Tom hardly dared to breathe. He would only get one chance to take out Butch. If he didn’t, he’d risk losing Victoria all over again.
A darkening in the door frame and the huffs of heavy breathing alerted Tom to Butch’s return. Tom’s fingers tightened around the hilt of his knife. He was tempted to lunge now before Butch spotted him. But he fought against the urge and waited.
The tall, thin man entered with his knife outstretched, clearly expecting an attack. Thankfully, his gaze landed on the opposite side of the hallway from where Tom stood. The slight second gave Tom the advantage he needed.
He sprang out and plunged his knife into Butch’s side, into the fleshy part of his back beneath his rib cage. A knife wound there would stun him, hopefully disable him. But wouldn’t be mortal if he sought treatment.
Butch roared with pain but somehow managed to swing around and slash at Tom.
Tom was prepared for a counterattack. He jumped out of reach of the blade. But in the process, he tripped over a broken piece of floorboard.
Tom stumbled backward. His heel snagged on the door frame. He tried to catch his balance but fell to the ground outside the door.
In an instant, Butch jumped on him. Even though the man was wounded and a dark spot of blood was widening at his side, he slammed his knee into Tom’s stomach.
Tom’s breath whooshed from his lungs. Pain seared his ribs.
Before Tom could gather his wits, Butch’s fingers wrapped around his neck. The man’s thumb pressed hard against Tom’s windpipe. The force cut off any ability to breathe.
At the same time, Butch raised his knife and brought it down toward Tom’s heart.
Tom caught Butch’s wrist. He held the blade at bay, but barely.
Butch’s arm was thin and wiry, but his muscles rippled. His narrow face was sweaty and the veins in his long forehead protruded at the exertion. A swollen bruise at his temple and cheek told Tom that Butch had taken a recent blow across the head. From Victoria?
With Butch’s thumb cutting off his air, and the knife only inches from his heart, Tom had the dizzying thought that he was about to fail again.
Butch’s mouth was set into a tight line, and his eyes filled with cold determination. This man was a hired killer. And like Splash, Tom could tell Butch was good at what he did.
At the gasp and distressed, “No!” that came from the doorway, dismay rushed through Tom. Victoria had disobeyed his instructions and come out.
If he’d had his voice, he would have yelled at her. As it was, all he could think about was Butch getting his hands on Victoria again. If he did, this time the man would kill her first, then row her out and dump her into the ocean.
The mere picture of Butch touching her sent a jolt of energy through Tom. He brought his knee up to Butch’s back and rammed it into the knife wound. Butch flinched but didn’t loosen his grip. Tom kneed him again, this time more forcefully.
Butch’s thumb slipped away from Tom’s windpipe long enough for him to drag in a breath. But the knife angled dangerously close to Tom’s shirt, close enough that he could feel the prick of the blade through the linen.
If he couldn’t physically dislodge Butch, he’d have to roll over and throw him off. Before Tom could make his big move, a crack sounded against the back of Butch’s head.
Butch’s eyes widened. The pressure of his thumb ceased. The hand holding the knife wavered.
Tom didn’t waste any time trying to figure out what had happened. Instead, he slammed Butch’s arm and knocked the weapon into the air so that it landed a dozen feet away.
Butch wavered back and forth like a drunk man, and fell off Tom sideways, hitting the ground with a thump. Then he lay motionless in the sandy grass.
Victoria stood above them, a board in her hand. For a moment she stared at Butch, her face a mask of fury and determination. She toed him with her stocking foot, and when he didn’t respond, she took a step away, her eyes registering worry. “Did I kill him?”
Tom sat up and sucked air into his starved lungs. A glance at the brute told Tom the man was still breathing. “No. You knocked him out.”
“Let’s tie him up before he revives.” Victoria lifted the board as though preparing to strike Butch again if he so much as