4. Ryder

"Daddy, can we go look for buried treasures?" Chloe asks as she's dressed in a pirate costume.

"Of course, give me a few minutes to clean up breakfast and then we'll be on our way to the dunes."

I have a housekeeper come in weekly to do a thorough clean of the house when we're home in the off-season, during the season it's a daily necessity as our life is way more chaotic then. Maybe it's the military in me, but I'd rather keep everything clean and teach Chloe the same ways so that she grows up to understand the value of hard work.

"Yes!" she exclaims as she dances around the living room.

Chloe and I make our way down to the beach a few minutes later, the soft sand warm beneath our feet. The sound of crashing waves fills the air, a soothing rhythm that fills me with tranquility.

Chloe"s hand is clasped tightly in mine as we walk, her eyes wide with wonder as she takes in the vast expanse of the ocean stretching out before us.

"Wow, Daddy," she breathes, her voice filled with awe. "It"s like we"re the only ones in the whole world."

I smile down at her, feeling a swell of pride at her infectious enthusiasm. "It"s pretty amazing, isn"t it, Chloe? Just you and me, exploring our own private paradise."

She nods eagerly, her imagination already at work as she begins to spin tales of buried treasure and hidden secrets waiting to be discovered. "I bet there"s all sorts of treasure buried out here," she declares, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "We just have to find them!"

And so we set off, our footsteps leaving behind a trail of memories as we explore the sandy dunes and rocky cliffs that line the shore. Chloe is in her element, her imagination running wild as she pretends to be a brave pirate on a quest for riches.

Daisy is never far behind, her faithful presence a comforting reminder of the bond we share as a family. She bounds ahead, her tail wagging eagerly as she sniffs out hidden treasures of her own.

"Matey! I think I've found something!" Chloe hollers as she races up a sand dune.

She shields her eyes and points to a ship out in the ocean.

"Arr, matey, I sees it."

"Arr, matey!" Chloe exclaims, her eyes shining with excitement. "We be searchin" for the lost treasure of Captain Blackbeard!"

"Aye, that we be, me hearty!" I reply, playing along with her game as Chloe rushes down from the dune. "But beware, for there be danger lurkin" around every corner!"

Chloe nods eagerly, her hand gripping mine tightly as we navigate the sandy dunes. "Fear not, Captain Ryder! With me trusty sidekick Daisy by our side, we"ll find the treasure in no time!"

"Aye, that we will, lass!" I declare, a grin spreading across my face. "But keep a sharp eye out for any signs of trouble. We don"t want to be caught unawares by any scallywags or sea monsters!"

Chloe nods solemnly, her eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of danger. "Aye, Captain! I"ll be keepin" me wits about me, just like a true pirate!"

We continue on our quest, our voices echoing across the beach as we search for the elusive treasure of Captain Blackbeard. With each passing moment, Chloe"s imagination takes us deeper into the heart of our adventure, until it feels as though we truly are pirates on the high seas, braving the elements in search of fortune and glory.

Chloe's laughter is ringing out like music as she chases seagulls and builds sandcastles with reckless abandon. "Look, Daddy!" she squeals excitedly, pointing at something a little ways down the shore. "I think I see something!"

Daisy starts barking, her tail wagging furiously as Chloe rushes forward, her curiosity piqued. "Wait, Chloe, slow down!" I call out, my heart pounding in my chest as I realize what"s happening.

But it"s too late. Chloe is already racing ahead, her eyes fixed on whatever it is she"s spotted in the distance. "I found it! I found the treasure!" she cries out, her voice filled with excitement.

My stomach drops as I realize what Chloe has stumbled upon. It"s not treasure she"s found—it"s a person. As I sprint forward to get in front of her, I can hear her screaming with delight, convinced that she"s discovered a real-life mermaid.

"Chloe, stop!" I yell, my voice echoing across the beach as I reach her side. But Chloe is undeterred, her eyes shining with wonder as she gazes at the figure lying in the sand.

"It"s a mermaid, Daddy! Look!" she insists, her voice filled with conviction.

But as I approach, I can see that it"s not a mermaid at all—it"s a young woman, her clothes torn and her face pale with exhaustion. She looks up at me with pleading eyes, her voice barely a whisper as she begs for help.

