Two large guys with ‘SECURITY’ written across the backs of their uniforms pulled Jet off of Kyle. Jet fought against them, still clearly blind with rage and devastation.
Kyle groaned and tried to get up off the ground, but he didn’t get far.
Kai took his turn.
He descended on the kid while Jet tried to fight off security, getting in a few punches of his own before more men in black T-shirts swarmed him, too.
Turtle was running forward, trying to get to Kyle next, but more security flanked him, protecting the little asshole from further assault.
“You fucking dropped in on him! That’s my best bro! You fucking bitch!” Turtle was screaming, tears streaking down his cheeks.
“Turtle…” Finn croaked next to me, reaching for his best friend in what I think was an effort to comfort him.
The team of security carted the bruised and bloody Kyle Tully away, and Turtle collapsed to his knees, burying his face in his hands, a frustrated roar reverberating out of him.
“That’s my best friend!”he cried into his hands as Blake appeared, gathering him into her arms.
“That’s my best friend…” he repeated over and over.
And there wasn’t anything we could do but watch.
Alexa Play: Autumn by Paolo Nutini
It took hours for them to find Finn’s body.
The ocean had pulled him much farther out than anyone had expected, which explained why I hadn’t been able to touch him to bring him up to the surface.
They’d needed to execute a recovery dive to find him, and I overheard some of the rescue team saying that the chop had been so bad they almost lost another person when one of the Sea-Doos was rolled by a rogue Leviathan.
The sun was setting by the time his body was found.
“Baby, you don’t need to see this,” I whispered to Finn, who I’d wrapped up in my arms hours ago.
He clung to me. Wordless and shaking. I heard him swallow as a Sea-Doo appeared, dragging a sled attachment with it.
What could only be Finn’s body was wrapped and strapped to the sled, and he shuddered violently at the sight of it.
There was an inhuman wail, and Turtle rushed to the sled. He threw himself on top of it, sobbing and screaming Finn’s name over and over again.
“I have to… I have to go be with him,” Finn croaked, tugging away from my embrace.
“Okay, baby. We’ll go together,” I whispered, and he looked at me with so much trust and sadness in his eyes that my throat closed up.
“Thank you…” he whispered.
I nodded, my voice cracking as I spoke. “Of course.”
We approached the sled and an inconsolable Turtle. A few people tried to pull him away, but he threw them off and curled around Finn’s body as if his touch alone could bring him back to life.
“Finn… please… no… we gotta have that bonfire. Yousaid!You said we were gonna chill later. We were gonna celebrate. Shelly and I need you, man. Please! You can’t be dead. Youcan’t be.”
“Turtle Man…” Finn whispered, dropping to his knees next to the sled. Finn’s body was wrapped in a black, waterproof tarp, and I sent a silent thanks to the recovery team for that small blessing.
Finn reached out to touch Turtle’s hair. His fingers passed through him, but he stroked him just the same.
“It’s gonna be alright, brother,” he whispered as Turtle shook and sobbed over his body. “You gotta take care of Shells for me, okay? Take her to Hawaii… I’m sure you can get her on a ferry or something.”
Pride swelled through me at Finn’s brave attempt to comfort his friend.
