“Midas,” Liam called back into the cave.
Midas came running out with his teammates behind him. “There.” Liam pointed in the direction he saw something. Midas used his NVD’s and cursed. “I think it’s Cora.”
“That sick son of a bitch,” Midas said. Cora’s voice still called out to them but was becoming less frequent. Liam didn’t waste another second. He dove into the water and swam out to her. His shoulder burned but he ignored it. Cora was counting on him. He didn’t know if she was standing on something or just floating in the water. Liam would swim for so many feet and stop to listen for Cora’s voice, so he knew in what direction to head. In the dark, she was like looking for a needle in a haystack. It was taking longer than he would have liked to find her.
“Cora,” he called out to her, when he didn’t hear her calling out to him for a few moments.
“Liam,” her voice was quieter like she was tired. The good news was she was close in front of him. A few deep strokes and he could finally see a rock sticking out of the water and a form struggling on it. Cora. Liam quickly paddled to her and saw that she was leaning against a rock. She was struggling to get higher up the rock as the water level was at her top lip and she was having to tilt her head back to yell for him. Why wasn’t she swimming to him?
“I’m here, baby.” He said when he finally reached her. The tension in his body he had been carrying since he found out she had been kidnapped lessened. But he wasn’t going to celebrate until she was safely in his arms. He reached out to touch her and felt her icy cold bare skin. Liam felt his ire rise knowing Alejandro had dropped her in here in just her bra and underwear. The bastard was lucky he was already dead, or Liam would give him a beating he would never forget.
“Y-y-y-ou c-c-ame.” Cora’s teeth chattered.
“I’ll always come for you. I love you. Come on let's get to the island. We’ll get you warm.”
“C-c-can’t. Ch-ch-chained.” Liam felt along her chest and felt the chain holding her to the rock. Sunshine tried pulling the chain up the rock but felt that it was catching on something. He would have to pick the lock.
“Hang on, baby. I’m going to pick the lock, and you’ll be home free.” He kissed her ice-cold lips and reached into his pant pocket and pulled out his flashlight and his lock pick kit. He was the master lock picker. He could do this. Liam took a deep breath and went under and looked at the lock. It was an old lock that he wasn’t familiar with, but there wasn’t a lock out there he couldn’t pick. He put the flashlight in his mouth and started picking the lock. His hands shook as he tried to work quickly knowing the woman he loved was depending on him and could be running out of air. Liam twisted the tool, and it dropped out of his hands. Shit. He kicked up and took in a lung full of air. The water was up to Cora’s nose. Cora was trying to stay brave for him as she tried to push herself further up the rock. Her eyes were wide with fear.
“G-go.” She told him.
“No,” Liam shook his head venomously. “I’m not leaving you. We’re going to go home. Together. Live in your house. Get married, have lots of kids. I’m not giving up.”
“G-great speech. Now h-how about you p-p-pick this l-l-lock already.” Cora said tilting her head all the way back, so her nose was out of the water. Liam smiled seeing Cora could still joke at a time like this. Liam took a deep breath and dove back under. He reached the rock bottom she had been standing on and looked for his lock pick tool. It was so hard to see even with the flashlight. He reached around until his fingers brushed it. He gripped it and went back to work on the lock. He was just getting it to turn and unlock when he saw Cora struggling. She had to fully under water. He pulled the chain free and loosened it enough that he could pull Cora up above the surface. She took deep breaths and started coughing. He wanted to hug her close but knew after the beating she took she had to be hurting.
“Liam,” Cora sobbed and hugged him as best she could with bound hands. “I was so scared.” He held her close trying to give her some of his warmth and just happy that she survived.
“I’m so sorry, baby. I’m here now. I would never let anything happen to you. I’m so sorry I couldn’t prevent this.”
“But you c-c-came to me in time. I thought I was g-g-going to drown out here all alone. And when I saw you guys arrive and knew those men were hiding and w-w-waiting for you, I w-w-was so scared.”
“You don’t have to be scared anymore. I’m here. We’re going to go
