AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Mountainous swells flooded the deck as the boat pitched violently, its anchor dragging it toward disaster. White foam frothed over the gunwales with each wave strike.
Hudson was either incompetent or too arrogant to run. Unless the plan was for the boat to go down. And for it to go down with Grace on board. In a storm like this, no one would question the loss of life. It would be a terrible accident and no one could argue otherwise.
Caleb’s stomach knotted with dawning realization. “They mean to scuttle her. This was a one-way trip.”
“Lifeboat is launched.” Wyatt’s voice rattled over the intercom. “Rescue craft will rendezvous with them in thirty minutes.”
Caleb stared at the flailing craft below, his grip too tight on the winch cable. “Why would they anchor her if they’ve already evacuated? They’re going to lose her. Is this some kind of insurance job?”
“What do you mean?” Despite the comms, Henley was shouting to be heard over the howling wind.
Caleb checked his harness for the final time. “I mean, they have a reason for wanting the boat to go down.”
“Caleb, what the hell are you doing?” Ryder caught his wrist. “They’re already evacuated. All crew are reported on board. We can head back.”
Caleb lifted the tablet, his mouth a hard line. Directly below, the PLB pulsed. “Maybe not.”
“What—” Ryder’s eyebrows collided.
“They’ve left her to die, Ryder. I’m going down.”
He envisioned Grace trapped belowdecks in flooding darkness, abandoned to drown like a chained dog. His jaw ached. Not while he drew breath.
Wind buffeted the Mohawk, and it veered sideways until Wyatt brought it back under control.
“You can’t go down there. It’s too dangerous,” Henley shouted.
Caleb shook his head and connected his harness to the winch. He’d heard that claim before. That it was too dangerous, that he had to back off. What was he doing this job for if not to put his life on the line for others, especially for ones who meant as much to him as Grace? This was his chance to make things right.
The Mohawk shuddered as a savage gust slammed into it broadside. Caleb gritted his teeth, cinching his harness tight.
“It’s too dangerous!” Henley yelled over the scream of the wind.
Caleb shook his head. Marie was with him. He could feel her in the driving beat of the rain, the scouring scream of the storm. This time, he would bring the woman he loved back or die trying. “No chance I’m standing down!” He toggled his comms. “Going in. Take me down, Henley!”
It would take all of his skill to get down there in one piece, but he had his brothers watching his back.
Donning goggles against the driving rain, Caleb fastened his line and stepped out into thin air.
39
The hoist jerked and Caleb descended, buffeted once he was below the scant shelter of the Mohawk. Icy rain lashed any scrap of exposed skin while the turbulent sea shrieked beneath him. He narrowed his focus to the stricken yacht, its death throes sending up flares of white water.
“Swimmer descending into the hot zone!” Henley’s’s voice was methodical, following the drill. The one that had kept them safe on so many rescues. Caleb tuned his voice out, the familiar words fading beneath the blood booming in his ears as he visualized Grace down there, alive.
His boots spun above the lurching boat. The wideness of the luxury deck would make it a little easier to land. A little. He was under no illusions.
The instant his boots slammed onto the chaotic deck, another massive wave broadsided the boat, icy water ripping the breath from him as he fought to unclip himself.
“Caleb, this is Henley. You are now secured on the stricken vessel. Confirm your readiness to begin the rescue operation.”
“Confirm readiness to begin rescue.” Caleb swiped the water from his goggles.
“Copy that.” Henley replied. “Swimmer is on the deck of the vessel. Swimmer reports a successful landing and is proceeding with the rescue operation. Maintaining visual contact and monitoring the situation.”
Need to get to the bridge. Lift the anchor.
Caleb sucked air through gritted teeth, his lungs burning with the effort as he grappled his way toward the bridge. The deck heaved beneath his feet, slick with spray and rain, making each step treacherous. He hung onto the guard rails to stop himself from being swept over the side and into the howling water.
