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“I’ve got the phone near your ear. Even with the speaker on…”

Riptide understood the rain was still coming down.

It wasn’t as heavy or as fast as it had been earlier, but it was enough to muffle sound.

“Anu? This is Riptide.”

He heard her voice and smiled in spite of the situation.

Since they’d been introduced, they’d met a few times, including a late afternoon at Sandy beach.

Hearing from her at this moment was good, but he had a feeling he knew why she was calling.

“What’s going on with Mari and Reiko?”

“Reiko is fine. She wasn’t at the house, but Mari,” he let out a breath as his gaze scanned the feed from his drone, “Mari was swept away by a flood. Buck was, too. Do you-”

“I’m with HFD Rescue.”

He felt his heart squeeze with relief.

“The boat?”

“We’re in the water at He’eia.”

Riptide turned his head toward Kid and saw the younger man’s face pale with fear.

“We’re going to get them back.”

Kid nodded. Even though Kid didn’t say a word, Riptide could read his unspoken thoughts.

They’d get them back.

They just had to hope they were still alive when they did.

MARI

Mari felt herself falling asleep.

She was trying to hold it off.

Trying desperately to stay awake.

And knowing that she was going to fail.

She felt warmth against her cheek and the soft puff of breath across her ear.

“Hold on, Mari.”

She squeezed her eyes shut and fought off tears.

She would hold on.

Hold on for him.

“W-what time do-do you think it is?”

Buck’s arms tightened around her for a moment and then relaxed back. Like a hug.