Page 51 of Defending Mateo
She choked.
Gagged.
Couldn’t get the water out because it was everywhere. Slowly consuming her.
Then all of a sudden, water streamed off her as they broke the surface.
Voices shouted. All she could do was try to take huge mouthfuls of air to replace the water, but she couldn’t seem to get it into her lungs. Instead, she choked on it, spewing up a never-ending stream of water, even though she couldn’t have swallowed more than a handful of gulps.
Gunfire buzzed about them.
Maybe she screamed.
Or tried to, but it sounded muted even to her own ears.
Then a hand was hitting her back between her shoulder blades, a steadying arm around her waist, the only thing keeping her afloat.
“It’s okay, little mouse, just breathe, take it easy, they’re dead,” Mateo’s voice cut through the panic and clung to it.
“Wh-who’s dead?” she managed to wheeze out between coughs.
“The guys after us. They must have followed us downriver, but the others got them.”
“O-others?” Ally seemed to be having trouble keeping her thoughts straight. They seemed to be floating off down the river even though she was no longer moving.
“Just breathe, baby, focus on that. Had to get us a distance away from them. Was hoping they wouldn't follow, but they did. The guys have good timing, though.”
For some reason, she still couldn’t organize her thoughts enough for them to make sense.
Maybe that didn't matter. Mateo was here, and he’d take care of her. No matter what else had happened between them, how confused she was about her feelings for him, Ally knew with absolute certainty that she was safe with him.
“Reach out, little mouse, and take his hand,” Mateo instructed, and her eyes popped open, head snapping to the side, to find a man dressed all in black standing at the side of the river. They’d drifted toward the edge, and the man was close enough to grab hold of her if he wanted.
That panic was back.
Clawing at her insides.
She didn't know this man, and she sure as hell wasn't reaching out to take his hand.
“His name is Oz,” Mateo said when she clung tighter to him, obviously reading her fear without her needing to say anything.“Remember the Delta Force team I told you came out here with me? Well, Oz is one of them.”
“I remember Lucky, he was singing, pretending to be drunk,” she said, her body beginning to tremble.
“Bet he was awful,” Oz said from behind her, his tone light, easy, reassuring.
“Pretty bad,” Mateo agreed. “He’s safe, baby. I swear I would never hand you over to someone I knew would hurt you, not when I have a choice, and Azure isn’t here right now. I'm free. I’d hold you myself, but I can't climb out with you in my arms. Let Oz take you for a moment, and as soon as I'm out of the water, I’ll take you back.”
“Promise?”
“Promise,” he vowed.
Reluctantly, she unwound her arms from where they were tangled about Mateo’s neck, and reached out a hand to Oz. Even in the dark, she could see that his gray eyes were kind, and his fingers curled slowly around hers. When she didn't panic or try to pull back, he tugged her toward him as Mateo passed her over.
It felt weird to be in the arms of a stranger after everything she’d been through. Her life had always been full of strangers, people she knew but never grew close to, people who neglected her, or who seemed to draw pleasure from tormenting her. All she wanted was a place that was safe, a person she could count on.
When she’d met Mateo, she’d thought it was him, but he’d ghosted her, only to pop back up when she was abducted. She’d hated him when she thought he was part of it, and she’d been so angry when she learned he was undercover and wasn't going to try to get her out. But now he’d come to save her, and she knew her feelings for him were still alive.
Not just alive, but intact.
