The Killing Tide

by Dani Pettrey

  “I definitely want to be present for that.” Rissi linked her arms across her chest.

  “I still can’t believe that happened,” Gabby said.

  “I can.” Caleb stiffened. “You’d be amazed at all the drunk and reckless boaters the Guard deals with.”

  “I’m just glad you’re safe,” she said to Rissi.

  “We all are.” Caleb squeezed Rissi’s hand.

  “Thanks, guys.” Rissi smiled.

  “Okay. On that note, I think it’s time we break for the night.” Noah turned to Finn. “Not to invite ourselves over, but I can’t think of a better way to honor Sam . . .”

  “Than a bonfire cookout in his honor,” Finn finished. “I couldn’t agree more.” The best way to celebrate Sam’s life would be with his favorite pastime. “I’ll grab the meat on the way home,” he said.

  “I’ll get the drinks.” Rissi grabbed her blazer. She flipped it over her shoulder, holding on to it with two fingers as she stood.

  “I’ll bring cups and plates,” Caleb offered.

  “I can hit the store with Finn on the way back to the loft and grab dessert—watermelon . . . and marshmallows for s’mores?” Gabby said.

  “I’ll bring potato salad,” Emmalyne offered.

  “I’ll bring my famous baked beans.” Logan raked a hand through his spiky hair.

  Emmalyne arched a brow. “You mean Bush’s?”

  He shrugged. “If it tastes good, why mess with it?”

  “All that sounds great,” Finn said before the two started one of their oddly flirtatious arguments.

  “I’ll get ice,” Noah said. “Meet up in an hour?”

  Everyone nodded.

  Finn said good-bye to the night guard watching the drug runners, his muscles coiling as he scanned their unremorseful faces. He’d never understand how they could take lives so needlessly and then show zero emotion.

  Gabby helped Finn carry the groceries into his house.

  The tap of nails rushed across the kitchen floor as they stepped inside the back door.

  An adorable black-and-white dog skidded to a halt at Finn’s feet, its tail wagging furiously. This was a new addition since she’d left in March.

  “Who’s this?” she asked, setting the bags on the counter and kneeling to pet the Australian shepherd.

  “Layla.”

  “Layla?” Her brows arched as a smile curled on her lips. Not a name she’d anticipated Finn coming up with.

  “What?” He cocked his head.

  “Nothing.”

  He leaned against the kitchen counter. “Seriously, what?”

  “It’s just kind of a girly name for a guy like you to give your dog.”

  The dog looked up and grumbled before laying her head back on the terra-cotta tile floor.

  His lips slipped into a smile, his green eyes narrowing. “A guy like me?”

  Heat rushed to her cheeks. “I just mean you’re . . .”

  He took a step closer.

  She got to her feet as he stepped directly in front of her. Lifting a hand, he swept the hair from her forehead, tucking it behind her ear. His skin was calloused, but his touch tender. “I’m . . . ?” he whispered. The deep timbre of his voice was beyond appealing as it resounded through her chest.

  She swallowed, dipping her head with a soft smile. “You’re just . . . a guy’s guy.”

  Pleasure flashed across his sun-kissed face. “So I’m . . . manly?”

  She scuffed the sole of her shoe against the ceramic floor. “I just meant that you’re the opposite of feminine.”

  “Hmm,” he chuckled. “I guess I’ll take that as a compliment . . . ?”

  “Trust me.” She nibbled her bottom lip, yearning for his to be pressed against hers. She swallowed, hard. “It was.”

  He leaned in, his gaze shifting to her lips as if he’d read her mind.

  She leaned in to him and . . . then shifted upright. What was she doing? “I . . . better go get freshened up before everyone arrives.”

  He straightened, shoving hands into his pockets. “Right.” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his tan throat. He always had the best tan—no doubt from all his time surfing. “I’ll walk you to the loft.”

  “That’s kind of you to offer, but—”

  He shook his head. “Not up for debate.”

  She sighed. Of course he’d say that. “Okay.”

  They stepped out into the balmy twilight, fireflies flitting across Finn’s yard, the lap of the ocean echoing up the slope from the beach.

