“You…” I couldn’t even finish. If anything happened to Violet, I’d have to bury myself in a grave because neither of our families would forgive me any more than I’d forgive myself.
“Stop. I’m fine. I’ll even wear my Viola Jewel shirt Jersey gave me. It’s good luck.”
I wanted to remind her it wouldn’t allow her to camouflage into invisibility like her actual superhero namesake, but it was pointless.
“I’m going to watch the footage if they can get me the feed. Regardless, I’ll be listening.”
I wanted to be there. I wanted to be the one going in and not her, but I didn’t think Jada would make the eight hours it would take for me to fly there. And it would screw any last chance we had of righting this sinking ship.
“I’m glad you’ll be listening. It’ll be like you’re with me even when you’re not,” she said.
Goddamn, I was going to break into tears in the middle of a café in Spain.
“I will be,” I told her.
“Looks like I’m all ready to go.”
“Be careful,” I said gruffly.
“That’s the plan.”
“If you’re not, when I get back, I’m going to swing you from the mast.”
She laughed. “You don’t have a mast on your boat.”
“There’s one on the old Coast Guard cutter at the pier. I’ll string you from that one.”
She laughed again. “I’ll talk to you when she’s safe and sound with me.”
Then she hung up. I groaned, leaning forward and burying my face in my hands. I was exhausted again. I’d caught a couple of hours on the yacht while Dax and I had switched off behind the wheel, but the adrenaline spiking through my veins as we’d rushed over the dark waters hadn’t really given way to sleep any more than the restless nights I’d had before we left.
Now, adrenaline was shooting through me again, and I knew, when it was over, I was going to crash. But I had a few more hours?a few more days?to get through before I could let go.
I dialed Malone, hoping he’d get me a link to the live feed so I wouldn’t lose my mind while I waited for Violet to save our friend.
Violet
RIGHT HERE WAITING
“I hear your voice on the line,
But it doesn't stop the pain.”
Performed by Richard Marx
Written by Richard Marx
The wire I wore looked likea Band-Aid, and the camera was in a clip they’d put in my hair. It made me think of the clip Jada had worn to the bon voyage dinner. If I stopped to let myself think about what I was doing, I’d be nervous.
Jersey would flip.
Mandy and Leena would cry.
But Jada needed my help.
My Coast Guard brother-in-law would understand that as much as Dawson did.
I hadn’t been to Jada’s family home on the cliff hanging over the sea for five years. Back then, I’d been recovering from my car accident with Dawson and trying to get Jersey to forgive us all enough to say yes to the life Truck was trying to make for them. I’d had a broken wrist and nose, but it had been my heart that had hurt the worst. Not only because I’d almost cost Jersey her first bit of real happiness, but because I’d almost killed Dawson in my stupidity.
