I went down the steps on the opposite side, wanting to make sure I hadn’t missed something, then checked the cockpit, before finally dragging my stupid ass back to bed.
We’d have a laugh about it.
Then, both being a little too jazzed up to go right back to sleep, maybe we’d have some fun rolling around the sheets first.
I was just about to step onto the lowest step when something notonthe boat, but directly beside it, caught my attention.
It was as dark as hell night.
And without any city lights nearby, the water was damn near pitch black.
But that was why I saw whatever it was.
It was white.
Noticeable.
Big.
Was that all it was? Had some sea garbage slammed up against the boat with the rough current, startling me awake?
But as I took a step forward to lean over the rail and check to see what it was, the door to the cockpit flew open, knocking me backward.
I crashed down on the steps on my side, the impact rattling through my ribs as the gun fell from my fingers and slid down the steps near my feet.
There wasn’t even time to panic.
This guy, whoever the fuck he was, meant business.
He leaned down, grabbing the front of my shirt to keep me from scrambling away, cocked back and swung. Once. Twice.
I pulled up a leg, wedging it between us, then landing a kick to his stomach, sending him back. Stumbling, not falling, but I’d take anything I could get.
This guy was big.
I was tall.
He still had a few inches on me.
And while he wasn’t as wide, he had some kind of sleeper build, because he was strong as fuck.
I shot to my feet, not taking a chance by bending down for the gun.
I had to get him down or disoriented before I could take that chance.
He lunged.
Without anywhere to go in such a cramped space, I also moved forward.
My punch was faster.
There was a satisfying crack in the night air as it landed on his jaw.
But it didn’t slow him down.
He moved into the cage of my body, making it hard to land a solid punch to his face while he pummeled my stomach and ribs.
With a growl as the pain shot through my already aching ribs, I shoved him backward. Then swung. Once. Twice.
