Page 40 of Her Captivated Hero

“Hunter, you there yet?” Gray demanded.

“Griff, I’m almost with you,” Hunter said, by way of answer. “Keep it together.” Gray could hear Hunter Diaz’s heavy breathing as he swiftly ran toward Griff and whatever mess he had found.

“What’s the status of the girl?” Dex asked Griff.

Good for Dex, get Griff’s mind off the two men.

Another scream came over Gray’s receiver.

“Ahhh, God,” Hunter’s voice was anguished.

“Help me,” Griff said above the woman’s cries.

“Dammit, Hunter. Griff. I want a status now.” Gray appreciated how Dex was keeping command of the situation.

“She’ll make it,” Hunter said.

Who was he reassuring? Griff?

The screaming began to lose volume, but that somehow made it worse.

What the hell was going on?

Gray turned his head and crouched down beside Aiden. He couldn’t do anything about Emily Hoag, so he would concentrate on the woman he could help.

“Was the bridge clear?” he asked Aiden.

Aiden gave him a side eye look, then went back to working on Chantelle’s hands. He had bandaged her wrists, now he was rubbing circles on her palms, and twining his fingers between hers, trying to restore circulation. Even with the morphine running through her system, she was moaning in pain. But the sounds she was making were nothing compared to the high-pitched shrieks coming from Emily.

“Lieutenant, at your six,” Dalton called. Gray heard him in stereo. He stood up and opened the door to the engine store room. He saw his man bent over one of the men Gray had tied up. It looked like he was regaining consciousness. Dalton had picked up some rope in his travels and was attaching the man to one of the pumps.

“Get this guy, too,” Gray said, pointing to the guy slumped near the door. Dalton nodded.

“All decks are cleared. We’re good to go now that we have the women,” Dalton reported as he moved to tie up the next man.

“Dex?” Gray spoke into his mic.

“No can do,” Dex answered his question before he posed it. “The only safe way to bring the yacht close to shore is the marina at Dana Beach resort. If you tried going to shore any other way you’d rip out the bottom of the boat. But the resort is out, because it’s too crowded. There’s a wedding going on, you’ll be spotted. Your only option is our initial plan for you to meet up here.”

“Aiden, can you stabilize her for the swim back?”

“We don’t have to swim,” Dalton said as he came into the room. “Since we’ve overtaken the yacht, it doesn’t matter what we do. Normally I’d throw up at the sight of the world’s most overpriced lifeboats that I swear have leather seating, but I’m thanking God for them right now for these two ladies.”

Gray nodded. “Get them ready.”

Dalton nodded and disappeared.

“Did you hear that Griff? Will that work?” Gray asked.

“It’ll have to,” Hunter answered. “We’ll get her there. We’re over our time.”

“I can’t do a fireman’s carry,” Aiden told Gray. “She has at least two broken ribs.”

“You’re not carrying her. I am. You need to get up to Griff and Hunter and see what’s going on with Emily. I’ve got Chantelle.”

Aiden had his kit packed up before Gray finished talking.

“Guys,” Gray said. “Aiden is aiming for the two of you. How can he help?”