CHAPTER ONE

– DWIGHT –

I slip outside behind Dutton. Asher and Perrin are at my back. We have our guns drawn while Caddy and Sylvan are still arguing and completely oblivious that we’re following them.

Caddy is walking in front of Sylvan who has Rowan thrown over his shoulder, blocking us from a clear shot to take them out. Rowan is still unconscious, and we can’t risk Rowan’s life if we fire off a bullet. It’s the only reason why we haven’t taken them out yet. They’re knee-deep in water when Caddy pushes Sylvan, causing Rowan to slip into the water.

“Fuck,” Dutton grunts.

Rowan might drown, but at least now we have a clear shot. I slowly move around to inch closer from a different angle, hoping I’m in time to get to Rowan while my brothers focus on Caddy and Sylvan. I tuck my gun away and reach for my knife, confident enough that my brothers have my back.

“Don’t move,” Rox snaps.

“Put your fucking hands up,” Alwyn bellows at the same time.

All while Asher fires off a shot, hitting Sylvan in the shoulder. Both Sylvan and Caddy hit the water. It’s the moment I was waiting for and I rush forward. My only focus is to save Rowan, fuck those other two; my brothers will take them out. I dive under before all the others and let the darkness surround me.

A sudden beam of light gives me the direction I need when I catch a glimpse of Rowan’s body sinking to the bottom. I reach out and grab her hair since it’s the closest to me, when I notice Sylvan is about to take her as a shield. Not fucking happening.

I fist her hair and at the same time I bring my knife forward and make a few short stabbing motions to be sure Sylvan’s lungs are punctured. The water surrounding us slowly turns crimson. I manage to injure him a few more times to make sure he won’t make it if he isn’t inside a hospital within the next minute or two.

I want to stab the fucker again, but movement up ahead grabs my attention and my brain needs a split second to comprehend what the fuck I’m seeing before I react. Turning my body, I kick Sylvan in the direction of the shark and watch as his head ends up as the new favorite crunchy toy for the big fish. Not waiting to see what happens next, I take a better hold on Rowan and swim my ass off until I feel the sand under my feet.

Scooping her into my arms I start running and bellow, “Shark in the water.”

“I fucking know,” Dutton snaps from my left dragging Alwyn along with him.

“Asher,” I snap. “I need Asher.”

I place Rowan on the beach and check for a pulse. Nothing. Fuck. I start compressions and suddenly Asher crashes onto his knees on the other side of Rowan.

“Need me to take over?” he questions.

I finish compressions and grunt, “Yes,” as I take her head and tilt it back to breathe air into her.

Asher gets ready to start compressions again, but Rowan starts to cough. I turn her head and allow the water to escape from her lungs.

“Ambulance is three minutes out,” Asher states and smacks my back. “Quick thinking, great job, brother.”

“Everyone’s out of the water except for Sylvan and Caddy,” Perrin states. “Rox is waiting in front of the gym to escort the EMTs to us once they get here.”

I don’t take my eyes off Rowan when I tell my prez, “Don’t leave Rox out there alone. I know for a fact Sylvan is no longer breathing. Caddy, however? Who the fuck knows where that bitch is. I only had my sights on Rowan and Sylvan was trying to use her as a shield. It’s why I stabbed him over and over until that shark suddenly came looking for a chew toy. I shoved Sylvan in that direction and saw the fucker’s head disappear.”

“Fuck,” Tage grunts. “That bitch seriously slipped through our fingers twice?”

Movement catches my eye and I see Rox along with the EMTs rushing in our direction.

“I’m going with her to the hospital,” I announce and glance at Perrin. “If I were you, I’d let Rox, Asher, Dutton, and Alwyn handle this scene so you guys can head back. Our clubhouse is just down the road and Caddy is one vindictive bitch.”

“Marlene,” Brixton whispers in a broken voice.

“Fuck,” Perrin growls. “You heard the man. Asher, Dutton, Alwyn, Rox, stay here and make sure you get boats, sonar, whatever to see if you can find what’s left of Sylvan or hopefully Caddy. Catch the damn shark to do an ultrasound or whatever to check if they’re in his stomach. Don’t kill it, though.”

