Free Catch Me If You Can (Love's Command) by Billi Jean Page A

pistol. “Let’s make sure it ends the same way.”
    Dare glanced at Kylie and the reality of their situation hit him like a ton of bricks. She was so damn small, fragile even. One shot and she’d be done. How was he supposed to save her from this? With Tazz, he reminded himself. Tazz had been a force to reckon with before he hit superman powers, now? He’d kick ass even harder.
    “We’ll follow your lead. Just don’t let me down, man.”
    “Never have before,” Tazz shot back with a hard grin.
    Kylie let out a breath next to him and squeezed his arm. “We aren’t far from Japan. I can see the coast from here. The coast guard there—”
    “Can’t reach us in time. The coast isn’t far. We’re going over and swimming for it,” Dare said.
    “Swim?” She sounded close to panic.
    “Right. I’ll get the gear we’ll need,” Tazz said. “You get her in the water. In this shit, no one will think to check there, but the clock’s ticking,” Tazz warned, taking off up the narrow stairs right past where the officer had gone down.
    No more shots sounded, but the sirens, people screaming and milling around and the drone of helicopter blades was loud enough to mask any other sounds.
    He took hold of Kylie’s shoulders to hold her still. “We jump. You heard him. I’ll show you what to do, just trust me.”
    “Trust,” she stuttered and swallowed quickly, then gripped his arm hard enough that her nails would leave marks. “I do. But—”
    Another hit to the side of the ferry and Kylie’s head smashed into the glass on the passenger’s cabin window. He barely had the sense to grab her as the ferry shuddered again and she nearly went down. He yelled for her to hold onto him, and braced them both for a dash to the side as soon as the ship settled. Kylie caught his eyes, and in that moment it didn’t matter what the mission had turned into or what Tazz demanded, Kylie’s life, and saving it, took center stage.
    “Hold your breath, and don’t let go of me.”
    Her eyes grew round, but she nodded when he shook her slightly. He pulled her close, lifted a leg over the railing and took them both over the side. He tightened his arms enough that they stayed together when they hit the waves. He used his bigger body to guide hers away from the ferry and helper up for air after they’d gone several feet.
    They broke the surface and he quickly scanned the area, keeping her in his arms when he did. In the distance he could spot land, so they were very close, but not close enough. Kylie spluttered, and when he examined her face, his worry zeroed in on her. Her complexion was chalky pale, and her lips were tinted blue. She clung to him and he guessed she was close to hyperventilating. Water splashed all around them, wetting her even more. He pushed the masses of black, heavy hair from her eyes and kept them both above water.
    “Calm down, Ky. Try to breathe. In and out, simple, right?”
    Her eyes grew rounder at that.
    “Whatever your dad made, the knowledge of it seems to be out in the open now. We have a chance here, but you have to work with me. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I promise.” In his line of work, he never promised anything. But saying it now, he knew he meant it. He’d die before he let her get killed. Gladly.
    She grimaced in fear and shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t know if I can.”
    The terror in her voice sent a spike of something painful through his heart. “We’ll make it, don’t worry. Now.” He glanced at the water rising around them and spotted Tazz breaking the surface not from where they were. He swam toward them with quick, sure strokes. He’d brought a bag with him, attached to his back like they used to wear for their SEAL missions. Dare hoped it was full of everything they needed because besides himself, his wallet and his wet sidearm, he had nothing. Kylie at least still wore her backpack, but whatever was in it had to be damaged goods by now.
    “We make for the