Jones landed a few feet away. “Find them?” he yelled.
“Not yet.” With a glass breaker in his fist, Xander planted his feet on the wall of the wheelhouse, then crouched and punched the window. The glass shattered, dropping a glittery shower of razor-sharp shards into the water. Xander unhooked himself from the rappel line, sucked in his breath, and jumped through the jagged hole.
Water enveloped him, the weight of his soaked uniform pulling him to the bottom of the wheelhouse. The ship groaned, metal clanged, and the water level rose closer to the window he’d jumped through.
Using his good arm, he turned. Leila wasn’t there. His heart leaped into his throat. He’d have to search the cabin, which was impossible without an oxygen tank. He’d never reach her in time, not like this.
Movement at his side drew his attention. Soliman was wedged between a chair and the control panel, his eyes open, his mouth slack, a deep, red gash crossing his forehead.
Ignoring the sickening twist in his stomach, Xander wrenched Soliman free and pushed himself toward the top, dragging the body with him. He surfaced, waited until Jones had a hold of Soliman, then took a deep breath and dove again.
He pushed himself toward the bottom of the wheelhouse, his shoulder bursting with pain. Screaming internally, he ground his teeth together. He should have taken more pain meds. Finally, he reached the bottom and an open doorway. He glanced through, into the shrouded depths of the sea.
A red mist swelled in the current. Praying that he wasn’t too late, he set his feet on the door frame and launched himself into the deep.
Leila floated in the red haze, her arms reaching outward, unmoving. He wrapped his hand around her upper arm, wanting to scream at how limp she felt. He kicked, propelling them toward the surface.
They emerged and wind blasted against his face as he searched for the rappel line. They were too far away to reach, but the pilot must have noticed. As the helicopter inched closer, he held Leila against his bad shoulder, paddling with his good arm to keep their heads above water. Just the nose of the boat was still above the surface. Jones had already lifted off with Soliman.
“Come on, hurry up,” Xander muttered. Once the rope was within reach, he pulled it down and snapped it to his harness. He slipped his good arm beneath Leila’s knees, just as the helicopter lifted them out of the water. The helm of the boat shrank beneath his feet as they flew up the length of the rock wall. Leila’s head rolled against his chest and his throat tightened. He couldn’t tell if she was breathing or not.
The boat disappeared into the sea.
CHAPTER 41
Cars honked in the distance. Footsteps clacked along a tile floor. Leila’s nose tickled. She scratched it, hoping that would get rid of the reek of rubbing alcohol.
Rubbing alcohol?
Her eyes fluttered open, her head throbbing fiercely as the room slowly came into focus. Stiff blue curtains were drawn across the windows, the thick material dimming the room. She shifted and saw she’d been changed into a hospital gown.
Huh? That’s weird.
She lifted her hand and studied the IV port stuck in her arm, the tubes connecting her to the clear bag hanging at the side of her bed.
How am I not dead?
“Hey,” came a deep voice.
She turned her head to the right. Xander leaned back in a chair, watching her with a lopsided grin. She dropped her hand.
I am dead.
“Are you real?” she rasped. Her throat felt like she’d eaten a bucket of sand. How badly she wanted him to be real and not some hallucination or dream. His hair was unkempt, his eyes tired, but somehow, he was more handsome than ever.
The mattress dipped under his weight as he sat next to her. If this was a hallucination, it was a very good one.
“How d’you feel?” he murmured, leaning toward her, slowly brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. His soft touch warmed her skin.
With a cry, she reached up for him. Then came the stabbing pain in her abdomen. She sucked in her breath and dropped her arms.
“Careful,” he said, leaning over her, just enough so she could wrap her arm around his neck without having to sit up.
She slid one palm down his cheek, his stubble rough against her skin. He was solid. Warm. His unique and familiar scent mixed with the smell of the sea filled her nose. He was definitely real.
Had it all been a dream?
As she stared at him, the shock and pain ebbed away, and a million questions rested on the tip of her tongue. Before speaking, she gazed into the deep brown eyes that she, only moments ago, thought she’d never see again.
“I thought you were dead,” she said hoarsely.
“For a while there, I thought you were too. How d’you feel?”
She swallowed, only vaguely remembering the moment the bullet entered her. “Hurts like crazy. But… what happened? How did you…?”
“Hit me in the shoulder.” A corner of his lips twitched. “Hurts like crazy.”
She lowered her hand to his arm, hoping she hadn’t just made it worse by hugging him.
“Are you all right? Do you want me to fetch a nurse?” Xander asked, taking her hand and holding it sandwiched between both of his.
“Not yet. Where are we?”
“Athens.”
“Where’s Sami? Is he okay?”
Xander nodded solemnly. “He’s back in Egypt with Nur and Hani. Nur mentioned adopting him.”
