He grabbed his mask from his pile of gear, and that’s all he had time for as he was already heading to the sub’s tower for quick egress, because if he wasn’t mistaken, one of those combatants was Bobbie.
“Clear,” Tabitha yelled up to him after what seemed an interminable amount of time, giving the approval for him to open the hatch. Without a second’s hesitation, Buck’s head was out of the submarine. He scrambled up the rest of the ladder, donned his mask, and dove in. He swam as fast as he could to where he’d last seen the pair, a dark spot forming in the water, but…
Buck needed to head below to see what was happening.
Unable to hold his breath like Spencer, Buck sure as shit could hold it long enough to go under and help Bobbie.
A splash sounded from behind him as he swam, and he knew Spencer was right on his ass.
Shouts were coming from theSmall Dream, and risking a quick look over his shoulder, he saw several people in uniforms subduing Jeff.
Which meant he’d be dealing with Drew.
Buck swallowed down his anger.
It would take all he had in him not to kill the fucking guy. And that gunshot… He just hoped it wasn’t Bobbie who’d been hit before the pair went over the rail of her boat. If it had been, then he needed to quickly neutralize the threat Drew posed, so he could get her medical intervention, ASAP.
Buck’s mind flew fast, then quieted as he centered himself on the mission at hand, diving under at the spot in question, telling himself not to panic. The Coast Guard would have amedic on their cutter, even though they weren’t fully equipped with an infirmary as their larger ships were. Which meant all his concentration should be on getting Bobbie up and safely away from her brother.
There.Ten feet to his left. Bobbie and Drew were grappling with a gun.
The damned thing would have limited range underwater, but it would still fire, and God help anyone who was in close proximity to the business end of that barrel when it went off. He needed to approach, smartly.
Buck, as he propelled himself closer, still couldn’t tell who was spewing blood since it raised in a cloud between the pair, but it looked like it was coming from someone’s lower extremity, which was a blessing. If the bullet hadn’t hit a femoral artery, that meant there’d be no dying today.
Except maybe Drew, once Buck got his hands on the despicable man.
Assessing swiftly before entering the fray, Buck noted that this was a visceral battle being undertaken by both combatants. Drew had power on his side, but Bobbie had pure, raw rage.
He approached from Bobbie’s rear.
Of course, that meant Drew saw Buck immediately.
Panic set into his eyes, and he began struggling for possession of the firearm like a madman, knowing he had nothing and everything to lose at this juncture.
That’s right, asshole. Be afraid.
Buck had never been prouder of Bobbie; focused and not letting Drew get the upper hand.
Before he launched himself forward to intervene, he felt a tag on his foot. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Spencer moving up beside him.
Good.
Back-up was always a boon.
Using the rapid hand signals they’d perfected as youngsters while underwater, Buck indicated that he’d take care of Drew, and Spence was to get Bobbie clear.
Spencer nodded.
They both pitched themselves forward.
The tussle was finished so fast, it was almost anticlimactic. With one small exception.
Before Bobbie knew who was encircling her from behind, she extracted a wrench from her waistband, and had been about to clobber Spencer. Luckily, she’d recognized him at the last second, before she clocked him on the head.
Buck’s fist knocked the asshole Drew out in one blow, which was too bad. His adrenaline had cried out for more.
Spence finally grabbed Bobbie, who quickly waved him off, after which Spence dogged Bobbie to the surface. But Buck saw she was making the ascent on her on and that was good.