Shit. It's the brunette staying in one of my cottages.

Shit.

Is she drunk?

"Chloe, get back," I say softly as I pull my daughter away from her.

"Please help me," the woman groans before she passes out.

"Daddy! Help her!"

I swallow hard, my heart pounding in my chest as I realize the gravity of the situation. This isn"t a game—it"s a matter of life and death. I scoop the woman up in my arms.

"Chloe, I need you to go ahead of me and get back to the house. Can you get Daddy's phone and call Uncle Joshy for me, tell him I need him here as a doctor?"

"Yes, Daddy," she says. "Let's go, Daisy!"

Chloe and Daisy race forward and toward the back of the house.

I'm a professional athlete and this woman isn't a large woman by any means but carrying her through the sand and trying to move fast is not easy and I'm already out of breath.

She is soaked to her core; her skin is scaly and cold. She doesn't smell like alcohol, but what in the Hell happened to have her wash up on shore? She's not wearing a bathing suit, so it doesn't seem like she went for a swim and got caught in a riptide or something.

"What happened to you?" I ask out loud as I look down at her perfect face.

"Christoph," she mumbles. "He found me."

"Christoph? Who is Christoph?"

She passes out again, her body shivering underneath me.

Why does this woman look and feel so familiar to me?

I finally get to the house. The glass door that leads to the pool is already open and Chloe is racing around the living room.

"I found a mermaid. I found a mermaid. Don't panic!"

"Chloe, did you call Uncle Joshy?"

"Yes, he's on his way."

"Can you get me some blankets, please? And towels?"

She nods as she races toward the bathroom. I start pulling the woman's clothing off, throwing the cold wet fabric onto the linoleum in the kitchen.

"Daddy!" Chloe hollers as she realizes her mermaid is naked in front of her.

"Don't look, baby, just give me the towels so I can get her dry."

She does as I ask, turning her head and throwing the towels at me before she races away to get blankets.

The woman is limp as I try to get her dry and warm her up. I can feel the chill of the ocean air seeping into her clothes, her body shivering with cold and exhaustion.

Chloe watches with wide eyes as I wrap the woman in a blanket, tucking it around her shoulders with care. "Is she gonna be okay, Daddy?" she asks, her voice filled with concern.

I nod reassuringly, brushing a strand of hair from the woman"s face. "She"ll be just fine. We just need to get some warmth into her bones. Can you make sure the front door is unlocked for Uncle Josh?"

Choe sprints away, opening the front door at the same time as she unlocks it. The sound of footsteps echoes through the house, and I turn to see Josh racing in, his expression a mix of shock and concern.

"What in the Hell is happening?" he snaps.

"We found this woman on the beach."

"Shit, I thought you were having a heart attack, old man."

I chuckle despite the situation and shake my head. "Sort of. This woman is not in good shape. I think she has hypothermia."

"Shit, that"s my sister!" he exclaims, coming to a sudden stop as he takes in the scene before him. "What the fuck happened?"

"Wait, is this Gia?" I ask, my voice catching in my throat.

Josh nods grimly, his eyes flickering with worry as he rushes to his sister"s side. "Yeah, it"s her. What the Hell happened, Ryder?"

I shake my head, my mind racing as I try to piece together what little information I have. "I found her on the beach," I explain, my voice tight with emotion. "She was awake, asked for help, and then passed out."

Josh"s face pales at my words, his hands shaking as he checks his sister over for any other injuries. "Goddammit," he mutters, his voice barely above a whisper. "We need to get her to a hospital."

But as he tries to rouse Gia from her unconscious state, she remains stubbornly still, her breathing shallow and uneven. "Come on, Gia, wake up," Josh pleads, his voice filled with desperation.

I watch helplessly as he tries in vain to get her to respond, his fingers brushing over her forehead in a futile attempt to bring her back to consciousness.

"Did she say anything else?"

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I recount the events of the past hour. "She woke up for a second," I explain, my voice barely a whisper. "She said that Christoph found her."

"Christoph?" he repeats, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Who in the Hell is Christoph?"

He begins checking her over and that's when I realize that there's blood seeping through the blanket, I wrapped her in."

"Shit. She's bleeding." He moves the blanket. "Looks like a bullet wound. Went straight through."

