Nash fell to the floor, and his uncle landed on top of him. Strong fingers wrapped around his throat and threatened to choke him. Pain shot through Nash’s head from the sudden lack of air. He pulled at his uncle’s fingers while kicking his legs. The old man was stronger than he appeared, and for a moment, Nash panicked.
His lungs burned, his head throbbed, but he continued to fight. Using all of his strength, he rolled them both over until he lay on top. Nash slammed a fist into his uncle’s face, which broke the hold Matthew had on his throat.
In one swift movement, Matthew reached into his boot and pulled out a knife. The blade swung very close to Nash’s neck, and he grabbed the weapon to hold it away.
Maxey screamed and crawled across the floor.
“Maxey…get the pistol,” Nash bit out.
She scrambled to her feet, holding the loaded weapon and aiming it at Matthew. “Stop, or I’ll shoot!”
Matthew bared his teeth in an evil grin. “Not until I kill you first,” he growled at Nash.
Matthew pushed the knife closer to Nash’s throat. Nash’s hands shook as he struggled to keep the blade from slicing his skin or plunging into his flesh.
Maxey pointed the pistol at Matthew’s head. Nash jerked back just as the weapon fired. The wind from the bullet whooshed through the air as it passed near his face and lodged into his uncle’s head. Matthew’s body jerked then stilled as his hands dropped to his side, knocking over the lamp. Breaking glass echoed in the room. As quick as lightning, fire spread on the floor and up the wall.
Nash swore and jumped to his feet. Maxey stood shaking as she stared at the dead man on the floor.
“I…I cannot believe I killed…” A tear slid from her eye when she finally met Nash’s gaze. “He was going to kill you. I couldn’t let him do that.”
“Oh, my darling.” He pulled her trembling body into his arms and kissed her head. “You did the right thing.”
The fire was moving fast toward the barrels of gunpowder. He grabbed Maxey’s hand. “We must leave. Now!”
He led her out the door and up the hallway. Men shouted on the deck. Nash’s breathing quickened. They must not get caught.
Without another thought, he dashed into the nearest room, remembering it had a window. “Maxey, we need to go out that window.” He met her wide, frightened eyes. “We will have to jump out the window into the water. I know you fear water, but we must do this. I will not let anything happen to you.”
She nodded. “I trust you.”
He slammed his elbow into the glass until it shattered. He slipped off his jacket and blanketed the edge of the window.
“You go first. I will be right behind you.”
Maxey shook as he lifted her to the window and pushed her through. He crawled up, hefted himself out, and plunged into the water. Maxey had surfaced already, but as soon as he grabbed her hand, he pulled her close.
“Take a deep breath. The gunpowder is going to explode at any moment. We need to be underwater. Do not let go of my hand.”
She nodded and sucked in a big gulp of air along with him. He held her tight and took them under the water, diving as deep as he could go. Within seconds, the blast from the ship knocked into them, breaking their hands apart.
Swinging his arms about, he searched for her as his chest burned with the lack of air. When he bumped into her, he grabbed her again and pushed them away from the explosion. He swam to the top, and when they surfaced, each breathed in a lungful of air.
Maxey threw her arms around him and buried her face in his neck. “Oh, Nash. I thought… I thought…”
“I know.” He kissed the side of her head. “Nothing will ever tear us apart again.”
He maneuvered them in the water to look at the burning ship. A great weight was released from his chest, yet he mourned the loss of everyone who had suffered.
“Do you think they all died?”
“No. I am certain some lived.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist and swam back to the shore. As Nash neared the sand, he saw someone struggling to crawl on land, his body burned, his ragged clothes charred from the fire.
Nash’s chest clenched.Peter.
Keeping Maxey’s hand in his, Nash moved to his friend, turning him over on the sand. Weak eyes laced with pain met Nash’s stare, and tears filled Peter’s eyes.
