Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 105868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“We need to be quick,” Christian said.
“Yes.” Ace dropped lower.
The plane skimmed above the river now, low enough that the prop wash rippled the water beneath them. He wasn’t thinking about fear or the crash anymore. May was the only thing that mattered. “Christian, call Brock. Tell him to get to the next big bend. The one with the old logging dock. Get Dr. Patterson there.”
Christian already had his phone out. “On it.”
Ace lined up ahead of the boat and dipped even lower, forcing Kyle to look up again.
The boat swerved as Peter adjusted course.
May twisted, trying to sit up. Kyle shoved her back down hard. He fired toward them, not coming close.
Ace’s vision tunneled. He pulled the nose up just enough to avoid the treetops and banked again, positioning himself ahead of them. His hands shook and he steadied himself. Thoughts of his crash tried to infiltrate his mind, but he shoved them away. Not now. The river narrowed around the next bend. Sandbars rose pale beneath the surface in places. If Kyle didn’t know the channel well, he’d have to slow. “Secure your belt,” Ace ordered his brother.
Below, Peter was shouting at Kyle now. Peter jerked the tiller, trying to push through the faster current.
May’s head turned upward. For a split second, their eyes met. Ace’s chest tightened so hard it almost hurt. He shoved the throttle forward and dropped even lower, the plane roaring over the river and casting a long shadow across the water.
Ace’s training ticked through his head fast and sure. “Hold on, Christian.”
He dropped fast.
The second May caught sight of Ace flying the plane above them, she started to fight harder.
“Stop.” Kyle set his stance, barely keeping his balance on the pitching boat. Rain coated him, plastering his clothes to his body. “I’ll shoot you in front of him,” he yelled.
She stopped moving. Her vision blurred for a second.
Ace banked hard, the plane tilting in a tight arc that forced the boat’s wake sideways. The engine roared again as he swung back around.
Peter shouted something she couldn’t hear, shoving the throttle down.
The boat lurched faster.
May forced herself upright, bracing her back against the metal side. The bandage around her mouth muffled her scream, but she didn’t care. She needed them looking at her. Distracted. The river narrowed ahead around a sweeping bend. Sandbars showed pale under the water’s surface. If they hit one at this speed—
The boat bounced hard. Jack’s body rolled on the bottom.
Peter lost his footing, his arms flying up, and fell.
“Damn it,” Kyle yelled, yanking him up and shoving the gun into his hand. “Watch her.” He moved up to take control of the boat.
Peter grabbed for the side to steady himself.
May drove her shoulder into Peter’s thigh and shoved with everything she had left. His weight was forward, his balance already compromised by the turn. Her bound hands slammed into his hip as she threw her whole body sideways.
Peter’s eyes went wide, and he dropped the gun.
Then he tipped. One boot slid on the wet aluminum. He went over the side of the boat with a splash and a shout.
May fell sideways.
Kyle twisted around at the sound. The boat veered as the tiller jerked in his hand. Then he pivoted, ducking and grabbing the gun.
May lunged again, aiming for his midsection to unbalance him. She slipped and fell back.
The plane roared past, so low it felt like it would clip the treetops.
Kyle released the throttle just long enough to point the gun up to fire. The shot cracked over the water.
May flinched.
Kyle snarled and fired again.
The boat drifted sideways as the engine sputtered with no one working the throttle. May pushed herself upright again, using her shoulder to slam into Kyle’s arm as he aimed upward.
The shot went wild.
“Sit down!” he shouted, grabbing her by the collar of her lab coat.
She bit down hard on the bandage and drove her knee up. It caught him in the thigh, not where she wanted, but enough to make him curse and stagger.
The plane climbed higher, then banked in a wide arc and came downriver ahead of them. Ace was landing.
May’s pulse pounded in her ears.
“You think he can help you?” Kyle hissed, grabbing her hair and yanking her back toward the stern. “He’s not going to get here in time.”
The floats hit the river ahead with a heavy slap. Ace throttled back and turned, positioning the plane across the narrowest part of the channel, blocking the bend. The plane rolled rapidly toward them.
May twisted, trying to pull away from Kyle’s grip.
He shoved her down with one hand and pointed the gun at her with the other. “Don’t,” he warned.
She went still.
The plane door swung open. Ace was out and moving before the floats had fully settled. He jumped from the float to the boat, landing on the stern.