  “I forgot how beautiful it is here,” she said.

  He glanced her way out of the corner of his eye. “Definitely beautiful.”

  She forced her gaze to her feet.

  He saw her up the stairs and cleared the loft before stepping back out on the landing. “Oh, about Layla’s name—Mom’s a big Clapton fan. Listened to him all the time while I was growing up.” He braced his hand on the loft’s doorframe.

  “That’s nice. You’ve never mentioned your mom before. You two close?”

  A smile curled on his sun-weathered lips. “Curious is a state of mind with you.”

  She shrugged. “Goes with the job.”

  “To answer your question, yes, we are close.”

  “That’s nice.”

  “Yep. It is.”

  His cologne was enticing. His presence alluring. All the feelings she’d developed for him over the winter rushed back in an encompassing swell. “I should probably—” She pointed over her shoulder.

  “Right.” He stepped back. “I’ll see you at the bonfire.” He looked at his watch. “You’ve got twenty.”

  Anticipation rippling through her veins, she shut the door and leaned against it. Staying at Finn’s felt far more dangerous than Fuentes did.

  twenty-two

  Gabby dropped her leather bomber duffel on the queen bed in Finn’s guest loft. After the pace of the last twenty-four hours, she was looking forward to freshening up a bit. Her clothing and toiletry stash from the office didn’t provide many options, but Kenzie had offered to take her shopping at Bumblebee, their favorite store in town. They always had the best variety of eclectic clothing. Of course, Noah and Finn would insist one of them escort her and her sister. It was a kind gesture but, at the same time, suffocating. She wasn’t exactly helpless.

  She gazed through the open windows. The rain, which had come and gone for a good portion of the day, appeared to be over, and a nice southwesterly breeze fluttered the gossamer curtains. The beautiful scent of salt water wafted through the space.

  Being near God’s creation reminded her of His sovereignty and majesty. Setting the moon in the sky to control the tides . . . it awed her. Jesus walking on water, calming the storm . . . Knowing He tamed something so wild and free settled her soul in a way nothing else did.

  She exhaled. Despite being run out of Raleigh, which she hated—she’d much rather face things head on—at least she was in a beautiful place surrounded by family and Finn.

  Finn . . .

  She didn’t understand the depth of feelings he’d managed to resurrect in her the minute she was back in his presence. Feelings her heart instantly understood but her mind refused to process.

  She grabbed the new cell phone Noah gave her when he’d picked her up. Lifting the phone to her ear, she listened as it rang twice, then she hung up as instructed. She waited five minutes for Lawrence to get clear of the building in case any bugs had been planted in the news office. Lately, it seemed like Xavier Fuentes, a man whose reach appeared unending, had been one step ahead. Lawrence had swept the office and found nothing, but they still wanted to play it safe. It wouldn’t surprise her if they found a Gazette staffer to be on Fuentes’s payroll, disheartening as it would be.

  When she called back, Lawrence answered. “Everything okay?”

  “Yes.”

  “No indication that Fuentes’s men know where you are?”

  “No,” she said, sinking onto the bed. “
And I think I’ve found a story.”

  “Of course you have.”

  “It’s what I do.”

  “Believe me, I know.”

  She explained the situation with Will and Sam.

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Yeah.” She didn’t know Sam as well as the rest of the team, but he was, from what everyone on the team said, a good man who’d been ripped from his family.

  “So the story is Will Seavers?” he asked.

  “Yes. Before Will left for fishing, he had a conversation with his wife, Tess. She said Will was quite upset and confessed to her that he’d screwed up and gotten in too deep.”

  “In too deep with what?”

  “He wouldn’t say, but he promised Tess he was getting out for her and the baby they’re expecting.”

  “She’s pregnant?”

  “Seven months.”

  “Oh man. That’s messed up.”

  She swallowed, her throat tight. “I know.” Not only had Tess lost her husband, but their baby would never know his father. “She said she believed Fletcher was involved, and wants me, in addition to Noah’s team, to dig into it.”

  “Did Will tell her Fletcher was involved?”

  “No.”

  “Then why is she claiming he is?”

  “Her feelings.”

