The dockyard manager thundered down a set of stairs to the side of the dock and Volkan followed him. There was a floating dock below with a tugboat and a couple of speedboats tied to it. It was where they kept the pilot boats for the ships that needed guiding.

Volkan leapt into the boat just as the manager untied it and pushed away from the dock. Seconds later, the boat rocked violently as someone jumped in beside him. He turned to find Henry panting.

When he caught his breath, Henry said, “We can’t let her die.”

Volkan nodded and gripped his man’s shoulder, appreciating his friendship for perhaps the first time in their long association. “This isn’t your fault,” he choked out past a throat constricted by fear. It was as much an apology as he was capable of.

They got the motor going and turned the boat toward the massive dock, heading into the shadows of one of the most dangerous places in the dockyard.

* * *

“Defne!” Yasmin shouted, clinging to one of the barnacle covered pilings with all her strength. Between the slowing engines and the sloshing water, the noise of the massive container ship coming into dock was deafening.

Water sucked at Yasmin, trying to rip her away from the piling. Then, as the waves reversed with the movement of the ship, she was thrust hard against the piling, her face scraping against the barnacles as she held on.

She looked around frantically for Defne.

When they’d gone into the water, the strength of the current dragged them both under, separated them, then spit Yasmin out under the platform the ship was attempting to dock at.

Yasmin swallowed the sobs that threatened to spill from her lips, telling herself she had to be smart and save herself until Volkan could rescue her. Like when she was in trouble on the island, she knew he was on his way. Both Henry and Narin had seen them go over the side of the dock. Someone would have told Volkan. She just had to keep herself above water until he arrived.

The pillar she was holding onto vibrated as the container ship continued to make its way slowly toward her. She had to move. She was too close to the edge of the dock. If the ship came in behind her with its engines still on, she wouldn’t be able to maintain her hold. She’d be pulled under the water and, if she was really unlucky, into the slowing blades of the ship’s propeller.