by Aliyah Burke
He set off, heading down the trail. Behind him, he heard her moving, occasionally slipping but she never crashed into him. Her breathing worried him however.
When they hit the beach, she had to catch her breath and wipe the sweat from her face. “Damn.”
He couldn’t have said it better himself. Black sand beaches were impressive in a whole different way. Everything offset with the dark grains. They had pink and green sand beaches as well in Hawaii but these were the most impressive to him.
“It’s like a sheet of obsidian. One that’s not perfectly smooth but has been worked on. Bitch always did have beautiful places to treasure hunt at in her lifetime.” No animosity in her tone, actually fondness.
OT cleared his throat. “Let’s take a look around. Very strong rip currents here, so don’t go in the water.”
“No plans to entertain that at all. I’m staying on dry land.”
He smiled and pointed to the stretch of beach he would check.
She went in the opposite direction.
After searching his section, he turned around and wandered back. His gut yelled at him that this was the area. Yes, he—they—had other beaches to check but his instincts were screaming he was on the right path. He trusted them, they’d made him one hell of an investigator.
Coming around the corner, he lengthened his stride when Natasha wasn’t in sight. Where had she gone?” “Natasha?”
“Down here.”
He hurried along until he spied her near a large chunk of driftwood.
She had one hand resting on it as she stood there.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Don’t have a choice. I have to be.”
OT moved around and leaned near her.
Natasha brushed off the log and sat, ankles crossed and hands braced on either side of her. “What happens if this place is the one we need? With the currents, you can’t just drop off the boat.”
“You’ll be in the boat. I’ll be tethered as well to it.”
She shook her head. “Are any of the black sand beaches without the hard riptides?”
“Not really, no.”
Her expression fell before it smoothed out. “We have others to check?”
“Yes. Let’s head back up.”
“Sure.”
At the trail, he waited and she did too. “You wanted to go first time, is that not the case now?”
Her question snapped his mind from mentally making a list of what he needed, equipment wise. “Go ahead. I’ll bring up the rear.”
“Sure could use TC’s chopper right now.” Natasha groaned and tipped her head to look up the daunting trail before her.
He wasn’t about to tell her most times people rode donkeys down it.
A few moments and she struck out.
OT followed, ready to assist her if necessary.
αβ
Natasha’s frustration mounted. They’d checked all the beaches OT had marked for possibility. Not that she’d expected a huge sign from Ashlee, something…anything would have been nice. “Gotta give me something Ash, please.”
Nothing answered her prayer.
The day was half over and they were about to go out for him to dive. Nerves taunt and pulled tight, she rubbed her hands down the thighs of her jeans. Maybe she should have changed into shorts.
Maybe I should have kept my ass in my city and never have come to Hawaii.
“I’m back,” OT announced. “Let’s go.”
Together, they fell into step as she continued down the pier to the boat he had.
“This yours?” she asked him.
“Nope.”
“It’s mine.” A short well dressed man joined them. He shot her a smile
Natasha didn’t return it. Seriously. Short of TC, I have the crew. And a ladies man like Rick, right here.
“Natasha, this is Tully. He’s letting us use his boat.”
“Thank you,” she said taking in the clean-shaven man. His Hawaiian roots were blatant.
“OT never said you were so beautiful.”
“He didn’t mention you at all.” She glanced away.
“Ouch, you have sharp claws.”
“She’s not interested, Tully. Leave her alone.”
“I need consoling.”
OT gave her an, ‘I’m sorry look.’ “Tell your wife.” OT winked at Natasha.
She gave him a small smile in return.
They boarded a nice trawler. Her heart thundered and her breathing grew shorter. It was hard to fight this fear, but she had to. Tully was up top starting the engine when a shadow fell over her.
OT waited.
“Yes?”
“Is it going to be a problem?”
“No.” She wasn’t going to let it become one. How he’d figured out this fear, she hadn’t the foggiest but it didn’t matter. She would face it. Just like I did with the airplane ride.
He held her gaze. Assessing. Judging. All of it before he gave a sharp nod and went to cast them off. Never mentioned it to Tully either. Not that she knew of anyway.
Safe inside the cabin, she waited for them to get out to the first locale. Looking around, she withdrew her phone and called her boss to update him. The call dropped and she tried once more before giving up.
She peered out through the window for a moment until her tightening chest drove her away. Rubbing her eyes, she found a bottle of water dangling in front of her.
OT. He had this uncanny way of sneaking up on her.
“Thanks.”
“Wanna talk about it?”
“Not any more than I’d like my wisdom teeth pulled with no drugs.” She uncapped the drink.
He held out his hand and before she realized what happened, he’d gotten her out of the cabin and seated outside in the sun on the back deck.
OT sat beside her, legs stretched out. “Well, what was she hunting?”
“I wish I knew.” Natasha closed her eyes and allowed the ocean wind to move along her heated skin. “Ashlee didn’t talk about what she was after. Fight club rules, treasure hunters have the same thing. You don’t talk about it and you don’t share information. I never knew when or how she got the tips she did.”