“Really?” Rox mutters. “You have a soft spot for the shark? What if it bit your cock off just now? Or my tits. He came close. Fuck. So damn close.”

“Just do the damn job,” Perrin sighs. “It’s their domain we stepped into, sharks don’t have laws, so they don’t fucking break them either. Besides, Dwight’s short recap he gave us showed the shark is on our side, helping Dwight out by finishing the job. No killing. Understood? Unless you catch sight of Caddy, then feel free to take the bitch out.”

He doesn’t wait for a reply when he turns and rushes away Brixton, Tage, and the others following behind him.

“Let me know how she’s doing,” Alwyn asks, and I give her a nod as I follow the EMTs who are lifting Rowan on a stretcher to transport her to the ambulance.

The next few hours are spent in the waiting room of the hospital. I get updates and there’s something about a risk of secondary drowning, and then I’m finally able to check on Rowan myself. She’s sleeping and it’s the first time I get a good look at the woman before me.

Her long black hair looks soft and has a blue shine to it. She has sun-kissed skin, showing she’s mostly outdoors, and has an oval-shaped face with a slightly pointed chin. Her wide-set eyes, slim nose, and full lips are enchanting. Rowan is a stunning woman and when she opens her eyes and stares at me with gorgeous brown eyes, I’m simply captivated by her beauty.

I sink into the chair beside her bed. “Hey, how are you feeling?”

“Like I just drowned, died, and been brought back to recover in hell,” she croaks and gives me a tiny smile. “That was by far the most twisted thing I never thought I’d say that’s actually the truth.”

All I can do is chuckle. “For the record? The whole through hell and back thing? I’m glad you’re still here.”

“Only because you were there,” she fires back.

I shrug. “I had a little help from a shark.”

“Holy hell, a shark? Really? What the hell happened? I can’t remember much. The last thing I remember is Alvin punching me. I have no clue why he showed up with his new girlfriend, the one he cheated on me with.”

“The man you know as Alvin Supttry is actually Sylvan Pruitt. He was using an anagram of his name to lead a double life. The woman you mentioned is Caddy Bridges. She’s a killer and worked with Sylvan and his brother Liam to run underground fights and launder the money they won with bets through her father’s onboard casino. I know I injured Sylvan tonight which ensured he wouldn’t be able to live, and that was right before I kicked him toward the shark who caught his head with its teeth. Caddy, though? We haven’t found her yet.”

Her warm brown eyes collide with my blue ones when she says, “What’s going to happen now? Are you going to search the water? Did she drown? Did the shark get her too?” She frowns. “I work out on the beach and in the sea and I haven’t seen a shark since I arrived here. Gramps didn’t mention anything either and he would have said something because he knows I wanted to continue my training underwater.”

“Right place, right time? I was thankful for the big fish’s help.” I shrug. “Who knows why it was there or why it attacked.”

She lets her head fall back and closes her eyes. “Just what I need, a snacking shark when I’m planning on giving underwater training lessons.”

“Focus on letting your body heal first, then the gym’s reconstruction needs to be finished. One shark passing by doesn’t mean the end of everything,” I tell her.

A deep sigh rips from her. “It sure feels that way. Ever since I moved back and bought the gym from my Gramps it’s been one setback after another. Both with my private life by Alvin, Sylvan, whomever that asshole was, and my business with the reconstruction that’s taking longer than planned, and now this craziness.”

My chest constricts due to the torment in her voice. This stunning woman deserves better. Fuck. If we weren’t in this hospital and just met somewhere and chatted? I’m pretty sure I would have asked her out to get to know her. Though I can’t ask her out now, that would be weird, right?

I reach out and take her hand in mine. “You’re not alone, Rowan. Blennies Hitch is right down the road from you and we’re here to help.”

Her head turns my way and her eyes blink open. “You already did so much by giving me a second chance at life. But this is something I have to do alone. It’s my company, and I sure as hell won’t rely on any man ever again.”

Well fuck. So much for thinking about asking her out.