Chapter 28
There would be too much to chance by returning empty handed. Even if all they gleaned from the trip to Domino Island was enough information to use as a bargaining chip, they had to go for broke.
And so that was the decision that Alec and Parker made- they would carry on with their objective.
They made their way back down the beach to their supplies and as Alec readied their beacons and other devices for the dive, Parker unabashedly began stripping off her clothes to put on the wet suit. She was down to her underwear before temptation won out and Alec stole a quick glance.
But instead of the perfectly toned body he always admired, it was the sight of Parker's injuries that stole his attention. Alec saw the true extent of the damage Sonia visited upon the petite thief and a stab of white hot fury consumed him for a moment before the feeling was replaced by a deep concern and sympathy.
"What did she do to you?" he spoke his thoughts softly and compulsively reached out and gently touched one of the few bruise-free spots on Parker's torso.
She followed his eyes and his hand, but shrugged slightly in indifference.
"Actually it looks much worse than it feels. The only part that stings is right under there," she pointed to the spot on her rib that flared earlier. The damage at the spot was a tie dye pattern of black, blue, and purple and Alec was nearly certain that the rib had to have been broken if not severely bruised.
"Are you sure you can make that swim, Parker?" He asked, his hand still at her side, "I can go alone and you can stay here with the boat."
Parker looked at him and her lips curled into a small smile, "I can't let you have all the fun."
That was a very Parker thing to say.
Alec smiled and the butterflies in his stomach danced a little.
He nodded and stooped low to help her pull up her suit but Parker held his hands to stop him.
"Seriously," she assured him softly, "I'm fine. I can manage."
Ignoring the pressure of her hands holding his, he rose slowly, pulling the suit in place as he stood. He held the top out so she could slip her arms into place and when she looked into his eyes, the unmistakable heat she saw there made her stomach clench.
"It's my pleasure," he said when she was fully covered, his voice low and husky. He was close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from his skin and its effect was dizzying.
He stepped around her and reached for the zipper to the wet suit as it sat at the base of her back and as he slowly guided it upward, his finger trailed along the center of her back leaving a deliciously warm and tingling sensation in its wake. Parker felt her eyes flutter closed, every dull ache and distant pain replaced by the feeling of coziness that churned from deep within her belly.
She wished they were anywhere else but on that damned island.
A few deep breaths and one cool ocean breeze later, Parker was back in her right mind and Alec was adjusting his suit. If it was possible he looked even sexier covered in the bulky second skin and Parker's lips involuntarily began to pucker.
Get a grip, she chided herself and forced the distracting thoughts out of her mind as she walked over to him to retrieve the devices she would carry for their dive. She snapped on the weight belt and all her other assorted accessories and turned to walk away but Alec reached out and gently held her shoulder.
"Are you sure you want to make this swim?" he asked again. She knew he was still concerned about her injuries.
Parker nodded and smiled reassuringly at him, "Where you go, I go; we're a team."
He affectionately squeezed her shoulder and smiled. "We're a little more than a team," he countered as his thoughts took him briefly back to the day she'd said the same thing to him.
The words didn't trigger any memories for Parker but she smiled at his sentiment. She touched his hand which was on her shoulder, "We should get to it, it's already afternoon."
He nodded his reply and they both waded into the chilly water. They stopped before the water became too deep to do a quick test of each of their tools in the water before they went too far out and when they determined that as systems were operational they adjusted their hoods and snorkels and dove in.
The clean, blue-green depths of the sea welcomed them and the nearly forty minute swim elapsed quickly as they noted the colorful array of aquatic life around them.
Alec's sensors didn't detect any trouble and Parker's electronic mapper showed the formation of the land ahead and beneath them. They knew from Sonia's notes that their objective was located in a large underwater structure at the base of Domino Island and their only way in was through the large turbine fan tunnels that filtered air and water between the station and its underwater domain.
Parker's sensors alerted her to the large hole carved into the rock ahead and she signaled to Alec that they should investigate.
The neatly carved hollow was indeed the entrance they were searching for but before they even attempted to make their way in, the large metal blades of the turbine began to turn.
They quickly swam out of the suction stream and waited for the blades to stop. Alec timed the rotation at two minutes before it slowed to a halt but he was hesitant to enter the hole until they knew the timing of the blades' scheduled rotation.
Parker motioned for them to continue but he shook his head no. Then she showed him the near empty gauge indicator of her oxygen level and his eyes grew wide. If they didn't get to fresh air soon Parker would suffocate.
She swam off toward the hole and Alec was right at her feet; His concerns about the blades' schedule instantly forgotten.
There was an eerie stillness that settled over them as they swam into the hollow- the deep blackness punctuated only by the thin beams of their flashlights. It wasn't until they caught sight of the menacingly large metal blades in front of them that Parker seemed to falter. She threaded water as she considered the turbine with its seven blades each the length of a jumbo jet wing but Alec reached for her hand as he neared her and nodded toward the beast confidently. Parker's hesitation melted and she continued her swim toward the metal beast.
And not a moment too soon- the gauge on her oxygen level began flashing red. Parker was out of air.
The closer they got to the blades they were able to see that the blades were spaces so wide that they could swim through with very little effort.
Parker eased herself to the farthest edge of the blades where it was at its thinnest and the space was wide and climbed through. Alec followed with very little difficulty.
But a chill ran up Parker's spine as she saw another massive turbine a few feet ahead. This bit of news wasn't in Sonia's instructions and on her depleted air supply and the growing ache in her side a quick flash of panic set in.
It was Alec's sudden presence at her side that snapped her out of her trance. He faced her and forced her to look into his eyes and then he peeled back the mouth piece of his hood as he removed hers to offer her air from his tank.
The oxygen was like a strengthening elixir. It cleared her head and steadied her and as she looked at Alec once more he winked and her resolve was reaffirmed.
Parker squeezed Alec's hand and swam off toward the second turbine's edge ready to repeat the actions that got her through the first.
As she reached the turbine, Alec's hand at her shoulder made her pause and turn, and he thrust the air tube into her mouth. She pulled the refreshing oxygen into her lungs and nodded her thanks before she pushed herself through the second turbine's blades with Alec quick on her heels.
A sickening clench seized Parker's stomach as there was yet another turbine ahead of them, but she didn't stop again. She plowed straight toward the turbine, determined to make it through.
As she reached out to grab hold of one of the blades to pull herself through, the fan began its slow turn and Parker pushed away in alarm.
She and Alec were caught between the two fans with nowhere to hide, a dwindling air supply, and certain death at either end.
