Bridger’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t care about his stupid line, but he growled, “What’s a challenge, and where do I find it?” Then he reached out and grabbed Ramsey, slamming him into the man clinging to Bridger’s arm. They both howled in pain, and finally Bridger was free.
He dove into the water, angling his body straight down. The water was so clear he could see Avalyn probably forty feet down on the ocean bed. At least Ramsey had anchored at a shallow spot so Bridger had a chance of saving her. He’d covered maybe half of the distance when he saw a dark shadow approaching. Ramsey was diving much faster than Bridger was, holding on to a heavy rock.
Bridger angled toward him, knocking his former friend off course and ripping the stone from his hands. He dropped much quicker now, his ears popping and his head close to exploding. He had gone deeper on a free dive, but forty feet was plenty to feel the pressure and pain, though thankfully without the risk of the bends when you surfaced.
At least Bridger would be the first one to reach her, so there was no risk of Ramsey claiming he got to stay with Avalyn tonight. What a nasty jerk to even put that on the table. Bridger would protect her virtue, if he could get her out of the water before they both died. He dropped the rock to the side, horror slicing through him as he saw that Avalyn had passed out.Please don’t let her die, he begged his Father above.
He tugged at the rope on her ankle, working the knot frantically. It was too tight, pulled even tighter by her being dragged to the ocean floor and the water sealing it in place. No! He grabbed the rock he’d dropped and tried to chisel through the rope with the sharp edge. He was running out of oxygen and his lungs felt like they were being crushed. He blew out bubbles slowly.Please, Lord. Help me!
A shadow blotted out the sunlight above. Bridger glared up at Ramsey. If the man didn’t help Bridger save Avalyn, he was going to kill him with his bare hands and hope they posted it on YouTube.
Ramsey held out a knife. Bridger ripped it from him and quickly cut through the rope tying Avalyn’s ankle to the anchor. As soon as it gave, he released the knife, pulled Avalyn into his arms, and kicked for the surface. There was no time for any kind of slow ascent. He’d built up a tolerance for dives like this and would be fine, but what would it do to Avalyn? Her body was horribly limp. He could see Ramsey out of his peripheral vision and two other bodies as well, both in full scuba gear with camera equipment. If they’d had men down there, why didn’t they help? Ramsey was truly insane.
Bridger’s head burst through the surface. He was twenty yards from the yacht, and he dragged her that direction. Ramsey surfaced and helped him. Men reached down and lifted her onto the back of the platform. A man started CPR immediately.
Bridger launched himself onto the boat. He pushed at the man’s shoulder. “Let me,” he demanded.
The man glared up at him. “I’m a trained paramedic.”
“Oh.” Bridger fell back and waited with bated breath. The sun beat down on him, drying the water on his skin. Despite the tropical heat, he was chilled to the bone.
Ramsey climbed up onto the platform, also eyeing Avalyn with apprehension. Bridger couldn’t wait to take him out; he didn’t care how many weapons were aimed at them. He’d use Ramsey’s body as a shield from the bullets as he pummeled him with his fists. But first he had to know Avalyn was okay. She lay there motionless as the man kept breathing into her nose and mouth.Please, Lord, please. Bridger was a religious person and had good communication with the Lord above, but he couldn’t ever remember praying so diligently.
He met Ramsey’s gaze across Avalyn’s unresponsive body. Ramsey’s eyes were full of remorse and concern. Bridger didn’t care. Ramsey had better be praying Avalyn lived, or Bridger would drown him. The weapons couldn’t stop him under the water.
The only sounds were the water lapping against the boat and the paramedic’s movements as he finished chest compressions and went back to rescue breathing.
With a sudden gurgle, Avalyn threw up sea water.
Bridger’s breath rushed out of him. She was alive! The paramedic pushed her onto her side, and she heaved out another rush of water before just lying there, trembling.
Bridger wanted to swoop her up and get her far away from this nightmare, from these men who would have killed her for a publicity stunt. He stormed toward Ramsey. “You could’ve killed her!”
An arm encircled his throat and a gun was shoved into his abdomen. Another man came at him from the other side with another gun aimed at his chest. Bridger wanted to throw them off and pummel Ramsey, but he’d be no help to Avalyn if he was dead.
“You were the one who could’ve killed her.” Ramsey stalked toward him. “I have this all planned out. She will be perfectly safe if you’ll stop going off half-cocked.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You would’ve had your own weight and knife to get to her and to cut her free if you didn’t freak out and go all rogue! It was supposed to be a level competition.”
“This woman is not the object of your crazy competition.” He gestured to Avalyn. She looked so fragile and innocent, curled on her side. He’d never seen Avalyn helpless, and it tore at him. He wanted her to sit up and put them all in their place with her usual commanding and inspiring presence. The paramedic guy wrapped a blanket over her abdomen and legs and talked quietly to her. Avalyn’s eyes were closed, but he could see her shoulders shaking.
“I’m afraid she is.” Ramsey glared at him. “You have yourself to blame for endangering her today. This will be a fun competition, if you’ll just trust me.”
Trust him? “Give me that knife now; I know just where I’ll put it.” Bridger struggled to free himself from the men pinning him between them. The guns were jammed harder into his abdomen.
Ramsey laughed, but it was shaky. Was he really committed to going through with his insane plan after seeing Avalyn almost die? “Come on, my friend. Calm down. You won’t be any help to her if I give them permission to fire.”
Ramsey was no friend of his. Bridger didn’t know if they’d truly shoot him if he fought, but it took all of his strength to stand down. How could he get Avalyn away from all of this? Maybe if they were posting the videos each day, Creed would be able to find them, track their progress, search out Ramsey’s money trail, something.
“Tomorrow you need to slow down and listen to instructions, not fight your way through like you do with everything. This is a friendly competition, man. Make it fun.” Ramsey winked as if they were competing at the world surf championship and it was all good fun.
“No tomorrow, Ramsey. You have your crazy video. Use it however you want, and let us go.”
Ramsey smiled patiently, spreading his hands. “I’m afraid that’s not going to happen. I’ve got days and days of events planned out. And in case you have any high hopes that one of your big brothers will save you, know that I’m not going to start posting the videos until the competition is over and you two are stored away at a secure facility.” His eyes gleamed. “If you survive.” He clapped his hands. “Now. I’m exhausted. Would you like to join me for dinner, or would you like to have your dinner in Miss Shaman’s suite with her?”
Bridger drew in a ragged breath. He saw no way to fight ten armed men and escape in the middle of the ocean. “We’ll eat alone,” he muttered.