  “We all know how dangerous and misleading those can be.”

  She knew that better than anyone. Her feelings had almost gotten her killed in South Sudan.

  “Regardless, I want to find out what Will was involved in, for Tess.”

  Lawrence sighed. “She may not like what you find.”

  “I doubt she will.” Discovering what Will was into could be painful.

  “All right. Work the story, but keep a low profile. I don’t want you showing up on the news as investigating the situation or making too much noise. I don’t want Fuentes discovering where you are.”

  “He’s got to know I’d come to my family.”

  “I’m sure he thinks you’re too smart for that. You’re not staying with your family, and if he sends someone, you’ll be well protected. Not as protected as you would have been with the Marshals.”

  “That was my call.”

  “Let’s just pray it doesn’t get you killed.”

  twenty-three

  A knock sounded on the loft door just as Gabby finished freshening up. Her breath hitched.

  Finn.

  Was he coming back to finish what felt like a near kiss?

  Taking a stiffening breath, she opened the door to find Rissi.

  “Hey.” She released a sigh of relief.

  “Hey.” Rissi held up an aqua bag with pink flamingos. “Since you didn’t get to go home before rushing out of Raleigh, I brought you some toiletries and clothes. I think we’re about the same size.”

  Both were about five-seven, and Gabby guessed around the same weight.

  “Aww, thanks. That’s sweet of you.” Everyone had been so kind.

  “No problem.”

  “Come on in.” She stepped back, allowing Rissi passage inside.

  Rissi glanced about. “I hope the place still feels cozy to you.”

  “It’s amazing. Thanks for decorating it before my last stay.”

  “When Noah told me you’d be staying over the winter, I knew the place needed a major overhaul. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any time today to run over and check it out, but . . .” Her sparkling blue gaze swept the room. “But it looks in good order.”

  “Yeah,” she said, also sweeping the room. There were fresh flowers in the blue pitcher on the distressed white desk, fresh bedding, a covered plate of fresh fruit, and a large bottle of Fiji water.

  “Looks like Finn got everything ready for you.”

  “Yeah.” It did. He must have gotten up early to do so, because he’d been on shift all day.

  “I know Noah doesn’t want you and Kenzie shopping alone but maybe he’d go for it if I came along. I’ve been dying to see what Bumblebee has gotten in for their fall collection—or should I say, slightly more warm summer collection.” She smiled.

  “True.” Raleigh was the same way. “That’d be fun.”

  “Great. It’s a date. And we’ll see if Emmy wants to join us. She loves Bumblebee’s boho style.”

  “She dresses so adorably.”

  “I know, right?” Rissi slipped her hands in her back jean-shorts pockets.

  “Hopefully Noah will be satisfied with the group of us going. He seems set on either him or Finn watching me.”

  “Trust me, Noah won’t hear the end of it if he doesn’t hold me on par with the guys in keeping you safe. . . . Not that you can’t hold your own, but it doesn’t hurt to have someone watching your back.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Don’t get too frustrated with the guys’ attitude. I have to deal with it on a daily basis, being the only woman and the youngest on the team. You’d think I was the little sister of the group.”

  “I noticed that.” She nibbled her bottom lip, wondering if she should go there, but the reporter part of her couldn’t contain her curiosity. “Caleb seems particularly concerned about you.”

  Rissi exhaled. “I know what you’re thinking. . . . Everyone seems to think there’s something romantic there. He took me under his wing when I started the job and was a huge help. I guess we’ve been pretty close since. But . . .” She exhaled. “I view him as a teammate and friend.”

  “Not sure he views the relationship the same way.” She was probably overstepping her bounds, but it seemed so obvious in the way Caleb looked at Rissi with longing.

  “I know, and I feel bad, but I just don’t feel romantically about him.”

  “You can’t force something that’s not there.” Or stop something that was, no matter how hard she tried to suppress her feelings for Finn. Not even a day in his presence and all the tingling was back. This was going to be much harder than she’d thought.

  After a few minutes of chatting, Gabby followed Rissi down the steps into the firefly-filled night. The bonfire danced in the stone circle on Finn’s shoreline. Ten colorful Adirondack chairs sat around the fire, a couple feet back from the flames.

