He arched his back and forced her to the surface across his chest. Kicking with his legs, he pushed her up past the surface of the water. Punching the water with his legs, he attempted to pierce the surface and fill his lungs, but he couldn’t. Fire-laced steel bands crushed his chest as he fought the urge to exhale.
A flurry of movement beside him removed Brie’s weight, giving him the buoyancy to surface. Gasping for air, someone grabbed him from behind. “Stop fighting, damn it, Cap! Brock’s got Brie, let me help you to the fucking dock.”
“I can swim.” He coughed, filled his lungs with air, and rolled from Brody’s hold and struck out with his one-armed sidestroke. Brody swam beside him and helped him up onto the water-level landing at the pier. Brock’s back as he bent over Brie prevented Ryker from seeing her. He crawled forward on his knees. The ball gag was gone, leaving horrendous impressions on her face, but her eyes were open, and she reached to him.
He grabbed her hand, dropped to his ass beside her, and pulled her to him with his good arm. Their tears merged with the saltwater from the harbor.
“I’m okay. I’m okay.” Her whispered affirmations seemed to be more for herself than for him, but he agreed with each statement and held her as tight as he could. When her words stilled, he rocked with her in his arms, kissing her forehead, unable to release her from the crushing hold, afraid that if he did, she’d disappear. Stupid and juvenile, but damn it, he’d almost lost her in that water. The fear of trying to keep her floating and the certainty that he was going to black out from a lack of oxygen had twisted his guts into a churning mess. Fuck, he was trembling, and damn it, tears still ran down his cheeks.
He whispered how much he loved her, trying to express with words the relief he was feeling having her in his arms. She burrowed closer, just like she did in bed as if she could meld their two bodies into one.
He closed his eyes and drew a steadying breath until he heard the thunderous sound of someone running down the wooden pier. Her father flew down the stairs and was beside them on the wood planking seconds later.
Ryker was unprepared for the massive bear hug that encompassed not only Brie but him as well. Brie's father said a prayer of thanks that rushed from his lips. He released Brie and her father gathered her in his arms, although Ryker never let go of her hand that she’d given him. He couldn’t lose the connection to her. Not yet.
“I could have killed you for diving off that damn pier.” He turned at Brody’s hoarse whisper, pulling his gaze away from Brie and her father.
“She would have died if he hadn’t.” Brock coughed and moved, the pool of water under him squelching around his jeans as he moved to lean back against the pier.
“How bad did you fuck up your shoulder?” Brody nodded his direction.
He moved it and winced as a bolt of pain traveled from his neck to his fingertips. “Not too bad.” Which was a fucking whale of a lie. He’d righteously screwed it up.
“Right,” Brody snorted.
“You boys get going. I’ve got Brie, and an ambulance is en route. Brock, the SWAT team is coordinating a search for that damn boat, get up there and flag down the ambulance crew, would you?”
Brock nodded and headed up the stairs. Brie squeezed Ryker’s hand. Her terrified gaze went straight to him. “Where are you going?”
Ryker’s eyes went to Brie’s immediately. “Brody, tell Terrence he has operational control.” He turned and brought her hand to his lips. “Nowhere, babe. I’m staying right here.”
Brody stood and answered Brie’s question, “There’s a raid, three buildings that Peña and Rubio used for business.”
Brie coughed but held up the hand Ryker wasn’t holding, stilling her brother’s movements. She finally drew in enough air to ask, “Is one of them a warehouse with a living area above?”
Ryker exchanged looks with Brody before he answered, “Yes.”
“That’s probably where he’s going. It’s where he killed those two men. The ones that took me from behind the restaurant.”
Ryker glanced at Brody and then met Chauncey's eyes as he asked, “The man that held you at the end of the pier killed them?”
Brie nodded. “I’m pretty sure he did. There were at least ten shots fired, maybe more.” She squeezed Ryker’s hand. “Go, do your job. I’ll be all right. Dad’s here and I can’t stand the thought of that man being out there.” She pushed her wet hair away from her neck. “He’s articulate and cunning, but there was no remorse in him. He didn’t want a war with the police and was willing to try to stop it, but everything in me told me that man would kill me if I didn’t do exactly as he said. He would have no problem with killing me or you or anyone else. None.”
Brody extended a hand to Ryker, but he ignored it. He cradled Brie’s hand and kissed her palm. “Are you sure?”
She closed her eyes and nodded before she answered, “Call me as soon as you can.”
It took everything he had not to let his voice crack. “I will. I love you.”
“I know. I love you, too. Go do your job then come home to me.” Brody once again offered him a hand up and he took the help, lifting off the wooden pier. He nodded to the Commissioner, who nodded back. Ryker followed Brody up the stairs. It was time to take these bastards down for good.
Chapter 18
“You should let them take you to the emergency room,” her father’s growl of disapproval floated her way once again.
Brie rolled her shoulders. “I didn’t
