The impact of Keifer’s car hitting the barricade at the crest of Bronte’s Peak dislodges his weapon from his grasp. While we sail through the air, I prepare for impact. I’m not talking about the ocean; I’m referring to my fist connecting with Keifer’s jaw.

I knew the instant he turned down Taite what he was planning to do. He had read my record; he knew how much I hated this place, so this was the perfect spot for him to seek his revenge. This event isn’t a kidnapping; it is an attempted murder/suicide.

When I first sailed over this gorge years ago, I was certain I was going to die. I should have never underestimated Ryan. He doesn’t understand the word defeat. He didn’t just save my life that night; he restored my faith in humanity.

I can only hope he achieves the same outcome today.

My body launches forward when we crash into the ocean with a bone-shuddering crunch. Hitting water at the rate we were traveling is the equivalent of crashing into a concrete wall. It steals the air from my lungs and sends pain hurtling through my chest and stomach.

But it doesn’t alter my plan of attack .

After slamming my elbow into Keifer’s ribs, my hand jack-knifes up, punching him right in the nose. He grunts before retaliating to my violence with the same amount of force. White spots dance in front of my eyes when his clenched knuckles rattle my teeth.

His viciousness intensifies my flight and fight mode. After slinging my seatbelt off my body, I spring to a crouched position, then throw out my leg. Although I’m aiming to inflict harm to him, I also use his face as a springboard to escape the water flooding into his vehicle at a rate faster than my heart is pumping blood.

I’m halfway out the window when Keifer seizes my ankle and drags me backward. Recognizing the hard top design of his vehicle is sending us to the bed of the ocean faster than Axel’s convertible did, I suck in three deep breaths to replenish my lungs with air before I am swamped by water.

My assumption about Keifer’s plans is proven dead accurate when he doesn’t attempt to flee his rapidly sinking car. He holds me captive by my legs as bubbles of air trickle from his nose. I struggle with all my might, not willing to go down without a fight. I didn’t spend years ensuring Ryan didn’t become a statistic of domestic violence just to become one myself.

My fight agitates Keifer more. With the aggressiveness I’ve always seen in his eyes, he grips my nape before throwing my head forward. My forehead connects with the dashboard so fiercely, the crystal blue water turns murky in an instant. Dizzy and profusely bleeding, I attempt to gasp in much-needed air. All my lungs take in is water.

As I struggle through my body’s convulsive reaction to the horrible-tasting water gushing into my lungs, I dig my nails into Keifer’s hand. The harder I battle, the greater my wooziness becomes.

Before I know it, blackness takes over.

“Thirteen. . . fourteen. . . fifteen,” grunts a voice from above as my chest caves inwards. “Come on, Savannah. We’re not going down this road again. Fight, baby. Do it for Rylee. She’s waiting for you.”

The heaviness on my chest elevates when a pair of lips seal over mine, replenishing my lungs with much-needed air. One lung-filling gulp is quickly followed by another. Arching my back, I suck in a mangled breath as tears prick my eyes. The salty water I swallowed during my near drowning gargles in the back of my throat, almost drowning me for a second time.

“That’s it, Savannah. Come on.”

I’m rolled onto my side and whacked on my back before I can see who is saving me. I don’t need to see my savior’s face to know who he is, though. His heavenly gruff voice and delicious lips tell me everything I need to know. Ryan has once again dragged me from the bottom of the ocean, saving me in more ways than he will ever know.

When my eyes slowly flutter open, it dawns on me I’m not the only person he has saved. Keifer is hogtied on the sand next to me. The blood dripping from a split on his left brow reveals he is alive—unfortunately—and the arrogance in his eyes is doused with every unsteady breath I take. He wanted me dead so badly, he’d happily go to jail to witness it.

It’s a pity he underestimated Ryan’s determination.

I’ll never make the same mistake twice.