Diver's Heart

by K. A Knight

  “What do we do?”

  “Work together as a team,” Kalen replies.

  “Because who are we?”

  “Apex predators,” Tyler says, and we all close our eyes and press our fingers to the water to honour my father and all those we have lost. When I reopen them again, we are good to go.

  We’re ready to get out of this cave once and for all.

  I share a look with Fin and Riggs. “I love you,” I tell them, needing them to know.

  “Don’t say it like it’s goodbye, Peyton.” Fin wags his finger. “We have lots of sex and relaxing to do.” With that, he winks, sucks in a breath, and dives under. Riggs blows me a kiss, takes a breath, and follows.

  I share a look with Kalen. “No hero antics.”

  “Shut the fuck up and dive, baby girl.” He rolls his eyes.

  Tyler sucks in a breath and submerges, and I look at Kalen again. “If it’s a choice between me or him, get him.” Unwilling to give him time to become angry, knowing I’m asking the impossible, I take a deep breath and dive. Kalen waits a moment before following.

  Luckily, we still have our torches, and as we move deeper, we flick them on. Tyler and I swim side by side, and he holds the tank in his hand in case he needs it. Fin and Riggs are before us, heading through some underground structures with holes. We twist through them and around the stalagmites coming up from the bottom before it narrows into a tunnel that seems to be heading straight.

  I have a good feeling. The same feeling I get when we make a new find, when I see a cave I know is going to be incredible, life-changing. I have it now. This has to be the way out.

  I just know it.

  We follow behind them, and a little way into the tunnel, Tyler takes his first breath from the tank. I’m okay, so I don’t reach to take it, letting him keep it instead as Riggs and Fin pass their tank. The bubbles blow into the water and float to the ceiling.

  Tyler takes another breath and reaches over, giving it to me. Sealing my lips around it, I inhale and pass it back, knowing he needs it more. The farther we swim, the more the water heats, the light growing brighter. Excitement fills us as we speed up, swimming as fast as we can, even Tyler, but when I look back, he’s trailing blood behind him. It makes me nervous, knowing those monsters can smell it, but there is nothing we can do about it now.

  The water starts to have more of a current, and even Fin’s and Riggs’ kicking increases, knowing what that means. Tyler draws from the tank and passes it over to me. I take one just as we all come to a slow stop behind Fin and Riggs.

  The tunnel ends.

  Open water.

  Freedom.

  We did it.

  We are at the edge of the tunnel with the sunlight right before us. The ocean stretches before us, promising us air and freedom…then I hear a grunt.

  I turn to see Kalen fighting three of the monsters. I look back to Tyler, who’s ready to help, but we both know he’s in no shape to do so. I take a deep draw from the tank before I pass it to him, knowing he’ll need it to get free. I nod my head to Fin and Riggs, and without a backwards glance, I spin and swim as fast as I can back to Kalen.

  I trust Tyler to follow Fin and Riggs, but I refuse to leave Kalen down here in the dark. He sees me coming and shakes his head before they swarm him again, blocking my view. I see blood polluting the water and almost snarl as I make my body as streamlined as possible to reach him faster.

  Fuck these monsters and their stupid cave. They will rot down here.

  As soon as I reach him, I grab one around the neck and throw it off, kicking another so Kalen can deal with the third. The one I threw comes at me, scratching along my face, but I grab it, ducking to avoid its talons, and slam it into the wall.

  Over and over again.

  Eventually, it stops moving, and when I turn around, Kalen has his hand around one’s back end as it snaps at me, trying to reach me as he effortlessly breaks the neck of the other. I’m left wide-eyed as he turns, reels the other in, breaks it in two, and lets go. It drifts to the floor in a bloody haze. I stare at him, and he grins before it falls away. His hands swipe through the water, and he looks back at me with panic as he gestures to his mouth.

  The tank.

  Fuck!

  It must have gotten lost in the fight.

