Storm Rising by Ronie Kendig

Author:Ronie Kendig
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Suspense;Spy stories;Suspense fiction;FIC042060;FIC030000;FIC002000
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2019-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

TWENTY

U.S. NAVAL BASE, GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA

“At least we’re landing.”

“About time,” Canyon said.

“Sir, we have a situation,” the Marine reported.

Canyon glanced at Dru.

“The chopper landed at GTMO.”

“Good.” Dru smiled but then noticed the tension radiating off the Marine. “What’s wrong?”

“Metcalfe jumped in the water.”

“You mean fell.”

“Jumped, sir.”

“You sure?”

The Marine nodded. “Team reported Viorica in the water. Said he went in after her.”

Stunned, Dru tried to make sense of that. “Thank you, Sergeant.”

The Marine nodded again and left.

Dru cursed and threw himself against his seat, the descent of their aircraft evident in his popping ears. He stood and paced. “He’s activated.”

Canyon stood, shoulders squared. “You don’t know that.”

“And we don’t know that he isn’t.” Dru shoved a hand through his thinning hair. “We have to be prepared.”

Canyon said nothing, but his facial expression screamed his objection.

This was a colossal snafu that awakened all Dru’s old fears that all they had buried would find its way to the surface again. A storm rising.

* * *

CARIBBEAN SEA

Blurs of black and gray slapped and tossed her. Blinking only made her eyes sting. Iskra tried to lean back and hold her chin up, trusting the buoyancy of the wingsuit to keep her afloat. Her limbs ached from the exertion and cold water. A wave rose high overhead, and she whimpered, knowing she could do nothing but try to survive. She was at the mercy of an angry ocean. The wave rose. Up . . . up . . . up. Its maw opened and lunged.

She squeezed her eyes shut. Thought of Bisera.

The wave punched her. Carried her down deep, the ocean swallowing her whole. Though she tried to remain calm, knowing she would rise after the torrent ceased, she grew disoriented. She kicked her feet, but which direction was she going? Up or down?

Panic threaded a thick line through her lungs. Tightened. Constricted.

No! Calm down. Let the suit carry you back up.

But I’m too heavy.

Terror ripped through her. Forced her eyes open. Black. All black. She could see nothing. Just a watery tomb. She kicked. Thrashed.

No hope. She had no hope. Never had. Why had she even thought . . .

Bisera!

A sob wrenched free. Water gushed into her mouth.

A tidal force shoved her sideways and seemed to pick her up. Suddenly there was air. She coughed. Gagged.

Only to realize she was going under again. She clamped her mouth shut, but a cough shoved its way out, refilling her lungs with water. Desperation for air clawed through her. To breathe. To . . . to not. To simply stop fighting.

It would be easier. No responsibility. No fear.

She relaxed, falling into the empty hopelessness, the relief. No more fighting, just sleep. She drifted into the darkness, where she belonged. Where she no longer had to worry . . .

Bisera. Hristoff couldn’t use her as a tool anymore. And he couldn’t use Iskra at all. Ever again. The thought was too beautiful to ignore. It came with its own sense of hope.

Something warm and strong latched on to her leg.

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