Page 4 of Riptide

“Can’t risk it. Besides, he’s fine.”

“How do you know he’s fine?”

“You saw him walking. He’s fine.” Kaimana shot him a look and quickly refocused on the navigation system, rechecking their path to their final destination.

“I know you have medic training but I’m just saying—”

“He’s fine. That man back there has taken the ocean at its worst. Wrecked in Jaws a few years ago and recovered within days. He knows it and I know it. The gunshot was just a flesh wound.”

“He fell from a cliff. He could have a head injury.”

“He’s going to be fine.” He’d better be. She couldn’t afford to call in authorities who were tied to the syndicate.

“But—”

“Keanu. Please. Look, I know he might have issues, but it’s just too dangerous right now. We only have a few more days left at sea. He can see a doctor when he gets there. Unfortunately, the people who threw him off that cliff think he’s dead. And if they get wind of him being alive, they’ll come looking for him to finish the job. And looking for me. Besides, Seth may be able to help me find Evan. They were willing to kill him so maybe he has information.”

“They will track Evan’s yacht,” Keanu said.

“My yacht,” she countered sharply. “For now anyway. Evan left this baby to me in his will. And even the great Garrett Emerson won’t be able to find my real name. He will suspect it was left to one of his students in the academy. Evan has no family to speak of…but me. No one has contested things so far.”

“But Evan—”

“Evan saved me from those men. He knew what they were doing, and they came for him. There are people in this world…you have no idea what they are capable of.” Her expression went flat. “I will get Evan back. They won’t win this.”

“How can you be sure Seth will help us?”

“Instinct.”

“Instinct?”

“If there was one thing Evan taught me, it was to trust my instincts. My gut tells me that if Seth was willing to fight for Lars and that girl, he might be willing to help me look for Evan.”

“I hope you’re right.” Keanu shrugged and rolled his eyes.

“I am right. I have to convince him to help, though. To keep our secret.”

“You might want to try being a little nicer to him.”

“I am nice. I saved his ass, didn’t I?” She released an audible breath. “Seriously, Keanu. I don’t have many options and neither does he. The reality is that his friends think he’s dead, and he must stay dead until we catch the son of a bitch who kidnaps and sells those girls. You weren’t there. There are girls who…” In cages, sold to the highest bidder. “I couldn’t save them that day. I plan on going back and finding them. But first, I need to find Evan.”

“Sister, if you move on with your life, we could start over. Maybe they will forget about you.”

“No. They will always come for me.” Kaimana straightened her spine and looked to her brother. “Right now we just need to focus on the task at hand. They can’t keep Evan hidden forever. Once I get home, I’ll ask Seth for help. If he says no, I still have access to the private jet and will take it Cabo. Then drive to Rosarito and then LA. I must keep moving until the auction.”

“We should go to the authorities. The FBI maybe.”

“Dom Marretta and his organization have been getting away with this for years. Look at what they just did. They infiltrated Emerson Industries. They literally planned a fake death of someone who’s an experienced agent and convinced his friends he’s dead. The trafficking is just the tip of the iceberg. Just think of all the other companies they may have gotten into. Evan was building a case. We need to find him to take Marretta down.”

“We will get him, Kai.” Keanu set a comforting hand on her shoulder. “It’s almost time for dinner.”

“Captain will be back at the helm soon. I’ll wait on him. You go.” Emotions regarding the good-looking surfer swirled in her mind. She glanced to the map once again. “Can you see to Seth? I will talk to him after dinner.” She glanced to her watch. “Chef says dinner will be ready by seven.”

Keanu nodded and set off down the hall. Her brother was as loyal as the night was long. But guilt threaded through her for bringing him into her dark world.

If she hadn’t been so careless, it would have never happened. If she hadn’t been having fun, been happy, been a woman, she’d have been safe. Logic played in her mind, and she knew that none of it had been her fault, but it didn’t stop the shame and guilt from creeping into her thoughts. The only mistake she’d made was letting down her guard in an everyday situation.

She closed her eyes, the humiliation of waking up bound in the dark surrounding her. The men who stripped her, taking nude pictures, preparing her for auction. Memories of the touch of their hands on her skin lingered.