The sea roars around us, and I hold onto Nash tighter, determined to fight until the very end.
Nothing is lost as long as we’re still breathing.
For Lio, for Sloan, for my family.
For the fleeting chance we might make it out of this.
FORTY
“We haven’t receivedany distress calls, ma’am,” the voice from the coast guard guy trickles through the phone. “But with this storm, communications can be tricky.”
“I need someone to go out there and look for them!” I plead, desperation evident in my voice.
The coast guard officer sighs. “I understand your concern, ma’am, but it’s too dangerous to send a team out in these conditions. We will when the storm calms down. We have protocols to follow.”
“But they could be in trouble!” I argue, feeling a lump form in my throat.
“It’s possible they saw the storm coming and decided to wait it out behind it. Fishermen know the dangers and often find a safe spot to anchor when conditions turn rough,” the officer tries to reassure me. “Once the weather clears up, we’ll send out a search team. Until then, all we can do is wait and hope they made the right call.”
I hang up the phone, both frustrated and scared.
The wind howls, making the house’s windows shudder. I can see from the kitchen that the once gentle waves are nowmonstrous. The sky is an ominous shade of gray, with occasional lightning streaks and loud thunderclaps.
The front door springs open, causing the curtains to billow and the room to momentarily fill with the howling wind. I brace myself, expecting to see Nash and North, but Hunter steps in, water dripping from his rain-soaked clothes. Behind him, clutching his hand tightly, is Lio.
“That storm came out of nowhere,” Hunter exclaims, his voice thick with worry.
“Have you heard from them?” My voice trembles as I ask, and I wrap my arms around myself for comfort.
Hunter’s eyes meet mine, his fear clear. He leans in, giving me a quick peck. The cold wetness of his beard sends a shiver down my spine. “No, I haven’t.” My stomach sinks.
“How was the appointment?” I ask, reaching out to stroke Lio’s hair.
“Long and exhausting for the little one. But everything seems good so far.” He gives me a forced smile. “Come on, Lio, let’s warm you up.” Hunter gently nudges Lio toward the back of the house.
Saylor’s voice, soft yet firm, breaks the silence they left me in. “Breathe, Boo. Everything will be all right.” He’s right behind me, but the weight in my chest doesn’t lift. I have this sinking feeling that something is terribly wrong.
As the minutes tick away, the storm outside intensifies, each gust of wind sounding more furious than the last. Desperation takes over. “Saylor, can you try to find them?”
He hesitates. “You know that only works sometimes. And I don’t even know where to look. The Atlantic Ocean isn’t exactly a pinpoint location.”
Tears blur my vision. “Please try…for me?”
Saylor lets out a heavy sigh. “Give me a few.” Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath. Moments later, he’s gone, vanished into thin air.
Restlessness gnaws at me. I can’t just stand here doing nothing. Rushing to my room, I change into a pair of leggings and put on sweats over them for added warmth, then I slip on a sweater and a hoodie, thankful for the long raincoat hanging in my closet. Whether Saylor finds them or not, I need to be at the harbor, waiting. As I reach for the Hunter’s keys, Saylor reappears, eyes full of terror.
“Did you?—”
“Yes, and it’s not good. We need to go.Now. We don’t have much time. Get Hunter.” Urgency laces every word.
I look at him with wide eyes before I turn and run to Lio’s room but Lio is already in bed, sleeping. The soft glow from the bathroom down the hallway catches my attention, and I go over to gently crack the door open. The sight that greets me is heart-wrenching.
Hunter is huddled in the tub. His head is buried between his knees, and his hands are clasped tightly over the back of his head. The storm is bad enough to have triggered him this hard.
And they are out on the ocean.
Hunter is trembling and mumbling, and when I look back at Saylor, I see the guilt in his eyes. I don’t know if I could bring Hunter out of this state enough to be a help. Not in time anyway. And honestly, I don’t want to do this to him.
