Page 40 of Her Unflinching Warrior (Omega Sky)
“Obliged,” Gideon said before he dove into the surf.
It didn’t take long before they were both at the hull. They each swam in the opposite direction so they could make better time. As Gideon swam, he listened and watched and peered into every window to see who was on board. Gideon’s gut clenched when he looked into the third window and saw Jada. She was halfway off a bed and there was a blood stain around her head. It looked like she had been thrown there like yesterday’s trash. Gideon continued to swim around the rest of the yacht, looking for any other signs of life. When he met up with Ryker, he reported in.
“I found Jada. She’s in the aft portside cabin. I didn’t see anyone else.”
“Understood.” Ryker acknowledged. “I found one woman looking over the bow like she was waiting for something. She had a gun in her hand.”
“Must be the one who attacked Jada.”
“That’s my take,” Ryker agreed.
“Let’s board.”
Ryker nodded. They swiftly swam to the hull and quietly climbed up the ladder. They pulled out their rifles. “You go below decks,” Gideon ordered. He needed to make sure that they were safe so that he could concentrate on Jada’s safety.
Ryker raised his eyebrows but nodded. They split up. Gideon meticulously checked every part of the upper deck. He was surprised to find even the cockpit empty. He could see the woman peering over the hull, looking past the boat house, up toward the house. Gideon slung his rifle around to his back and pulled out his pistol. He didn’t make a sound as he moved up behind her. Before she knew what was coming he had the gun’s muzzle shoved into her temple, and her pistol wrested out of her hand.
“What?” she shouted in confusion.
“Down on your knees.”
“Who are you?”
“Down on your knees. Don’t make me repeat myself.”
She knelt. “Who are you?”
“Shut up and put your hands behind your back.”
He had her hands and ankles zip tied in moments. He shoved her onto her stomach. “How many others?”
“Fuck you!”
Gideon pulled out his knife then grabbed a hank of her red hair and yanked her head up so he could look her in the eye, his knife at her throat. “Lady, I will fuck you up. Now, tell me what I want to know. How many more of you are there?”
“I don’t know. Maybe three, maybe just my sister.”
Gideon frowned. “Explain.”
“I’m supposed to kill Luke.”
“And the other?”
She spit at him. He pressed the knife until there were beads of blood oozing from her neck. “Tell me who else.”
“The director. Miles Albright. They should be gone by now,” she whimpered.
He let go of her hair, letting her face slam into the wood deck.
Gideon turned and ran to the stairs that would take him below deck. Ryker had found a first aid kit and was wrapping Jada’s head with a bandage. She was fighting him.
“Get away from me.” Her words were slurred.
“Move,” Gideon shoved Ryker out of the way. “Call an ambulance.”
“On it.” Ryker pulled a baggie out of his drybag and unwrapped his cell phone. Vaguely Gideon heard him calling emergency as he turned his attention to Jada.
“Get your hands off me, you pervert.” She took a weak swing at him. He grabbed her fist in his hand, and kissed her knuckles.
