Page 65 of Wild Tides
Carefully, I slipped from beneath Lee’s jacket, leaving it clasped in Anya’s frozen fingers, the flare gun in her lap. She didn’t move, her body locked in shock.
My gaze darted around, searching for a weapon. My fingers closed around a thick piece of driftwood. Something I could use as a club. Owen wouldn’t expect trouble from behind. And if I played it right, he wouldn’t see me coming until it was too late.
“Move!” Owen yelled over the sound of the surf slapping against the shore. “Two minutes and I open fire. Get your fucking boat out of my way.”
Owen’s threat sent a fresh chill down my spine. I couldn’t let him fire. Desperation gave me extra strength, and I prepared to strike.
A floodlight struck Owen, blinding me, and I cursed. The Coast Guard’s booming order stalled us both. At least Owen was unlikely to make good on his threat under their watchful eye. Owen threw down his gun. It plopped into the water a few feet away, sinking out of sight in seconds beneath the waves.
A moment later, Owen splashed out of the plane’s doorway, plowing through the knee-high water and sprinting for a narrow trail up the hillside.
I let him go, dropping my makeshift club. Barefoot,, I had no chance of catching him. He’d go crashing blind through the bushes. And hopefully over a fucking cliff.
The Underwoods had taken off in the moments before the Coast Guard lit us up with their spotlight, taking advantage of the focus on Owen to escape.
A kind, yet efficient woman and her partner chugged up to shore ten minutes later, their movements steady and assured. With the keen eyes of veterans, they assessed the abandonedplane and half-beached boats, unfazed by the scene before them. She bundled Anya and me into blankets while her partner tied off to theLast Chapterand checked on Lee. He lifted a hand in an “I’m fine” wave, leaning against the hull, but the tight set of his jaw said his ankle wasn’t happy. A few minutes later, they radioed the Sheriff’s Office, letting dispatch know to be on the lookout for the Underwoods and Owen.
Anya and I huddled in our wool blankets, shivering on a log. They were rough and scratchy, but warm, cutting us off from the wind. She looked a mess, her hair tangled, mascara running beneath her eyes. I probably looked every bit as glamorous after flailing my way to shore. I chuckled, the sound coming out rusty and raw with fatigue.
“I’m glad you’re okay. So much for our fancy night out, huh, Anya?”
Her answering laugh choked off on a sob. “Ye-ah.” She gave me a miserable smile. “All I want now is to get home to Drew and a hot shower.”
Two minutes later, Drew came crashing out of the undergrowth, his expression grim. A broken man expecting the worst. He spotted Anya across the beach and sprinted toward us, relief transforming his expression into a mix of agony and ecstasy that was almost too raw to witness.
Scooping Anya up in one smooth motion, he wrapped his arms around her in a hug long enough to make me think they’d never break apart. He murmured softly to her, and I only caught the word “hospital” in her response. A chill skittered down my spine, but I forced my gaze away, giving them the illusion of privacy.
Lee waded ashore, engulfing me in his arms from behind. We huddled together like that for what felt like forever, my breath slowing to match his. His warmth seeping into me. Grateful to be alive. Grateful to have each other.
Relief made me lightheaded, laughter catching in my throat. “Some birthday,” I murmured, just for him. “Most people get cake. I got kidnapped and you playing hero.”
His chin brushed my hair, a low chuckle vibrating through me. “Wild enough for you?”
“More than enough,” I whispered, even as I shivered in his hold. “Next year, though, I’m asking for boring.”
Drew eased up, giving Anya enough room to turn in his hug until we mirrored each other. His gaze met mine before drifting to Lee, his voice hoarse when he said, “I can’t thank you both enough.” He swallowed, the glint in his eyes making my eyes well with tears.
Lee said, “I’m just sorry we couldn’t get the Underwoods and Owen picked up by the authorities. I don’t know why they needed Anya, but we can’t let them try again.”
A flare of satisfaction flashed across Drew’s stern face. “Thanks to your radio reports, I had a pretty good idea how to meet up with you. I caught the Underwoods at the trailhead. Deputies will find them zip-tied beside my truck.” He rubbed absently at an angry red scratch on his cheek. “That Dr. Underwood is a vicious bitch. Chaz didn’t put up much of a fight, but I hesitated to hit a woman...at first.”
“And Owen? Did he escape?” I asked, a little in awe of my brother’s fierceness. Love and fear turned him into quite the vigilante, though I doubted the Underwoods would be in any position to file assault charges.
“Nope.” Drew’s one-word answer sounded smug. Owen deserved anything he got, but I was still curious.
“What happened to him?” I asked.
“He met ‘Serious’” —he held up one clenched fist— “and ‘Consequences.’ He’s out cold and zip-tied to boot.”
For once, my brother’s protectiveness had found an appropriate target. My knees went weak, and I sagged against Lee.
I raised my hand, palm flat. “I solemnly swear never to make fun of your stash of truck supplies and safety gear ever again.”
“Amen,” Anya muttered, burrowing back against Drew. Her gaze held so much adoration, it was almost uncomfortable to watch. “You’re my hero, you know that?”
Drew grunted. “It was almost too little, too late.” His gaze fell to mine. “I can’t thank you and Lee enough. It was brave and stupid, but I couldn’t be more grateful.”
I snorted. “Pretty sure that’s the family motto.”
