What's going on?
Before I know it, he's slipping another vest over my arms—a life jacket. He does the same for himself before taking my hand and leading me to the edge of the boat.
"Do you trust me, little tigress?" His green eyes glint in the moonlight, and in my shocked state, I just nod.
"Didn't expect that one," he chuckles, bringing me to his chest and holding me closer.
"I'm sorry for this. I really am," he says right before jumping into the sea.
We hit the surface of the water hard, but the jackets keep usafloat. Enzo's arms are holding on to me tightly as he starts swimming away from the boat.
"Why?" I croak, the cold of the water already affecting my body.
"It—" His words are muted by a huge explosion, debris flying into the air and into the water.
Enzo cradles me closer and shields me with his body, turning me away from the burning vessel.
"How did you know?" My words come out as a whisper as I stare at the flames engulfing the boat—or what's left of it.
"It was only a matter of time," his voice is grave as he answers, his gaze focused on the slowly departing ship.
"They left… just like that?"
"Maybe the ring wasn't what they were looking for. Maybe they just wanted to kill me," he says playfully, and I want to smack him. How can he even think to joke at a time like this?
Using my elbow, I push against him, but the current of the sea keeps me from actually injuring him.
"And now I'm going to die too. Because of you. Thank you very much," I add dryly, but I'm brave enough to note the irony of me coming closer and holding on to him.
He knows how to swim.
Yes, indeed. That's the only reason I'm clinging to him, my hands wrapped around his neck, my face inches away from his.
I raise my eyes to see him watching me intently.
"I guess you're meant to die in the sea, little tigress."
"Will you stop calling me that?" I grit my teeth, amazed at his ability to annoy me even when my body is slowly shutting down.
"Indeed. I should call you little sea lion now, right?" He smirks down at me, and I close my eyes, defeated.
"I'm sorry," he finally says, and his hand comes up to my face, fitting his palm to my cheek. My teeth are already chattering, and he's not far behind me.
"You know we're going to die here, don't you?" I ask him, my tone serious this time. He nods, his expression closed off.
"Let's call a truce, shall we? Let's not die as enemies," he says, stroking my hair, his face suddenly tender.
"But that's all we are, isn't it? We've been at each other's throats for hours now."
"Is that all we have to be?" His thumb circles across my cheek and over my pruney skin.
"Fine." I release a breath. "I can pretend… for a while." The ghost of a smile appears on his face, and it triggers a smile from me too.
Here we are, in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by the vast sea. Maybe we can pretend, now, right before death, that we are something more.
"What's something you've always wanted?" I ask suddenly.
"Me?"
