Ghost’s brows arched. “What? Are you sure? Maybe she’s just—”
The other man’s thought was cut short when the car swerved to the left one last time. Its front end hit the wooden railing, the boards there splitting apart on impact.
Nate was forced to just sit there and watch as the car—and Gracie—flew over the edge of the bridge, falling nose-first into the water below.
“No!”
The word of denial was ripped from his throat as the car splashed against the water, the front end already beginning to sink.
Ghost slammed on the breaks, the tires skidding a few inches before coming to a stop well before the point of impact.
There was no way to tell just how much of the bridge’s structural support had been compromised. The last thing they needed was for it to collapse with them on it.
Unable to prevent it, Nate’s analytical mind began to whirl with possible outcomes as he opened his door and jumped out.
Running toward the railing’s gaping hole, he thought about how strong a swimmer Gracie was. That helped her odds of survival, for sure. Unfortunately, his brain also considered all the things that could happen to make that fact irrelevant.
She could have been knocked out by the impact, her head already submerged. Yavuz was still in the car. He had a gun. The bastard could be hurting her. He could…
Gracie screamed.
A gunshot rang out from inside the car.
“Gracelynn!”
He ran faster.
“Nate!” she screamed back.
Oh, thank God.“Hang on!” He began stripping off his vest, and then untying his boots to make swimming much easier and safer for them both. “I’m coming!” he bellowed down to her.
“Damn it, Carter. Wait up!” Gabe ordered from behind.
Ignoring him, Nate kicked off his boots and jumped feet-first into the water below. The water was unexpectedly cold, stealing his breath as he went under.
Pushing with his arms and legs, Nate paid no attention to the pain in his left shoulder as he broke through the surface and began swimming to Gracie’s side of the car.
She must have either climbed into the front seat or was thrown there when the car went over.
He made it to her closed window, the water’s surface sitting a few inches below the bottom of the glass. On a glance, Nate was relieved to see Yavuz’ head flung forward, his body unmoving.
Wide, terrified eyes met his from behind the glass. The water inside the car was already at her waist and rising steadily. Nate reached for the door and pulled, but it didn’t budge. He tried again with no success.
Fuck!The water must have fried the car’s electrical system, which meant the locks were permanently stuck. Of course, even if they weren’t, the pressure from the surrounding water would most likely prevent him from opening it, anyway.
Not wanting to risk her being cut if he busted out her window, Nate quickly made his way around the car to Yavuz’ open window.
He reached in and pulled the other man out. As he did, Yavuz’ head fell back, revealing a newly formed bullet hole at the base of his neck.
Nate tried not to react, but, Jesus. On top of everything else, she’d just been forced to kill a man.
Knowing they’d have to deal with that later, Nate pushed the dead man’s body through the water and out of the way to make room for himself.
“Hang on, baby. I’m going to get you out of there.”
Using the open window’s metal frame, Nate pulled himself far enough inside the car to reach her.
First things first.
