Chapter 53

Sharp could easily swim over to the boat holding Danika, but if he waited twenty, maybe thirty seconds, he could jump from this boat to the one she was on. He moved to the bow and crouched low, ready to jump aboard and save her.

As Peach slowed and the boat they were on moved closer, he saw Ezra sitting up. The man lifted a gun, pointing it directly at the woman of his dreams. Shock and anger pummeled him, taking away his breath and his sanity.

The boats were close enough for him to jump.

Sharp stood. The men of his team and Peach yelled at him to wait, but Danika didn't have time. He jumped, praying he had pushed off hard enough to bridge the distance. For a second, he feared he wouldn't make it.

Ezra must have heard the commotion behind him because he glanced over his shoulder seconds before Sharp hit him, forcing him to the ground. So much happened at once.

The gun went off, the shot sinking into the side of the boat. Danika lunged away from Ezra just as a rogue wave hit, causing her to go off balance. He watched as she slowly tipped over the side of the boat, going in head first.

Panic exploded. He scrambled to stand, but Ezra had him by the shirt. Sharp screamed and punched the guy as hard as he could, hopefully knocking him out. Before Sharp could jump in to save Danika, Apple was in the water and by her side.

Sharp ran to the side of the boat, seeing Apple lifting a sputtering Danika free of the water. He took her by both arms and pulled her up and into the boat.

Tears streamed down his cheeks as he clung to her. She was alive, coughing up the water she'd swallowed, but alive.

Griz had zip strips on Ezra's wrists and a foot on his back. Apple stood over Ezra, dripping salt water on his head. The Coasties had boarded the other boat, the one they suspected was human traffickers, and were sending a smaller boat over to check on them.

Danika needed medical treatment but he doubted she would agree to having a helicopter fly out and airlift her to the nearest hospital. He wanted to demand she be transferred immediately, but she was breathing and though she shivered, she was talking and sounded like she knew what was going on. She didn't look awful, which made him relax a little, but not all the way.

She met his gaze as the Coasties pulled up alongside them. Her fingers twisted in the material of his shirt.

"You came for me and found me." Her voice hitched as she spoke.

His lips spread into a smile as relief filled him. "I'll search the ends of the earth if I have to just to find you."

"Thank you." Her voice came out in a squeak as emotions spilled from her. She'd come close to disaster, but they'd found her before it was too late.

The Coast Guard wanted answers, so he and Danika boarded the little skiff that took them to the ship, where she was given a thick blanket and coffee after one of the women treated her injuries.

On the water near land, the Coast Guard was the law, and he respected them for what they did. They dealt with crap like drug and human traffickers often and had to deal with less respect from civilians. Of course he was Navy proud, but he sure as heck wasn't going to say anything to these men and women who were helping them. They were doing a tough job and didn't need any shit from a Navy guy.

Danika had no trouble answering their questions, and by the time they made it back to shore, the man they were speaking to seemed satisfied.

"Thank you both for your cooperation," the guy said.

Sharp shook his hand. "You're welcome."

The man flashed Danika a warm smile. "I'm sorry this happened to you, but because we knew what was going on, we were able to catch those traffickers. We've been working to secure their capture for over a year. You've helped us prevent hundreds, if not thousands, of victims. Thank you."

Danika seemed shocked by the words but somehow got out a heartfelt thank you. Of course, they hadn't gone back to the marina. Instead, they were docked at the Coast Guard's dock.

Jay had driven his car around to pick them up. Sharp insisted they stop by an urgent care office before heading back to his apartment. Danika said she didn't need to, but he wasn't taking no for an answer.

They'd saved his woman, and Ezra had been taken down. The jerk had committed a crime in the US, and hopefully, he would be prosecuted harshly.

Sharp could breathe easier knowing Danika wasn't in danger. If they hadn't arrived in time, or if she'd been thrown from the boat that idiot had been driving too fast, or if a million other things had gone wrong, he could have lost her. He thanked his lucky stars that he'd been there for her. Now, all that was left was to show her every day how much he loved her.