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“Like you.” He skimmed his thumb over the pale skin on the inside of her wrist.
She shook her head. “Flattery.”
“Good distraction technique. Come on.” He guided her back toward the door at the other end, relentless water surging against his chest. “I’m going to go first and check there’s a clear path through.”
“What?” Her eyes widened, panic flaring within their depths.
“Grace. You need to trust me. I can hold my breath longer than you, so that means I have extra time if there are any obstacles. I need to make sure it’s clear before I take you down there. But I won’t be long. You stay right here and I will return for you. You hear me?”
She nodded, but her face was troubled. It killed him to see the terror powering through her like this, but he had no choice. Their survival depended on him, on his training, on his ability to find an escape route from Hudson’s ship.
Safety first.
Plan for everything, expect problems.
He kicked off his soft boots then took several deep breaths, pausing at the peak of each breath to visualize relaxation in his body. Any extraneous tension would only increase oxygen consumption, and he would need every molecule available. He exhaled before taking a final breath, then clicked on his flashlight and took a final few additional sips to maximize oxygen.
Caleb ducked and slipped under the water.
42
Grace’s heart hammered a frantic rhythm and hot tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. A tidal wave of emotion that she couldn’t afford to unleash.
Not now. Not when Caleb needs me to be strong.
Inky black water closed over his head, swallowing him whole. The beam of his flashlight bobbed, a fading point of light that grew dimmer with each passing second until it vanished, engulfed by the murky depths of the room beyond.
She closed her eyes, forcing herself to take a deep, shuddering breath, the air burning in her lungs as she tried to calm the panic that clawed at her throat.
Her grip on her flashlight toughened.
He’s going to be fine. He’s going to be fine.
The words were a mantra, a desperate plea to the universe to keep him safe and bring him back to her. If anyone could find a way out of this sinking hellhole, it was Caleb. He’d trained for this, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer with countless hours of experience in the most treacherous conditions imaginable. But knowledge of his skill and dedication did little to quell the fear gnawing at her gut. What he was doing was dangerous.
And he’s taking so long.
Shivers wracked her body, a bone-deep cold that sank into every atom of her being. She couldn't remember ever being warm. The water was above her waist now, an inexorable rise and as the boat yawed wildly, it splashed higher, over her breasts, slicing against her throat.
She had to stay focused. Keep it together.
Count.
Count the seconds until Caleb returned.
One, two, three…
She fixed her gaze on the spot where Caleb had vanished, her eyes straining against the darkness, willing him to reappear.
Come on, Caleb. Come back to me.
Her eyes were shut fast.
Two hundred and two. Two hundred?—
Water splashed and a gasp. “Grace.”
She opened her eyes. “Caleb.” She fell against him, not daring to believe he was here. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. His heart thumped under her ear. A fierce rat-a-tat. “Are you okay?” He held her away from his body, his eyes scanning for any sign of injury.
