Page 102 of Angel

I hold on hard to Sophie’s hand and we fall under the waves, resurfacing a few moments later, our lifejackets doing the work for us.

She splutters as she surfaces and I pull her close to me. “It’s okay, help is on the way.”

The boat is moving slightly away as the search for Gosia is considered too risky. I knew they wouldn’t fight to save her. She is disposable, just like Sam told me. I hear the gentle splashing a short distance away and pulling Sophie with me, I head off to find her.

“Gosia!”

I call out and my heart lifts when she yells, “Jason!”

Sophie gasps, “Oh my God, a woman is in here.”

We tread water and soon her lifebelt appears and I reach out, pulling her toward us, reassuring her at the same time.

“I’ve got you, just breathe.”

Sophie whispers, “What happens now?”

I grin.

“Our ride is on the horizon.”

We turn and the relief is enormous when my boat appears on it and makes short work of the distance.

“But how?”

Sophie and Gosia stare at the boat in surprise as the tender is launched from the bow and one of my crew head toward us.

“Did I never mention my boat?”

I chuckle as Sophie gazes up at it in awe.

“No, you didn’t.”

“Then say hi to Princess.”

“Sir!”

My crew member calls out in concern and I yell back, “Help get the ladies in!”

He comes alongside and I help steady Gosia and he pulls her in from the ocean.

Then it’s Sophie’s turn before I follow and as we fall against the rubber tubes, I wipe the ocean from my eyes and smile.

“As parties go, that one sucked.”

Gosia smiles in relief, but I detect the uncertainty in her expression and Sophie looks as if she just killed a man. It’s expected, but not a problem. She just doesn’t know that yet.

CHAPTER 41

SOPHIE

I’m in shock. So much happened in such a short space of time I am struggling to keep up. My mind is racing and yet I’m grateful for Jason’s arms around my shoulder, and pity the shivering woman on the other side of the small speedboat.

We are heading toward the biggest boat I have ever seen, and as we reach the bow, three crew members are waiting for us, a light guiding us in.

The man driving the rescue boat takes it expertly onto a kind of floating jetty and I gratefully accept the hand of a concerned-looking man dressed in a black-and-white uniform. ‘Princess’ in silver lettering above his left breast.

They wrap us in silver foil blankets and as we head dripping inside the bow of the boat; I struggle hard not to lose it completely.