  With no other option, he swims towards me, grabs me, and drags me after him as we fight to get out of the tunnel and into the air before we drown. We swim as fast as we can, but my lungs are starting to scream at me. Not just because of how long we’ve been down here, but because the fight made me lose valuable air time. I tap his hand, and he knows, probably struggling himself.

  I search for a solution and find it above us.

  I point and he follows my gaze with a nod. We both swim up, up to the top of the tunnel. Hopefully the others are out by now, but we won’t stop until we are as well.

  There, on the surface of the ceiling, are air bubbles. Who knows how long they have been here, but it’s either that or drown. We press our faces to the ceiling and suck down as many as we can before diving and swimming hard again.

  We have one last try to get out.

  He never once releases my hand until we break through the tunnel. Fin is there with his tank, just about to swim in. He passes it to me, but I hand it to Kalen, knowing he can’t hold his breath as long as I can. The sun filters in, and I swim as hard as I can. My heart races so fast, it’s all I can hear, and then I break through the surface.

  Right into the open air and sunlight.

  I suck in fresh air for the first time in weeks, my eyes watering as the sun hits my face, instantly warming it. The ocean laps at me, gently pulling my body with its current. Kalen surfaces next to me, Fin too, and I spin, looking for Tyler, but Fin stops me.

  “No splashing, gentle movements,” he warns softly.

  “Wait, what?” I ask, still looking for Tyler. I find him nearby with Riggs, and I’m about to swim there, ignoring Fin’s advice, when I see what he meant. Not too far away is a fin.

  An unmistakable shark fin.

  Fuck.

  I dive under and search the water. There are none around us, so I surface and gingerly swim over to them. “You’re okay.” Tyler sighs in relief, hugging me. I wrap my arms around him and hold him afloat, watching the blood in the water. I share a worried look with the others. Not only has he lost a lot, he looks bad…and now we have sharks.

  In open water.

  Fuck.

  “At least we’re out of the cave,” he jokes as we swim in a circle, protecting him as we watch the fins. They aren’t super close, but we all know how quickly that could change, and if we’re in a feeding ground, we’re fucked.

  “Great whites, it looks like,” Kalen observes, and I nod.

  “Probably, it’s their territory around here. Any boats? People? Anything?” I question.

  Riggs shakes his head as we search the horizon. The ocean is pulling us farther out to sea and away from the cliff where the entrance to the cave was located. The island is there, but it’s steep, and there is no way we could climb that, especially in Tyler’s current condition.

  “What do we do?” I worry as I hold him up. Unlike what most people believe, sharks don’t attack unless threatened or if they think you are a seal…but in our wetsuits, it’s hard to tell.

  “We wait. Someone has to be looking in the ocean for us. If we see no one in the next hour or so, Riggs or I will climb up and search for help,” Kalen suggests.

  “Good idea. Until then, let’s stay quiet and swim softly. Keep an eye out in case they come closer.”

  We float on the water, heating from the sun. I never thought I’d be so grateful to be out of a cave as I am. The sharks circle near us, but none come too close. Tyler is getting weaker, his bloodied, wet fingers coming up and trying to grab the necklace around his neck.

  The ring.

  “It’s going to be okay, stay with me,” I murmur, kissing his salty hair.

  “This is yo
urs, wear it,” he slurs.

  “No. When you’re better, you can give it to me yourself,” I retort, kicking my legs as I watch the fins around us. “Until then, you stay with me, you hear? We are so close, Ty, so fucking close.”

  “I need you to know I love you,” he wheezes.

  “I know you do. I know, babe, but please hold on, okay? We need you, I need you,” I whisper.

  The rumble of an engine sounds, cutting through my anxious pleas.

  We scan the water desperately until we see the small fishing boat trolling the waters. We wait for it to draw closer and start screaming, shouting, and waving our hands, still trying not to splash. It stops close by, and Kalen, without an ounce of fear, dives under and swims right into the shark infested water before it.

  I watch, terrified, waiting for him to resurface. He does, right next to the boat, and climbs up, just as a shark lunges. I see him talking to a confused man and gesturing to us before pushing him out of the way and into the cabin of the boat. A moment later, it turns, roaring towards us, and I cry as the water splashes around us from the sharks.

