Evidence of Passion (Shadow Agents #7)(37)
Author: Cynthia Eden

Dylan dove. He kicked with all his strength, heading to the right. He wasn’t leaving Rachel in the water. He wasn’t—

Strong hands grabbed him and a forearm locked around his throat. Jack had a chokehold on him, and the two men sank deeper into the water as they struggled.

This was the point when most would probably panic. Fight harder, rougher, to get out. But that would just waste oxygen.

And it damn well wasn’t Dylan’s first time in the water. He’d trained and fought—over and over again—in the depths during his SEAL days.

So he didn’t waste time in a desperate battle. Instead, he let his body go limp. He wanted Jack to think he was winning that fight. He wanted the jerk to believe that Dylan was dying.

They sank, heading down deeper. Deeper.

Dylan waited for the instant when Jack would ease his grip, thinking that he’d won. He waited—

Jack’s forearm slid away from his throat.

Dylan instantly spun around. He shoved his hands into the man’s stomach. Then Dylan punched up with his fist, driving right for the man’s face. Bubbles exploded from Jack’s mouth as he screamed.

Bad mistake.

Now the guy was choking on water.

Dylan’s lungs hadn’t even started to burn.

Jack flailed as he tried to rush up to the surface and to air. But Dylan caught him. He held Jack tightly, easily subduing him.

And when they broke the surface, Jack was the one who was limp and barely breathing.

Dylan immediately shouted, “Rachel!”

Rachel was a strong swimmer, too. She should’ve been there, waiting at the surface with him.

She wasn’t.

He’d been fighting Jack, while Rachel— No, no, she’s okay. She has to be okay.

“Dylan!”

His head whipped to the left. He knew that voice—it was Thomas. Thomas dove into the water and broke the surface almost immediately. Dylan shoved Jack toward him. “Keep this SOB contained.”

He whirled back around. “Rachel!” This time, her name was a roar. Pain twisted through him. He was sure that he’d seen her hand a few moments before. About five yards to the right. Just before Jack had grabbed him.

Dylan dove. It was so dark, he couldn’t see anything. His hands swept out. Searching. Desperate.

How long had she been under?

The gun had discharged just when they’d hit the water. Had the bullet hit Rachel?

No, no, no.

Fear wrapped around him and held tight. He wasn’t going to leave that water without her. Either he’d find her or—

I won’t leave.

His fingers swept out. He touched something then, something soft, silken.

Hair?

Rachel.

He shoved forward and caught her. He pulled Rachel against him and kicked for the surface.

It was okay now. Everything was fine. He’d gotten Rachel. They were both fine.

When they broke the surface, he sucked in a gulp of air.

Rachel…didn’t.

“No!” He screamed and twisted her in his arms. Her eyes were closed. Her lips closed. “Rachel!”

He swam for the dock, holding her tightly. Fear swallowed him. Consumed him. This couldn’t be happening. Not to her. Hell, no.

He reached the ladder attached to the dock. He pulled her up, and she was limp in his arms.

“What have you done?” The shout came from Jack. He was on the dock, held tightly by a soaked Thomas.

Dylan carefully put Rachel down. “Baby, please, come back.” Because she was gone. He could feel it. His heart was like ice.

There was a gasp, then Noelle Evers rushed to his side. “How long was she under?” Noelle whispered.

He swept Rachel’s mouth. There was still some water inside, so he turned her onto her side then, when she was clear, he tipped back her jaw. No breath stirred from her, so he put his mouth on hers.

He’d give her his breath. He’d give her everything.

She just had to come back to him.

I never loved him.

He knew, he damn well knew, when Rachel lied. Because he knew her, inside and out.

He checked for a pulse. Found nothing.

He heard Noelle calling for help.

Jack was shouting Rachel’s name again and again.

Dylan started chest compressions. She felt so small beneath his hands. Sometimes he forgot how delicate she was because Rachel was always such a powerhouse of energy.

She wasn’t breathing.

He breathed for her again. He’d keep breathing for her as long as it took because he wasn’t going to let her go. Rachel couldn’t do this to him.

He pressed against her chest once more.

She choked. Her body spasmed and water poured from her lips.

Dylan grabbed her and turned her onto her side once more, holding her as tightly as he could. She was back. Back. And he’d never let her go again.

Trembles shook her slender frame. When the water stopped spilling from her lips, he pulled her back against him, wrapping his arms around her and curving his whole body over hers.

He kissed her head. “Don’t ever leave me,” he whispered. His hold was too tight on her, he knew that, but Dylan couldn’t ease his grip.

He’d just fought death for her. He knew that he would fight anything and everything for Rachel.

She didn’t speak, but her fingers threaded through his.

There was silence on that dock. Jack had stopped screaming.

Dylan glanced up.

Thomas shoved the killer down to his knees. “Damn, Rachel, you just scared the hell out of me,” Thomas said. Since very little ever seemed to scare Thomas, Dylan knew that was a big admission.

And he also knew that he felt the same way.

Then Jack started to laugh. The sound was chilling.

“It’s not over…” Jack told them. “It’s just starting…”

Dylan rose, keeping Rachel in his arms. The guy had lost his ski mask. His head was bowed, so Dylan couldn’t see his face clearly. “You’re going to spend the rest of your life in a cage.”

Jack tilted his head back. “Don’t be so sure of that.”

Dylan found himself staring down at a familiar face. The face he’d seen in O’Sullivan’s pub. The face of the man who’d seemed so concerned about Rachel hours before.

The man who’d kidnapped her.

Aidan O’Sullivan.

* * *

RACHEL SAT IN the back of an ambulance with a blanket around her shoulders. The EMTs had checked her out about five times now, and her body had finally stopped shaking.

“Are you all right?” The soft question came from Noelle. Noelle had been by Rachel’s side during all of those EMT checks. The woman was still watching her like a hawk.