“Risky.”
Natasha stared at him. “She was a treasure hunter. Of course, it was risky.”
“I mean all of it.”
“Have you had the pleasure of being around treasure hunters? This isn’t a crew you do Sunday breakfast with. They’re cut throats and thieves who may wear a business suit but it’s only a disguise. A wolf—a rabid one—in sheep’s clothing. They will kill you to keep it for themselves.”
“What about Ashlee?”
“I suspect as vicious as the others. We were friends first and I didn’t mingle with the people she dealt with in her business ventures.”
“Surely, you had to have some clue.”
Of course I did, I’m just not sure I can trust you with all that information. “Nope.” They crested a swell and she gulped, praying her food stayed down.
“What did she hunt mostly?”
This question threw her. She hadn’t given it much thought lately. Her shock was such she forgot about the water surrounding them. “Coins mostly. She loved the sunken treasure finds. Something about bringing up the past. But anything that came with a mystery to it. She liked to think of herself as a real life Lara Croft. Without all the money. Well, not Lady Croft money anyway.”
“Did she keep any of it?”
“No. She kept pictures. Or rather I did. She would send them to me. She enjoyed the hunt, didn’t want the clutter messing up her place.”
“Do you think it could be coins?”
“I guess.” Natasha shrugged. “It could be anything. Does it matter?”
“It would help? Area wise.”
“I’m sorry, I just…” Her shoulders slumped. “I don’t know.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
She liked the sound of that.
“Anchor’s dropped!
” Tully’s cry broke the simmering tension between them.
“I have to go get ready.”
The boat rocked gently on the ocean. OT got into his diving suit.
Tully helped him into the tank.
She wrung her hands as he spit in the eyepiece and rinsed it out. He adjusted everything, tossed her a salute, and fell back overboard.
Be safe.
Tully slanted a look to her and she worried her lower lip while she reclaimed a seat to wait. After a few moments, Tully went in to the cabin, leaving her alone on deck.
She turned and gazed in the window and saw him on a phone. Turning back, Natasha watched the water for OT to surface.
Chapter Six
The water flowed around him, moving him the direction it wished for him to go. For a moment, he allowed the decision to be made for him. Then he shook his head and flicked his legs to go against the current, heading down. It had been too long for him since he’d been diving. Sure, he did snorkeling a few times a week and dove at least once, but not like this. It had been much longer since his blood pumped with the energy this hunt pushed into him, keeping alert. He gazed around, searching for anything that appeared to be a potential entrance to a lava tube.
He moved with purpose but not frantic. The knowledge Tully sat on the fish finder, keeping an eye out for sharks, made him feel better. He avoided sharp rocks aware that blood in the water wouldn’t be anything to benefit him.
Nothing.
He checked his waterproof map as well as his gages before continuing on his way. A half hour later, he broke the surface, searching for the boat.
“OT.”
He turned one-eighty and pushed toward the waiting fishing boat where Tully leaned over the edge. No Natasha.
“Find anything?”
He reached up and allowed Tully to lift him clear. On deck, he removed his fins then took off his facemask. Raking his hand through his hair, he looked around. “Where’s Natasha?”
“Galley. Can’t tell me? We have to wait for your girlfriend?”
“Not my girlfriend and I just think it’s more productive to just say it to both of you at the same time.”
Tully smirked but lifted the tank and helped him out of it.
Natasha returned with a bottle of water. Her expression remained contained as she moved her gaze between himself and Tully. She took a long drink and shrugged. “Well?”
OT reached out, plucked her water—same as she’d done to his coffee earlier today—and drank it. Never once dropping her gaze.
“Right,” Tully muttered. “Not a girlfriend. I’m taking us to the next spot if you two give a damn. I’ll be up there out of the way and not looking.” He scampered away leaving OT with Natasha. The motor kicked over and the slow winch motion as it brought up the anchor one chain link at a time.
He cocked an eyebrow and unzipped his suit, just wanting a bit of breathing room. “How are you doing?”
“I was fine. Thirsty.”
He smirked and tossed her back the water bottle. “Come on.”
They each took a seat.
“Did you have any more thoughts about what it could be she was after?” he asked.
“No, but like I said at the beginning, she wasn’t a newbie. Ash was an experienced diver. Something or someone had to aid in her death.”
“Accidents happen.”
She drank and wiped the back of her hand over her mouth. “I understand that but again skeptical.”
“Of what?” Tully’s question was hollered.
OT sighed and shrugged. “Stay out of this.”
“Fine. Thought we were doing this together.”
“Stop griping. We’ll discuss everything together when we finish checking.” He gave her a smile. “We’ll be there soon.” Walking away to the ladder, he shed the top from his skin, letting it dangle from his waist. A final quick gaze to Natasha and he took the ladder a few steps at a time.
“She’s a suspicious little thing. Cutie though. And sexy. Even all bundled up like she is.”
“Of course she is and you needn’t be thinking about her sexy. You’re married.”
