turned to a cold fog making it hard to see ten feet past the boat, but I keep my eyes on the body in the water. He's moving more now.
"Zander!" I scream again, hoping to bring him fully out of his stupor. It's a rookie mistake—in my defense, I'm not used to being kidnapped—because it brings their attention my direction.
"She's untied," Chug says angrily. "Who the fuck tied her hands? Doesn't matter. Get her back on that chair."
At least three of the men start making their way toward me.
I climb up on the railing. "All of you can fuck off," I say and dive into the water.
I burst up from the ice-cold water with a shocked gasp.
The salt water feels like fire on my cut cheek and wrists.
A wave splashes my face. I suck in water and cough and sputter but keep my eyes on Zander.
His massive form sinks lower, then his head pops up, and he gasps for air.
He's struggling to tread water. His hands are tied, and the relentless, angry waves keep rolling over him.
I make my way over to him. He struggles for a second, thinking he's been caught by one of the kidnappers. He pulls free of my grasp and is flailing around like crazy. He's only just regained consciousness, and he's struggling to gain his bearings in the turbulent water.
"Zander, it's me. It's Nev," I say loudly.
His gaze lands on me. A wave washes over both of us. I lose sight of him for a second, then he reappears.
"Nev," he says, confused. It's obvious he has a concussion.
"What the fuck? Why are we—" He's kicking his legs hard to keep his head above water.
He tries to free his hands and yells out in pain, forgetting his dislocated shoulder.
His gaze lifts and lands on the boat behind us.
The crew have lined up along the railing as if they're watching a movie.
"Gun!" Zander yells. He yanks hard on his hands.
The shoulder slumps lower, and the pain is causing him to lose consciousness again.
I glance around and spot the wave runner he arrived on.
"Hey, Dolly, who should I shoot first?" Chug asks as he leans over the railing with his gun.
"Zander, you need to relax. I'm a trained lifeguard, remember?" I ask.
He smiles. "Can't ever forget. You and that red swimsuit, fuuck.
" His eyes drift shut. I take hold of him from behind.
Chug fires the gun. The bullet hits far enough away that I'm sure he's only trying to scare us, and it's working.
I've never dragged anyone the size of Zander out of the water.
My legs are cold enough to make the task harder, but I manage to get back to the wave runner.
Zander looks around. "Oh hey, I just remembered I rented that thing. Good for me."
It's not easy holding him in the water. I struggle to get his hands untied. The rope is thick, and my fingers are numb, but the cold is also working in my favor. The icy water has made Zander's hands contract in size. With some effort I slide the rope off.
Zander is finally gaining his bearings. He pulls his hands free. It takes a little work to get him up on the watercraft with only one working arm. The right one hangs limply at his side as he offers me the left. He pulls me up in front of him. "Think you're going to have to drive, Nevvie."
Chug and his crew have fired up the engine on the Knotty Girl. They're still watching us as Chug climbs up into the wheelhouse. He turns the boat toward open sea and sends smoke and a thick wake our direction. I'm relieved to see the back of them.
Zander wraps his good arm around my waist and rests his chin on my shoulder. "My dad's right. You really are a guardian angel, Nev."