“My main purpose is to dispose of your lover.” Raúl’s lips quirked. “Yes, I befriended you to remain close to my target and only waited for the right moment to strike.”
Her chest tightened. Hewasone of Matthew’s men, just as Nash suspected. Why hadn’t she realized that? Although he’d tried to convince her, she wouldn’t listen.
Inwardly, she groaned. Too late to revisit her past mistakes now.
Raúl tightened his hold as he dragged her backward with him to the stairs. She struggled, but his painful grip was immovable. Releasing a scream, she hoped to draw someone’s attention, but Raúl quickly slapped his hand over her mouth.
“I would not do that if I were you.”
She lifted her foot and brought it down hard on his instep. He howled, but did not let her go, though his hand loosened. Before she could scream Nash’s name, Raúl had covered her mouth again.
“If you are smart, you will be quiet and not cause problems.”
Not heeding his suggestion, Maxey kicked him again, which made him trip. Since he refused to release her, they both tumbled to the deck. As he tried to right himself, his arm loosened again. Maxey took the opportunity to push away.
Unsteady from the fall, Raúl couldn’t grab her gown, and she scrambled away from him on her hands and knees. It was a short-lived victory, as he soon had her pinned. She sincerely wished she had listened to Mr. Summers’ warning about staying in her cabin.
Angrily, Raúl yanked her long hair. She cried out, feeling as if he wanted to rip her head from her shoulders. He stood and pulled her with him. They were very close to the railing. The bottomless ocean terrified her, and she didn’t want to end up in the icy water by acting foolishly. Nash would save her from this madman as soon as he was free, she was certain.
“Are you going to be a good girl?” Raúl asked, his teeth clenched and his face a purple mask of fury. He yanked her hair again.
A strangled sob escaped Maxey’s throat. “Yes.”
“Splendid. Now, I am going to take you with me. You see, my ship has been following us, and it is time I boarded the right vessel.”
“No, please, leave me here.” Would Nash know where Raúl had taken her? She was a fool not to believe Nash before. She would not make this mistake again, but first, she must escape.
“Leave you? I do not think so.” He glanced at the group of men still fighting. “It looks as if your lover and his friends will prevail this time, so I need you as bait. Nash will come to save the women he loves, I assure you. Or at least he will try.” He snickered and turned, but another man stepped up behind him unnoticed.
Nash!She sighed and relaxed. Raúl’s brows drew together as he frowned.
“You are wrong,” Nash growled. “Iwillsucceed in rescuing her.” He pulled back his fist and punched Raúl in the face.
Raúl stumbled and shoved Maxey ahead of him. The blow sent her reeling to the edge of the deck. Unable to regain her balance, she teetered overboard, but caught hold of the railing. The slivered wood bit into her hands as she tightened her grasp, but she continued to slide. Terror choked her scream as she dropped into the deep, dark abyss.
The frigid water sucked the air from her lungs, shrouding her body in darkness. Her heavy skirts weighed her down, and did nothing to shield her from the piercing cold. She waved her arms, kicked her feet, and did all she could to rise to the top. Nothing worked. Quickly, numbness took over her body as she sank deeper and deeper into a dark grave.
*
Maxey’s scream piercedthe chilly night air. Pain consumed Nash, like his heart was ripped open. Then came the terrifying splash that seemed to drown out all other sounds.
He broke away from Raúl. Fear suffocated Nash as he gripped the railing and stared into the murky depths of the ocean.
Praying for strength and guidance, he hastily shrugged out of his coat and yanked off his boots before bounding over the rail and into the water. Surrounded by nothing but darkness, he flailed wildly, trying to find her…to feel her. He cursed the dead night that made it impossible to see anything, but he searched frantically, praying for God’s assistance the whole time.
After what seemed like forever, his hand finally grazed her body. After securing his arm around her, he swam back toward the ship. Shouts from the deck led him to the rope they had thrown down for him.
“Someone bring a lamp over here,” one man shouted.
“Just a little closer, Mr. Black,” another passenger said.
With their guidance, Nash grabbed hold of the rope. Finding strength he did not know he possessed, he flung an unmoving Maxey over his shoulder and pulled them both up. His arms ached, and his gut twisted from the blows he’d received in the fight, but he forced himself to climb until several others assisted him and Maxey aboard.
The men grabbed Maxey first, but once Nash had his feet planted on the deck, he pushed past them to kneel by her side. Her face was pale, her chest unmoving.
“Oh God. Please do not take her away.” He rolled her to her side and tried to push the water out of her lungs. She fell to her back, still not breathing.
He had to get air into her lungs. She needed to breathe and couldn’t do it herself. Without another thought, he bent over her and pried her mouth open, then tried to breathe life back into her.