  One almost takes a bite, but the boat cuts past it and then idles next to us. Kalen comes to the side and reaches down, trying to get us out of the water as fast as he can. I push as he pulls, helping Tyler in. Kalen pulls me out next, then Riggs and Fin. I fall onto the stained bottom next to Tyler, Fin and Riggs drop to my other side, and Kalen sits at our feet as the man who owns the boat yells into a radio. I turn my head and feel water dripping down my face as the sun heats every bleeding exhausted inch of me. I meet Tyler’s eyes and smile.

  “We did it, baby, we’re safe,” I whisper, and using the last of my energy, I drag my hand across the wood and reach for his. He takes mine and tangles our fingers.

  Smiling, I close my eyes and turn to face the sky again as I feel another hand grab my free one. A palm lands on my leg, Kalen’s, and another on my side, Fin’s or Riggs’. They all touch me as we remain silent.

  We are free, but we have lost so much along the way.

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Peyton

  Once on the boat, everything goes pretty fast. We are rushed to the island, where those from up top are gathered. There’s excited chatter and so many questions, but we are all too worn and injured to answer much. I greet Steve and tell him what happened as we wait for a chopper to arrive. It’s there in thirty minutes, and Tyler is airlifted away. I go with him, since he’s unwilling to let go of my hands. The others set out on a boat straight after to go to the mainland with the closest hospital where we’re being airlifted to.

  I lay my head on his chest on the way there as they put an IV in and check his stats while covering his wounds. They try to check me over, but I shake my head. He needs them, not me. When we arrive at the hospital, they take him for surgery, and I’m forced to be looked over. I have to get some jabs and will be forced to take antibiotics. They also have to sew some of the lesions from the monsters. When they asked what made them, I just look away, knowing the likelihood of them believing me is pretty low.

  Two hours later, I’m in a bed and on a drip for dehydration when the others get there. We wait for news on Tyler together.

  It feels strange to be out, I feel…nervous around them, as if unsure how to act. Are they still mine like they were down in the cave? Or are they giving up on me again in the sunlight? But then Kalen strolls over and takes my hand as easily as before, maybe even easier, as if it’s made to be there. Fin scoots onto the bed next to me, cuddling into me as Riggs lays his head on my leg.

  I start to cry for everything we have lost, but also everything we have gained.

  Michael… I can’t even begin to grieve for him, but the exhaustion and pain overwhelm me, and I sob. They hold me the entire time, his name on my lips, and finally, my mind shuts down and I sleep.

  I’m surrounded by those I love with my heart reaching out to the other who isn’t with us, hoping that our luck changes and Tyler is okay.

  That we left all of those bad times down there in the dark.

  I’m woken by a doctor. My mind is foggy, and he kindly waits for me to take some water and fully fight through the haze before he sits and begins talking. He explains they had to operate on Tyler immediately to close the internal wound. Luckily, he had no damage to his organs, but he lost a lot of blood. He’s had two transfusions, and all his other wounds have been treated. He’s in recovery on an IV mixture like me, and we can see him if we want. I try to get to my feet, but the doctor sighs and helps me up so I can lean on the IV pole, and then he soon puts me in a wheelchair and wheels me to another floor and another room, my men following.

  I see him through the glass, looking clean and almost smaller in the white bed with the bright lights. He’s so still with monitors beeping next to him. Kalen walks in, Fin too, but Riggs waits with me as I hesitate, wondering if he wants me in there.

  When he wakes up…what if he goes back to hating me?

  “You’re family, Peyton. You are who he wants to see, to listen to, above all of us. He needs you now, Pey, more than ever. Don’t hurt him again.” He leans in and kisses me softly. “Get out of those doubts. We’ve had a hard few weeks, so let’s just…be. All we’re asking for right now is for you to stay, to be here for him…and us.”