“But not dead. Doesn’t she trust you?”
“I suppose. But only to a point. This is hard for her, cut her some slack.”
“Damn, she’s gotten to you.”
OT snorted. “Whatever.”
“You never cut anyone any slack. You forget, I’ve seen you in investigator mode.” A quirk of his lips. “But that’s not all. Look at this.” Tully gestured around them. “No one in sight. No boats for miles. You could be down there romancing her but you’re hiding out up here with me. She scares you.”
“No way.” He crossed his arms until Tully raised his eyebrows so he lowered his arms, trying for nonchalance.
“Thought so.”
“Kiss off. Just focus on driving the boat.”
Tully laughed.
The amused looks continued from his friend through the next two stops.
After he was back topside from the third dive, they all sat around on deck chairs. He had the middle one with Natasha on one side and Tully on the other. The anchor still down and the boat rode the motion easily.
Off in the distance a few more boats had come into view.
“I’ve marked several spots that have potential. Honestly, I would say the first spot. I want to get back and mark it, so I can compare it to the current that day.
“What’s that going to do for us?” Natasha got up and stretched her arms over her head.
Tully cleared his throat.
Hearing it, OT dragged his gaze from the way her shirt pulled against her breasts. “Based on how you said she was an experienced diver, she’s not going to expend energy and air on trying to fight the currents unless she was positive whatever she was after was there.”
“She would have known. Ash was crafty even though she played it close to the vest.” Natasha went to the edge and peered over, a slight wistful expression filling her face, even so briefly. Then it was gone and she turned back to face them, sitting on the side.
“Okay,” OT added. “Then we work it. I’ll come back down with extra air and see what I can find.”
“And Mr. Tully has time to come out here as well?”
“I like that, Mr. Tully.” His friend grinned and puffed out his chest.
OT turned to him to flip him off.
In an instant, Natasha crumpled and vanished over the side.
“Tully! She’s overboard.” OT was up and running to dive in before his words even faded from the air. Slicing through the warm water, he opened his eyes to see her sinking down, not even fighting. That wasn’t all. A thin stream of red rose up from her shoulder area, dispersing into the water, alerting its presence to any and all sharks in the vicinity.
Shit.
No bubbles left her mouth. He kicked harder, grabbing her beneath the arms then surging up toward the surface. They broke together. “Tully!”
“Here, I’m here! Anchor’s coming up. Hand her up to me we’ll bring her over the side.”
Awkward but they managed. The moment Tully had her, OT climbed out himself and scrambled to her side, staying low. “Get us out of here.” He focused on getting her breathing again, angling her head back.
Tully obeyed and they soon rushed to land.
He could hear him calling it in over the radio. OT wasn’t a medic but he had rudimentary skills and after hurrying to the first aid kit, he returned to her.
She wasn’t responding verbally but at least she breathed on her own, however shallow. Eventually, her eyes opened, hazy and full of pain.
“Hang in there.”
Natasha searched his face for something then sank back into unconsciousness.
What the hell is going on?
He never even heard the shot. Silencer or suppressor. His mind replayed the positions of the boats that could have been seen. It didn’t matter, the shot could have come from a much farther distance. High powered rifle.
“Oww,” Natasha moaned as the waiting medics strapped her to the stretcher.
“Can you hear me, ma’am?” one questioned.
“I’m right here, Natasha.” OT took one of her hands.
“Sir.”
He ignored the warning.
She swung her unfocused gaze to him. “OT.” Then she went under again.
“Sir!”
He climbed in the back of the ambulance. “I’m going.”
The door closed on Tully’s concerned expression.
The sirens wailed and they were off.
αβ
Pain pushed through her bringing her from the darkness where it’d been held at bay. Her entire left side was aflame with pain. She didn’t remember all of what happened just that there was discomfort. More than she’d had in years. Ever since the accident and her resulting surgeries.
The smell of hospital filtered to her nose. The sharp, cold, sterile scent burned her nostrils, making her eyes water as it brought back all those unpleasant memories.
She cracked her eyes open a little bit, expecting splintering pain when the first light came in. There wasn’t any, a fact that alone shocked her.
“Welcome back stranger.”
“OT.”
“Could have just told me you were tired of hearing me talk.”
“Hoping TC would show up to save me,” she whispered.
His smile was a lot more like indigestion. “Sorry, it’s OT not TC.” He shrugged and leaned forward to take her hand. “What’s with your obsession with that show?”
“Magnum.” She sobered. “What happened to me?”
His thumb skimmed along the back of her hand. “You were shot.”
She held his gaze. “I’m really beginning to not like Hawaii. Why would anyone want to kill me?”
His hold on her hand tightened. “We’re going to figure it out.” His eyes held her immobile. “Together.”
“It’s not logical.”
“How so?”
She wanted to sleep. Shifting on the uncomfortable bed, she tried to free her hand but he held on. “If they want my knowledge of what Ashlee shared, I would think they’d let me do the legwork. Obviously, that’s not the case.”