Page 71 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
While Liam battled to hang onto Dawn and the phone while hopping on one foot, she managed to spring free and positionherself between Wade and Ben, whom Liam could see were about to break free of their bonds.
“Uh oh!” Liam said.
He rushed forward to save Dawn as Wade broke loose and lunged at Ben, sending the coast guards flying and Dawn spinning as they bounced into each other and hit the deck with a resounding thud before rolling in a ball of flying fists. Soon, the coast guards and Dawn jumped into the fray, and Liam lost track of the whirl of bodies.
“Enough!” Scott’s voice boomed from the small speakers. His command resonated with an authority that seemed to transcend the chaos, vibrating through the phone and into the core of the conflict.
Liam’s brows shot up when, like magic, all activity instantly ceased. Wide-eyed, Wade, Dawn, Ben, and the Coast Guards turned toward Liam, their expressions a mix of confusion and surprise. Their breaths were heavy with exertion while their eyes were centered on the phone in Liam’s hand.
The vessel bobbed gently as the aftermath of the brawl settled. Wade and Ben, chests heaving, glared at each other. A warning that the fight was paused but not forgotten.
“What on earth is wrong with you all?” Scott’s voice resonated with anger and authority that even made Liam stand to attention.
Ben, Wade, and Dawn all started talking at once as they tried to outdo each other and tell their side of the story.
“Enough!” Scott’s voice cracked like a whip through the air, once again silencing the three of them.
Liam could see that Wade and Ben were still bristling with anger, but they were held in check by the weight of Scott’s stare. His gaze flicked between Ben and Liam.
“Wade attacked Ben unprovoked,” Dawn said quickly, glaring at Wade.
“Taking everyone else’s side again,” Wade sneered. “Why am I not surprised?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Dawn swung around and advanced on her brother.
“Oh, no, here we go again,” Liam muttered, starting to walk forward to break them up, but Ben stopped him.
“Leave it,” Ben warned as he pulled Liam slightly away from the squabbling siblings. “This is their fight.”
“You’re so quick to defend everyone else and make me out to be the bad guy,” Wade growled back, his voice thick with hurt, frustration, and anger. “Even when I’m defendingyou!“ He pointed at her as once again their eyes locked in a silent war that had been raging for years. His hand shot out and circled the top of her arms. “Have you any idea how terrified I was when I came around to Liam telling me you’d been kidnapped?” His voice rose as his emotions heightened.
Liam was about to intervene but stopped when he saw Dawn’s shoulders sag as her eyes searched her brothers. “I’m sorry, Wadie.” She pulled free of his grasp, and her voice broke. She reached up and wrapped her arms around her brother’s neck. “I’m so, so sorry, baby brother.”
Liam felt a lump gather in his throat when he saw the look of pain in Dawn’s eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks. Wade wrapped his arms around his sister’s waist and hugged her as if he was drawing life from her.
“It’s okay, Dewdrop.” Wade’s eyes had misted over before his lids dropped, and he lifted her off her feet. “It’s okay.” He kissed her hair.
“I’m sorry too,” Ben said, wrapping his arms around them both.
“You must teach me that trick of projecting your voice enough to freeze an ocean.” Liam was floored. He cleared his throat as his voice was hoarse from witnessing the emotional scene. “How on earth did you manage to stop that fight like that while even the Coast Guards couldn’t physically restrain them?”
“Years of having to get into the middle of all the spats I’ve had to stop since we were kids,” Scott told Liam. “But this glimpse of tension between Wade and Ben does give me a lot more insight into things.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Liam, the phone still in hand, turned away to catch his breath, his gaze falling on the horizon where the yacht had been a silent witness to the chaos.
“Time for explanations later,” Scott said. “I’m going to need you to keep those two guys in order. I’m not sure when Harley’s back from his trip, but until he is, I need you to be Harley for a few days. I don’t want to have to put Sam in a position to break those two up.”
“Do you have a hose or shock collar, perhaps?” Liam joked.
“I doubt even that would keep those two from rumbling if it came to it.” Scott chuckled. “I’ve reset their bio bands, and I’m sending you the key to them.” He paused. “I’m sending a few for the rest of your family, Harper, and Dawn as well. Until I know whose boat you’re on and behind this, I’d like to know where youall are at all times.” He stopped. “Sorry, I hope that’s okay with you?”
“Yeah,” Liam said with a nod. “I think I’d feel much better about that.” He blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. “I wish there was somewhere I could send my Aunt, Lila, and Harper where I know they’d be safe.’
“I’ll come to fetch them,” Scott told him. “My wife would love to take them all for a trip to Los Angeles.”
“I thought your wife and Harper were clashing?” Liam looked at him, startled by his suggestion.
“They do, and then she misses Harper and starts to moon around the house,” Scott told him, rolling his eyes. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. Sam can go with them, and I’ll see if Harley and Jennifer want to join them.”