  “Grab a seat,” Finn said.

  “I put the sweet tea on the picnic table.” Rissi sat, lowering into the cobalt blue chair.

  Gabby chose the bright yellow one, pulling her knees to her chest, tugging the loose-weave cream sweater over the cute black beachy shorts Rissi had brought her.

  Finn stoked the fire. Sparks flittered into the night sky, carrying on the sea breeze. “I think everything’s about ready.” He gestured to Caleb finishing up the burgers and barbecue chicken on the grill. He transferred the meat onto a large oval platter.

  “Looks great,” Emmalyne said, taking the platter from Caleb and carrying it to the faded white picnic table a few steps up the gentle slope from the beach. Wrightsville Beach was gorgeous—sloping dunes with wispy reeds, pristine sand, and crystal-clear waters. No wonder Finn chose to live there.

  “Food’s ready,” Emmy announced.

  “Now we’re talking!” Logan bolted up the hill, sand flying in his wake. His blue Jams with a white hibiscus pattern brought a smile to Gabby’s lips. He wore vintage well.

  Gabby followed him up the hill. She placed a chicken breast in the center of the Chinet plate and scooped a spoonful of Emmalyne’s homemade potato salad onto it. She added sweet-smelling watermelon and maple-bacon baked beans.

  “Hey,” Kenzie said, waving as she rounded the corner of Finn’s house. Her hubby, Mark, walked beside her. Six-two and two hundred muscular pounds, he cut an intimidating figure.

  “Hey, kiddo,” he said, ruffling the top of Gabby’s hair.

  He was all of four years older than she was, but he insisted on calling her kiddo or kid, as Noah did. At twenty-seven she was the youngest of the three siblings, and it appeared she would never outgrow the moniker.

  “How you holding up?”


  “I’m doing good.”

  Finn’s assessing gaze settled on her from across the picnic table. How did he always seem to know when she was bluffing?

  “Where are my niece and nephew?” she asked, shifting the subject. Missing them growing up while on assignment was hard.

  “With Mom,” Mark said, taking the red plastic cup filled with sweet tea from Rissi. “Thanks,” he said.

  “It’s already way past their bedtime,” Kenzie said.

  Gabby turned, nearly colliding with Finn’s chest. Splaying her hand out to brace herself, her palm landed on his chiseled chest.

  Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she yanked her hand back to her side. “Sorry.”

  His gaze lingered on her. “No problem.”

  Grabbing her drink, she hurried to her seat by the fire and dropped into it, hoping her racing heart would settle.

  Logan sat to her left, and Finn took the chair on her right, his aftershave wafting on the breeze. The cedrat essential oil in it smelled of adventure and the outdoors.

  Finn glanced over, flames lighting his gorgeous green eyes. A slow, soft smile curled on his lips.

  She offered a gentle smile back, and his widened, creasing the corners of his mouth.

  Don’t look at his lips. Forget how soft they are.

  A different kind of heat than the fire sifted between them.

  Logan stood. “Either of you need a cool drink?”

  Gabby swallowed. Was the connection between them that obvious? “What?” she managed.

  “I’m grabbing a soda.” Logan gestured over his shoulder at the galvanized-metal washtub full of drinks.

  “I’ve got tea, but thanks.”

  “I’m good too,” Finn said, lifting his cup.

  Logan nodded.

  She set her cup back in the sand, her head spinning. It was the smart and logical thing to stay in Finn’s guest loft for her physical safety, but for the safety of her heart and her already-weakening resolve—it was proving a dangerous decision.

  twenty-four

  “Let’s pray,” Noah said as everyone settled into their chairs, balancing their plates on their laps.

  Gabby lowered her head.

  “Father, we lost a brother today. Beth lost a husband and Ali a father. We know that Sam is your child, Jesus is his Savior, and he’s up in heaven with you now, but that doesn’t stop the pain and loss we’re all feeling here. Please help us in the days to come, especially Beth and Ali. Let them know they aren’t alone. That you are right there with them in their suffering and that we are all here for them and always will be. Help us do as Sam would want and celebrate his life tonight. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”