In Too Deep

The corners of his eyes twitched, indicating that whatever he was about to say would likely be only half the truth. “You said yourself, I’m all heart. But if you push me, I’ll have no compunctions about leaving you on this island with a bullet wound while you wait to be rescued. And you will be, eventually.

“This island might be deserted now, but fishermen come by here on a regular basis. It’ll only be a day or two before you’re discovered. Enough time for us to be long gone.”

Avery could feel the frustration flowing off Knox’s body. It was ratcheting up her own tension to the point that she wanted to scream. And if she’d thought it might help she would have done just that.

But she was afraid it would upset the tentative balance and cause a chain reaction that would end with bullets flying.

So, instead, Avery stood. Knox turned, glaring at her.

“We’ll go quietly.”

Miguel followed, using the business end of his gun to indicate she should throw her leg over the side of the boat and jump into the water. She did as she was told, sucking in a sharp breath as the water rose to just beneath her chin.

Heading for shore, she didn’t even hear a splash as Knox entered the water, but before she realized what was happening, his strong arms were stroking through the waves right beside her.

As she reached the shoreline, Miguel growled out an order in heavily accented English. “On your knees.”

She threw a glance over her shoulder. Miguel used the barrel of the gun in his hand to wave her back around. Avery’s heart lurched inside her chest. Wasn’t this usually how drug dealers killed people? At least, it always was in the movies.

Slowly, she sank, the warm sand coating her wet knees and calves. It was soft and welcoming. Any other time she might have appreciated the pristine stretch of beach. At the moment all she could think about was the injustice that it was potentially going to become her final resting place.

Knox dropped down beside her. Twisting her head, she scanned his face. It was drawn and hard, his mouth grim. He stared straight ahead into the line of trees several yards away up the beach.

Something brushed her fingers where they hung uselessly by her side. Suddenly, they were tangled with his, gripped tight. He squeezed, giving her a moment of comfort before pulling away again.

A bundle smacked the ground off to their left.

“Do not turn around until you hear the boat engine or you will both die.”

Avery swallowed and squeezed her eyes shut. Waiting.

Behind them, the boat’s engine revved higher. Avery twisted in time to watch the sleek, black machine shoot away.