“Why can'tyou?” Rylie asked. She refused to look at Netto.
“I'm a saltwater crocodile,” Zeph said with a shrug. “I'm not built to withstand the pressure that Netto can. It would be quicker if the two of us were down there, but then where would that leave you?” Zeph's lips twisted up into a devilish smile.
“Back away from my daughter,” Da warned, releasing a clip from one of the guns. “She's the best shot in the homestead, and if there was a standoff between the two of you, I’d place my bets on her.” He slid a new clip into the gun. “That's if I don't kill you first.”
Zeph laughed and winked at her before he turned away. She snuck a glance at Netto who remained motionless. He stared at Zeph with a look she had never seen on a man before. He looked hungry, with eyes that flashed silver and teeth that could be seen between the crack of his lips. Rylie wrapped her arms around her middle, feeling unsettled.
“You're a shark. He told me. Sharks can withstand the abyss?”
Netto turned toward her and his hungry anger melted away. She exhaled. The look was for Zeph, not her.
“Some.”
Netto picked up one of the wires and pressed into the back of his hand, his skin opened up but she couldn't see what was there.
Rylie took a step closer as the wire plugged into him and the skin sealed over it. Netto stilled. They were suddenly standing far too close.
“Does that hurt?” she asked relieved her voice remained indifferent.
“No.”
“Will you be able to stand the pressure?” She refused to look away from the back of his hand. Netto sat on the edge of a seat and began to spear wires into his feet.
“Yes.”
Rylie frowned. She ran her fingers through her hair and sat down a little ways away from him. Before she lost her courage and the images came back from the night before, she looked down at her hands.
“Please be careful down there. It will be night soon,” she said. Even though she was mad at him, confused, her wants a jumbled mess in her mind, she didn’t want to see him get hurt.
His hand lifted and clasped the back of hers. Rylie shivered from the contact.
“I'll be fine.” Netto gently squeezed her hand. “I'll be in communication with Zeph.” He let go of her and stood, adjusted his belt buckle, and moved to the side of the ship.
“It's time.”
Zeph sat back with a large rifle over his lap. Da set down the one he’d been holding and nodded.
“You know what you're doing?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll be here when you get back,” Da said.
Netto looked at Zeph and the two shared a wordless look. Rylie wondered what it would be like to speak into someone else's mind.
“Keep the lights off.”
“Go, Shark, before I change my mind.” Zeph laughed but she knew it for a warning.
Rylie hoped that Netto would look her way, but instead, he turned and lowered himself into the sea. He was gone the next second, and she immediately regretted that she hadn’t said more.
Rylie dropped her eyes and caught Zeph staring at her.
What the hell is wrong with me?
***
NETTO POWERED THROUGHthe gloom, pushing himself down into the black water to inspect the relay station.
