After rolling across the deck, both men slammed into the hull. They lay stunned for a few seconds, then simultaneously scrambled back to their feet, panting heavily as they faced off against each other.
Asher Keating and Morgan Sterling had both trained in martial arts; for a time, they had even shared the same coach. Now, with both of them injured, they were more or less evenly matched.
Leah Sinclair backed away toward Hugh Sterling, her voice urgent. "Untie me! Hurry!"
Hugh Sterling was so stunned by the sudden turn of events that he'd frozen. He didn't know the first thing about fighting. Hearing Leah's voice, he stammered, "Oh, right," and quickly began to untie her. He trembled uncontrollably the entire time.
Leah snatched his phone and called Shawn Grant. "Shawn! Shawn, get here now!"
