Chapter Fifty-Eight

ON THE BEACH, Susan drew me back to myself, watching with guilt as Clay led Shauna away in cuffs. She ran a hand through my hair, and I was sucked back into this moment. Despite the pain and exhaustion there was an almost romantic lifting in my heart. The marina bathed us in a yellow glow, and the wind was tousling Susan’s hair, and I told myself that no matter what had happened in the days before or what was coming, I had this moment. I had done my duty, and though angry and damaged, I knew Shauna would be locked up safe. My girlfriend kissed her fingertip and pressed it gently to my busted lip.

“Poor baby.” She smiled.

“Baby? Are you kiddin’?” I snorted. “I took that punch like a man. It must have been hot as hell to watch. I don’t know how you contained yourself.”

“It was…” She thought, then conceded, “It was a strangely evocative display. I’ll struggle to contain myself at least until we get home.”

I took out my phone and looked at the screen. When I saw that Nick had not returned my call, a knot of fear balled in my chest. I’d tried to call him almost an hour earlier, and he hadn’t answered. While I’d waited for Shauna to come to the marina, my phone had been on silent.

I dialed again, stood listening to the tone, then gave up, figuring he was catching some downtime before his first watch of the house.

“Let’s go,” I said and wrapped an arm around Susan. “All I want to do is catch a couple hours of shut-eye before I go on watch.”