Chapter 42

42

Grace's heart hammered a frantic rhythm and hot tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. A tidal wave of emotion that she couldn't afford to unleash.

Not now. Not when Caleb needs me to be strong.

Inky black water closed over his head, swallowing him whole. The beam of his flashlight bobbed, a fading point of light that grew dimmer with each passing second until it vanished, engulfed by the murky depths of the room beyond.

She closed her eyes, forcing herself to take a deep, shuddering breath, the air burning in her lungs as she tried to calm the panic that clawed at her throat.

Her grip on her flashlight toughened.

He's going to be fine. He's going to be fine.

The words were a mantra, a desperate plea to the universe to keep him safe and bring him back to her. If anyone could find a way out of this sinking hellhole, it was Caleb. He'd trained for this, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer with countless hours of experience in the most treacherous conditions imaginable. But knowledge of his skill and dedication did little to quell the fear gnawing at her gut. What he was doing was dangerous.

And he's taking so long.

Shivers wracked her body, a bone-deep cold that sank into every atom of her being. She couldn't remember ever being warm. The water was above her waist now, an inexorable rise and as the boat yawed wildly, it splashed higher, over her breasts, slicing against her throat.

She had to stay focused. Keep it together.

Count.

Count the seconds until Caleb returned.

One, two, three…

She fixed her gaze on the spot where Caleb had vanished, her eyes straining against the darkness, willing him to reappear.

Come on, Caleb. Come back to me.

Her eyes were shut fast.

Two hundred and two. Two hundred?—

Water splashed and a gasp. "Grace."

She opened her eyes. "Caleb." She fell against him, not daring to believe he was here. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. His heart thumped under her ear. A fierce rat-a-tat. "Are you okay?" He held her away from his body, his eyes scanning for any sign of injury.

"I'm fine. I'm fine, really."

Water dripped from his rugged face. "Okay. It's clear. We can go through. You ready?"

No. But she nodded. There was no other choice.

"Take your boots off." She did as he asked. It made little difference. Her feet were already numb with cold.

"Here." He unhooked the coil of high-visibility rope from his belt. "We'll go together. This way, you won't get lost. It's dark even with the flashlight." He tied it around her waist, then tugged it on both ends to ensure it wouldn't unravel. He grunted his satisfaction at the soundness of his makeshift tether and flashed her a cheeky grin. "Guess you're stuck with me now."

"I hope so."

"Okay, listen." His expression shifted to serious as he stepped closer. "I need you to take several deep breaths to hyperventilate and increase your blood oxygen levels. Then I'm going to make an okay sign like this." He touched his thumb and forefinger in a circle. "This is our signal to dive. You understand?"

"I understand." Grace followed his guidance, breathing in, breathing out. As she sucked in the deepest breath yet he formed a circle with his fingers while with his free hand he took hold of her hand.

She trusted this man, trusted him with her life. If this was where it ended, she was with him.

Grace stepped off the edge of the step. Freezing water smacked against her face, and for an instant, panic almost floored her. Warm hands gripped her cheeks, and she forced herself to open her eyes. Caleb was right there. He made the okay sign once more, waiting for her response. She responded and then, satisfied she was ready, he turned and headed for the room below.

Her light flashed against the soles of his feet as he swam. She followed, using the safety rail to propel herself into the stateroom. The room was dim, lit by flickering emergency lights that gave the water a sickly orange cast. She scanned the space, the play of her flashlight scattering ethereal patterns across the walls.

The once opulent state bedroom had transformed into an eerie, otherworldly space. A forgotten wine glass hung suspended upside down, its stem pointing at the floor, while scattered cushions bobbed along the carpet, spinning as Caleb pushed past them with deliberate strokes, his powerful arms driving them forward.

She followed his lead, her pulse violent in her ears as they navigated through the submerged cabin.Darkness pressed in on her from all sides, a suffocating blanket that threatened to smother her, pierced only by the narrow beams of their flashlights. She was acutely aware of the immense weight of the water surrounding them, its pressure bearing down on her from all sides. The sensation formed a leaden knot in her stomach, warning her that any hesitation could be fatal.

Caleb checked over his shoulder, and she made the okay sign. I'm still okay. Still here. But she'd seen enough of the bedroom. Her lungs burned, and the push for fresh air intensified.

Just a little further.

Her fingers closed around the elegant leg of a dressing table, and she used it to pull herself forward, her eyes fixed on the darker rectangle at the far end of the room that marked their exit. The way out of this hellish maze.

Caleb tugged the rope connecting them as they reached the door. She followed as he guided her through, her heart leaping with anticipation, expecting to surface into fresh air. But as she breached the surface, her head slammed against the unyielding ceiling with a dull thud.

She spluttered, choking on the stale air that filled her lungs, her hands scrabbling against the smooth surface above her, desperate to find a way out of the water. But there was nowhere to go. Her head was jammed against the ceiling in a sliver of air.

Panic spiked through her like electricity. "Caleb... what..."

"We need to stop here. It's too far on one breath." His voice was steady. "You're doing great."

Of course. In her panic, she'd forgotten about the second room, the lounge where Hudson had entertained his cronies, smoking cigars and sipping ridiculous brandy. Her teeth chattered so violently she feared they might shatter. "O…kay..."

"Just one more push and then we're out." His eyes were fierce with determination.

"P…pr…promise?"

"I promise."

"I'm not dying on Richard's ship." She no longer cared about the blatant terror in her voice. All she could think about was her wretched need for air, the overwhelming desire to escape the claustrophobic confines of the ship and the life that had almost destroyed her.

Caleb spat out water, his face serious. "I understand. I want you to focus on your breathing and conserving your energy. We'll get through this together." His gaze locked with hers. "You can do this. The second section is shorter, and I'm right here with you."

She met his gaze as he sipped air, refilling his lungs for the final push.

"On my count, Grace. One. Two. Three."

Grace followed, ducking under the surface once more, icy water swathing her skin.She struck out with stiff arms, aware the cold was making her clumsy and slowing her down. When will this end? Ribbons of panic exploded in her belly.

I can't do?—

A muscular arm encircled her waist. No matter what, Caleb was here with her, his presence a tangible force in the darkness. Her protector.

A silver air bubble escaped from the corner of his lips as he took her hand, steering her through the second room, his strength bleeding into her, guiding her, compelling her to keep going. This man had shown her that her life was worth something, that she deserved love even if she had made mistakes. She could choose not to live in the past, and with him at her side, she wasn't afraid anymore.

She'd spent so long not caring if she lived or died. But now, she wanted to live. She wanted Caleb, and she refused to let Richard steal any more from her. Anger surged through her veins, a fire that melted the ice in her arms and she swam with a renewed sense of purpose, pouring every ounce of her remaining strength into each stroke.

And then, when she had nothing left to give, Caleb yanked her upward, and she burst through, gasping and spluttering, her lungs screaming as they gulped down the sweet, precious oxygen. She clung to Caleb, her arms wrapped around his neck, her face buried in his shoulder as she sobbed with relief.

Stairs led up from where they floated, to where the clamor of the storm was the sweetest sound she'd ever heard.