Depths of Salvation (Love on the Edge) by Molly E. Lee

didn’t fucking like it.
    She shrugged. The woman dared to pull a move from my playbook after a stunt like that?
    “You’re all right, though?” she turned his arms over and back, inspecting him.
    He nodded, his chest still heaving. “It just got my tank.”
    “Good. We’re good then,” she said and patted him on the back.
    He shook his head, glancing to me and back again.
    I tossed my gear to the side and sank onto my ass, my elbows on my knees while I caught my breath.
    Ryan gripped my shoulder. “You okay, man?”
    I shook him off and nodded.
    I’d faced death over a hundred times on the job.
    Not once had I ever been as terrified as I had been when I’d lost sight of Sadie.
    Screw my list of reasoning to push her away. Her death was close enough to shake up what little soul I had left.
    And it had one word . . . one hope written all over it.
    Sadie.
    Mine.

Sadie
    “ANOTHER ROUND!” LIZ excitedly told the bartender.
    “I think I need a water,” I said, not wanting to get drunk again, especially with my whole team here at the bar.
    “Nonsense,” Liz said, wrapping her arm around my shoulder and squeezing me. “You just outran the Trio! Celebrations are in order.”
    We’d already celebrated for two hours, and honestly, I didn’t feel I merited it. I had reacted on pure instinct when I’d seen Nemo in jeopardy. If I’d used my head, thought through it logically . . . well, what I did wouldn’t have been what I’d chosen. But the end result? Nemo’s life was worth the risk. I thanked God for looking out for me today, took a deep breath, and sipped the third drink Liz ordered me.
    “I’ll always be in your debt.” Nemo leaned into my shoulder, having had too many beers to stay level. “Like in those movies. I won’t be able to leave your side until I save your life or something.”
    “Stop it.” I patted his hand that had come down on top of mine. “You owe me nothing. Except maybe not swimming out into open water like that again.”
    He clenched his eyes shut and nodded, his movements exaggerated by the booze. “I thought I saw something that looked like more purple algae sprouting between the seaweed. Just barely caught a glimpse of color from the ship and went to check it out. I misjudged the distance.”
    “It’s all right. We’ve lived and learned.” I nudged him backward, helping him sit up straighter in his seat. Ryan walked into the bar at that moment, nodded at Connell—who had been even more silent than usual if that was a possibility—and ordered a drink.
    “You’ve had a hell of a day,” he said, grabbing the longneck the bartender offered.
    “I suppose—“
    “She saved my life!” Nemo shouted over me. “Distracted the Trio and outran them. Outsmarted them. She’s like Superwoman under the water.”
    Ryan’s blue eyes widened, and he grinned.
    “He was on board, Nemo.” My cheeks flushed. I was so not into the attention this story earned me. “It wasn’t a big deal, really.”
    “I doubt that.” Ryan took a drink of his beer and glanced at Connell. “Would’ve paid to see it. What the hell did you do?” He nudged him.
    Connell fiddled with the bottle in his hands, his elbows resting on the bar. He hadn’t said a word since we’d come inland, and while usually that wouldn’t send up a red flag for me, the cold look in his eyes did. I didn’t know what the hell bothered him, but it was driving me nuts.
    He pushed backward, slipping off his barstool. “I need some air.”
    Ryan and I watched while he sauntered out of the bar, the wooden doors swinging closed behind him.
    Liz, Nemo, and the rest of my crew were already well into the fourth round, now taking bets on if I could do it again. I prayed to God I’d never have to, but knew their curiosity was purely adrenaline inspired. We’d all had close calls on the job—not as close as this, perhaps—but the huge rush of release that came from survival was contagious and intoxicating on its