“How do you plan to stop them?” I asked her as the boat rocked on the waves and frigid water sprayed my face.
“Beth?” I called when she didn’t answer me.
Nothing.
“Beth,” I roared.
“She turned off her radio,” Mason said hesitantly.
“Mason, where are you now?” I demanded through clenched teeth.
“We’re on the bridge.” There was talk in the background, and then he came back. “We can see the boat. It’s headed right for us. Shit…hold on.”
The background noise got louder, and I could hear traffic and Beth’s raised voice, followed by the slamming of doors.
“No way, Beth,” Mason yelled over the wind. “You’re out of your damn mind.”
“You have a better idea?” she challenged.
Fear coiled in my stomach. “What’s going on?”
“It’s too far,” Mason shouted, ignoring me.
“It’s the only way, and you know it.”
Understanding dawned, and my heart leaped into my throat. I gripped the top of the windshield so hard it cracked.
“Beth, don’t you dare,” I growled. “Do not jump off –”
“Fuck!” Mason bellowed. “She jumped.”
Chapter 11
Beth
I had only seconds to question the sanity of my decision to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge before I plunged feet first into the dark water. The shock of the icy Pacific punched the air from my lungs, and it took me a moment to gather my wits and swim for the surface.
I broke the surface and sucked in air as I looked up at the lights of the bridge looming far above me. Well, okay then.
The sound of an engine reminded me why I was currently freezing my ass off in the ocean. I peered through the darkness at the approaching boat that was going to miss me by at least thirty feet if I didn’t get a move on.
Thankful for the many hours spent racing Mason in the lake back home, I set out to intercept the boat, slicing through the water with long easy strokes. My Mori was working double-time to strengthen and warm me, and I knew I was going to pay for this little adventure later. Right now, all that mattered was getting to those girls.
I put everything into closing the gap between me and the path of the Sea Ray. It was a fast boat, and I would not be able to chase it down if it passed me. That knowledge sent a fresh burst of adrenaline through me, and I pushed my body harder than I ever had.
The boat came alongside me and sped past. I lunged for the ladder attached to the stern. My fingers grasped a metal rung and I was jerked forward violently, but I held on.
Gasping, I gripped the ladder and let the boat tow me for a minute before I pulled my body to where I could peer over the swimming platform. When I didn’t see anyone, I hoisted myself up to lie on my stomach on the platform. From there, I lifted my head until I spotted the male sitting at the cockpit, driving the boat. There was no sign of the girls or anyone else, so I knew they had to be below in the cabin. And the only way to the cabin was past the Incubus, who was not going to let me through without a fight.
I eased the knife from the sheath at my hip, relieved I hadn’t lost it when I hit the water. Studying the male at the wheel, I decided the element of surprise was the best thing I had going for me. If he was as strong as the Incubi I saw the others fighting at the marina, he could overpower me, unless I took him down first. What I lacked in strength and speed, I made up for in hand-to-hand combat skills. And the longer I waited, the farther from my team we got.
I inched forward silently to climb over the back seats directly behind the male. Once I cleared the seats, I’d have to move quickly, and there was no room for error.
I nearly screamed when something cold wrapped around my ankle. My hand holding the knife was already descending to ward off God knew what, when I recognized the face of the man sprawled on the edge of the platform.
My legs weakened, and I sank to my knees. “Jesus, Mason,” I whispered. “What are you doing here?”
“You didn’t think I’d let you have all the fun.” His smirk became a grimace. “By the way, Chris is totally losing his shit. I figured it’s safer here with you.” He crouched and peered over the seat at the Incubus. “Just one?”
“Up here. I don’t know if there are more down below.”
His eyes met mine. “Guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
I nodded as new confidence filled me. Mason and I were not as strong as Chris or Brock, but we’d been training partners for years. Together, we could do this.
“Ready?” I asked.
“Whenever you are.”
I vaulted over the back seats, landing directly behind the Incubus. My arm went around his head, yanking it back so I could draw my knife across his throat.
The blade had barely touched his skin before he grasped my arm and pulled me over his shoulder into his lap, trapping me between his body and the wheel. His hands were like vices on my shoulders, and I grunted in pain. Wriggling my body, I managed to bring up my hand and plunge my knife between his ribs.
His choked cry of pain ended abruptly, and he went still. I slipped out of his hold and stood to see his head twisted at an unnatural angle. Mason stood on the seat behind him, looking pleased with himself.
“And that’s how it’s done,” he said cockily. “Give me a second to finish the job.”
My eyebrows rose. “Look again, pal.”
He leaned over the body, and his mouth turned down when he saw the handle of the knife sticking out of the Incubus’s chest.
I held back a grin because there’d be time for celebrating later. Reaching past the dead Incubus, I eased back on the throttle and shut the engine off. Then I pulled my knife from his chest and wiped the blade on his shirt. It was my only weapon, and we had no idea what awaited us below.
I expected more Incubi to come charging up from below, but only silence greeted me when I stood at the top of the stairs to the cabin.
Mason touched my arm. “I should go first.”
“Why? Because you’re the male?”
He pressed his lips together sheepishly, and I shook my head. I already had one overprotective male trying to tell me what to do. I didn’t need another one.
“Follow me,” I told him before I descended the stairs. There was no need to be quiet. If anyone was down here, they already knew we were on board.
The first thing I saw when I was halfway down the steps was Natalie and Nicole Thomas, lying unconscious on the bed at the far end of the cabin. Relief filled me, but I forced myself to make sure the rest of the cabin was clear before I went to the girls.
“How are they?” Mason asked from behind me.
I checked their eyes and straightened to face him. “I think they’re just entranced. Chris will know what to do.”
He cocked his head and gave me a worried look. “Speaking of Chris…”
I looked at the door to the cockpit as the sound of another engine reached my ears. Seconds later, my Mori fluttered, and I heard a furious male voice roar my name.
Mason ran for the stairs. “I’ll be up here if you need me.”
“Coward,” I called after him.
“Yep,” he shot back as he disappeared from sight.
There was a light bump as the other boat pulled up alongside, followed by the sound of someone jumping onto the deck. I stood beside the bed, trying not to look as nervous as I felt. I’d never heard Chris sound so angry, and I had no idea what to expect when he came down those steps.
I didn’t have long to wait. In seconds, he was there, chest heaving, jaw hard, and a storm brewing in his eyes. I gulped and forgot how to speak as he closed the distance between us. Then his arms were around me, hugging me so tightly I could feel his heart pounding and his ragged breaths.
“Goddamn it, Dove, don’t ever do that to me again,” he said hoarsely against my ear. A shudder went through him, and he buried his face in my wet hair. “I thought I’d lost you.”
His desperate words made my chest squeeze, and I forgot for a moment why I should be pushing him away. I allowed myself to relax and pretend he was the Chris I used to love before he’d broken my heart. Closing my eyes, I savored the feel of his strong arms and the warmth of his body through our wet clothes. My Mori was drained after my swim in the bay, but Chris was putting off heat like a furnace despite his own dunk in the water.