"If someone did this to her, is she in some kind of trouble? If we take her to the hospital will whoever did this to her look there for her?"

"I don't know. I… brought my medical bag. I have supplies. We need to stop the bleeding and I'll see if I can find the extent of the damage."

"How was she shot? What in the Hell?"

"Bro, where was she that she washed up on the beach?"

"She's staying in one of the cottages. She wasn't far from that."

"What? Then how did you not know it was Gia?"

"It wasn't her reservation. It was for a Dalton Hutchison."

"Who's that?"

"Beats me, everything was paid for. I found a note afterward where one of the staff wrote a note stating that Mr. Hutchison paid a very hefty tip so that his guest wasn't questioned about her identity or asked her name. It said that she wanted to remain anonymous and stress-free. He told them there would be more money at the end of her stay if they abided by his request."

"What the fuck?" Josh growls as he continues trying to get the bleeding to stop.

The night stretches on, each passing moment feeling like an eternity as Josh and I work tirelessly to tend to Gia"s wound. With steady hands and a calm demeanor, Josh manages to stop the bleeding and stitch up her bullet wound, his years of medical training coming in handy in our time of need.

It"s a painstaking process, fraught with tension and uncertainty, but we refuse to give up hope. We do everything in our power to regulate Gia"s temperature, to keep her stable and comfortable as she lies unconscious on the couch, her face pale and drawn.

Chloe sits nearby, her eyes never leaving Gia"s prone form as she waits anxiously for the mermaid to be okay. She"s been a silent but steadfast presence throughout the ordeal, her small hand clutching mine tightly as we wait for any sign of improvement.

As Josh and I take a moment to catch our breath in the kitchen, our voices hushed in quiet conversation, I hear Chloe"s soft voice drifting in from the other room.

"Are you okay, Mermaid?" she asks, her voice filled with concern.

To my surprise, Gia responds with a rough but audible "Yes," her voice raspy from disuse.

I exchange a startled glance with Josh before hurrying back into the living room, where Chloe is eagerly hovering over Gia"s side.

"Are you hungry? Thirsty?" Chloe asks, her eyes wide with worry.

Gia manages a weak smile, her eyes fluttering open as she takes in her surroundings. "I"m okay, thank you," she replies, her voice barely above a whisper. "Where am I?"

"You're at my house, silly. Can I keep you?"

Josh and I step forward, our expressions grave with concern.

Gia"s face turns white when she sees her brother standing before her, his expression a mix of relief and worry. "Josh, what are you doing here?" she asks, her voice tinged with confusion.

His eyes soften as he takes in his sister"s pale face, his hand reaching out to gently brush her hair back from her forehead. "Ryder found you unconscious on the beach," he explains quietly. "He brought you here and called me to help. He didn't know who you were."

"Unconscious?" she repeats, her voice barely a whisper.

I nod grimly, my gaze locked with hers. "Yeah, Gia. You were shot."

But she brushes off my words with a dismissive wave of her hand, her eyes flickering with defiance. "Shot? Nah, must"ve just taken a tumble off my surfboard and hit my head," she insists, her voice surprisingly steady despite the circumstances.

"Gia, you were shot," Josh repeats firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument.

"No, I wasn't," she laughs airily.

"Who"s Christoph?" I inquire, my voice quiet but insistent.

For a moment, her face goes pale, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. But then, just as quickly, she schools her expression into one of calm indifference.

"Christoph?" she repeats, her voice deliberately casual. "Never heard that name before in my life."

Why is she lying about this?

I start to ask again, and Josh clears his throat. He shakes his head and I remain quiet.

"How do you feel?" Josh asks.

"I feel great."

She tries to stand up and her face turns white, she quickly goes right back down on the couch.

"You're not going anywhere," I say quickly. "You can stay here. You need to be monitored."

"Thanks, but I don't need to."

"You need to stay here so that I can make sure you're okay," I growl.

Chloe's eyes flit to mine in shock before she looks at Gia.

"That's his mad voice, you have to listen to him when he uses it."

Gia smiles and nods her head. "I"d prefer not to be addressed as if I were a child or bossed around. It doesn"t sit well with me." she hisses at me. "I'll stay, but not because you told me to."

This is either the best or worst idea I've ever had.