Read Online 11 by Kylie Brant - Free Book Online Page B

applied more pressure and Mia labored for air. Her free arm stretched, straining as she searched feebly for the knife she’d dropped.
    The woman’s lips were moving. Mia could no longer hear her. Lungs strangled, her chest was bursting with the need for oxygen. Her struggles grew weaker, as unconsciousness eddied. Then her fingers touched metal. Conscious thought was impossible. Sheer instinct had them closing around the handle of the knife. Bringing it upward with more determination than strength.
    Four stiffened, a screech bursting from her lips. The pressure against Mia’s throat eased a fraction and she drew a great gulp of air before stabbing the woman again, her body heaving beneath her assailant.
    Mia managed to dislodge her, and lay there for a few moments, filling her lungs, regaining a semblance of conscious thought. Only then did she become aware of another voice, further away, calling her name.
    Four struggled to her feet, stumbled off. Mia forced herself to her knees, then rose drunkenly to go after her.
    “Mia! Stop! Not another step!”
    Dimly she was aware of Jude’s voice, low enough not to carry, but still fraught with command. She didn’t obey. Four would know where he was. If there was the slightest chance the woman could be made to talk, Mia had to catch her. Dark fingers of clouds smudged the half moon, casting the area in more shadows. Her focus narrowed to the slim figure staggering away from her along the docks, picking up speed as she turned onto the main connecting wharf. With a burst of adrenaline Mia closed the distance between them. Grabbed a fistful of Four’s shirt. Pulled her to a halt.
    The other woman turned and tugged mightily, trying to free herself. The fabric slipped from Mia’s hand. She let go suddenly, sent off balance by the abrupt release.
    Four reached for her as her body teetered. Then her eyes went wide. She made a wild clutch for Mia but she was too far away. Her heel slipped from the edge of the dock. As if in slow motion Mia watched the woman’s arms wheel wildly before falling backwards into the water, hitting her head on a nearby boat before becoming completely submerged.
    “Mia!”
    She heard fury and fear in Jude’s voice and he ran with near silence toward her. She got down on her belly, searching the water’s surface frantically for a sign of the other woman. The nearest boat bobbed gently from the small disturbance but the water was already smooth. And try as she might, Mia couldn’t discern a human shape anywhere in the vicinity.
    “Dammit.”
    She fought when she felt herself being lifted. Was Four dead? If she’d been knocked unconscious she soon would be.
    “Are you hurt?”
    The feel of two warm male hands doing a quick clinical check for injuries finally diverted her attention. She slapped them away.
    “I’m fine. Help me find her. Four. She went in the water there.” Mia pointed. “She may be knocked out.”
    “Good riddance, then.” But he peered closely in the direction she’d indicated for several moments. Then his attention returned to her. “C’mon. The commotion might have alerted others. We need to get hidden before anybody else gets here.”
    “Wait.” She dug her heels in, felt a flash of annoyance when he took her arm and began to lead her away inexorably. “If she’s not dead…she could tell me where he’s at. The Collector. He could finally be caught.”
    Jude stopped, grabbed her other arm to bring her close to him. “Listen. I’m not doing any diving tonight to rescue a murderous nutjob. If she’s dead, great. If not…we’ll deal with that later. We’ve got a lead with her passport. But every second you stall, our chances of getting away tonight diminish. So you decide whether you’re coming, conscious or unconscious. Because one way or the other, you are coming.”
    Mia swiveled her head, scanning the waters where the other woman had disappeared. “It’s not just me.” Her voice was subdued. The waves were