  I nod and take his hand, getting up from the wheelchair and letting him lead me inside. Fin has pulled out a chair, and I sit stiffly with a wince, reaching out to take Ty’s warm hand. Raising it, I kiss the back as I stare at him. “I’m here, Ty,” I whisper before clearing my throat. “We are all here. You’re okay, we’re all okay. Just rest, and we’ll be here when you wake up… I’ll be here. I promise.”

  I kiss him again and watch the rise and fall of his chest, wondering if it’s enough this time, wondering if I’m enough.

  I don’t want to hurt them ever again. Down in the cave, we found love, we found forever, but that’s the easy part. The hard part is fighting for it, keeping it alive. But if anyone can, it’s us.

  Together.

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  FIN

  As soon as we are allowed to, we go into Tyler’s room. We stay there all day and night, even when the doctors try to take Peyton back to her own room claiming she needs rest. I watch her light up as she stares them down, daring them to try and stating she will only rest with him next to her. They leave her alone after that.

  We still haven’t discussed what we’re going to say happened down there—who will believe monsters attacked us?—but if we don’t give them something, someone will go back down and end up with the same problems we had. However, that’s a problem for another day. Today, as the sun rises and starts to shine through the window of the hospital room, is a day for celebration.

  Especially when Tyler opens his eyes.

  It’s only for a moment. He looks around, meeting our eyes and then Peyton’s. A small smile curves up his lips. His mask was taken off late last night, and he’s breathing for himself. “You stayed,” he whispers before he passes out again.

  I watch tears roll down her face as she kisses his hand. “I’m not going anywhere, Ty, you hear me? I’ll be right here, just rest. I’ll look after them for you.”

  “You can try,” I tease. “We’re a handful.”

  She laughs, wiping her tears away, and gives me a grateful smile for trying to cheer her up. I’d do anything for that smile, do anything to keep my girl happy…or should I say our girl. She will never be just mine, but I don’t care. As long as I get a piece of her heart, as long as I get to be in her life, why would I care? Loving them doesn’t stop her from loving me as well, love isn’t restricted. It isn’t a percentage you give out, it’s endless and can stretch to fit anyone. We were all already in love, we just don’t fight it anymore.

  Maybe she had to leave so she could find her way back to us, so we would be ready for this, ready for her and the life we are going to live, because there is one thing I know for sure—Peyton Andrews is never get
ting away from us again. Wherever she goes, we go.

  Family. Always.

  RIGGS

  We stay by Tyler’s side the entire time. Steve drops by to check on us, assuring us no one will touch the cave until we’re ready to discuss it. He’s blocked it from all investigations and is holding the police back as much as he can. He has also paid for private care and the best doctors, as well as a hotel suite for when we are ready to leave the hospital. He promises he will get anything we need or want, we just need to reach out.

  His worry is genuine, his sadness too, and Peyton trusts him, assuring him it wasn’t his fault. It makes my respect for him grow. It wasn’t just a job for him. He’s like us, an adventurer, and he clearly feels horrible about what occurred.

  But how was he to know? How was anyone to know?

  Once he leaves, we settle back down. Peyton is checked over by her doctor again and given the all clear, though she’s told to rest and not dive for at least four months. You can see her sigh, but she accepts that even with what happened, none of us can ignore the call of the water—it’s in our blood, it’s who we are, and that cave won’t stop us.

  Tyler starts to wake up more and more, becoming more lucid with each blink of his eyes before he goes back to sleep. He needs to rest, and what Peyton said is true—we will all be here when he wakes up.

  Apex for life.

  KALEN

  Watching my brother in that hospital bed had me worried. He’s the strongest man I know, and to see him in pain with nothing I can do is heartbreaking. My own worries surface, my own darkness, and I bury my head in my hands.

  I know he’s going to be okay, the doctor said so, but what will be the mental aftermath of what he’s been through? What we all went through? I know the effects of PTSD, I’ve suffered them. I always wanted to protect my family from ever having to go through anything like that. And yet here we are, with my brother lying in a hospital bed, my other brothers cut up and exhausted, and my girl…