15. Chapter 15
Chapter fifteen
Brooks
Ipushed the throttle harder than the boat liked. Aria was out there, facing God knew what alone.
Rafi had texted another location. She was out at sea, and we knew that a yacht sat a few miles off the coast. Sloane had contacted a friend in the Coast Guard who had agreed to deploy a helicopter on a “tip.”
My gut told me we were running out of time. Over the engine, I heard the thwap of helicopter blades. A light came on about two cables ahead of me. It sliced across the water, and I slowed the engine when I heard men shouting.
The helicopter whirred overhead, switching their spotlights on. One man was on the boat, pointing in my direction. No. Not mine. Something in the water. I saw a head bob and then dive as another figure swam with strong, swift strokes toward it.
Aria was in the water.
Someone opened fire, shooting at the helicopter. I dove, reaching Aria’s limp, shivering body first. At least she was alive. I hooked an arm around her, pulling her against me as I swam back to the boat and hoisted her over the side.
The other man in the water hadn’t realized I’d gotten her out yet and was still swimming toward me. I pushed myself up over the side, my clothes clinging to my form as I reached for the gun stowed in the holster under the steering wheel.
The man appeared over the side of the boat. My finger pressed the trigger.
Aria coughed and threw up some water. In a strained voice, she said, “Brooks. Don’t. I’m okay.”
“He was going to kill you.”
“But he didn’t. You saved me.”
Slowly I looked at her. Her curls were plastered to her head. “No, baby. You saved yourself.”
Aria smiled and lay back down. “Okay. I saved myself.”
After the guy pulled himself into the boat, I zip-tied him and sat him next to me. All I wanted to do was pull Aria into my arms, but that would wait until I knew everyone was accounted for and secure.
The Coast Guard had subdued the man who’d shot at them, boarded the boat, and secured the rest of the crew. They’d also found and secured Roman Pierce, back from the dead.
When we got back to the marina, I handed over the guy I’d caught and used my knife to cut the zip ties off Aria. Then I hauled her into my arms.
She pulled back. “You’re bleeding.” Her hand ran over my upper arm, and I winced.
“Bullet grazed me when I was pulling you out. I’m okay.”
Rafi and Sloane met us at the end of the pier.
“My sister?” Aria asked.
“She’s waiting for you up there.” Rafi nodded toward the parking lot.
Aria looked at me. “Go see her,” I said. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Sloane looked at where I was bleeding. “You got shot?”
I shook my head. “Just a flesh wound.”
“Code eight-oh-eight?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. I glanced at Rafi, and he shrugged a shoulder in response. Sloane continued, “You know how I feel about summer flings, Callahan.”
I waited, knowing there was more.
“It’s not like you to break the rules.”
I looked him in the eye. “She’s worth it, and so much more.”
He stared at me for a minute, then sighed. “Rafi, finish dealing with the Coast Guard. Callahan, see you in the office in a week. This time, actually take some time off. That’s an order.”
“Yes, sir,” I said, and then for the first time ever, I left the job to everyone else and went and found Aria.