Of course, it always circles back to one of my brothers. Dad is so proud of them because they’re more than just average, always have been. They don’t have to chase success, it’s always there waiting for them, whatever they try their hands at.
Dad sees himself in me, but it irks him that I don’t care whether or not I “make something” of myself. But I learned long ago that I can’t compete with my brothers, so why should I try? I’m better off just cruising through life, barely getting by, chasing fun instead of promotions.
I can’t help the scowl that creases my face when Dad starts talking about corporate opportunities, but I don’t have the energy to argue with him about it today.
“I’ve got somewhere to be tonight. I gotta get going.” I jump up from the couch.
“Another party?” Dad frowns at me. Of course, that’s exactly what I was gonna do, but I don’t want to admit it.
“No, I gotta help Gio with something. Some research for our next trip. It’s gonna be epic.”
I hurry out of the room, leaving my dad on the couch looking disappointed, but that’s nothing unusual. I take a shower and put on decent clothes for the first time in a week then head for my favorite bar. I always have a good time there.
Cowboy boots pound the floor in time to a country song, the air is thick with cigarette smoke, and it smells like beer and whiskey. I look around for familiar faces, but surprisingly I don’t see any, other than the bartenders. I haven’t been here as often lately. I’ve been spending most of my time with the guys and Coral. Did my old drinking buddies find a new place to hang out?
I grab a beer from the bar and wander around, but the place feels kind of lonely even though it’s packed with people. I’ve never had a problem making friends, though. So why don’t I feel like talking to anybody?
I head to the pool table, but a game just started, so I have to wait a while if I want to play. I lean against a tall table, watching the action and looking for somebody who might be worth getting to know. Two guys with long hair and big muscles arm wrestle on a wobbly table, their faces red and pinched as they try to prove their manhood by the strength of their biceps. A couple drunk college kids chug beers and toss back shots, trying to squeeze the last bit of fun out of life before responsibilities suck the joy out of everything. And some middle-aged women in slutty clothes run their hands up and down the scary-looking biker dudes, trying to prove they’ve still got it.
I shake my head at the thought of any of them helping me get over my own insecurities. This isn’t exactly the kind of place to get life inspiration. These people are as pathetic and unfulfilled as I am.
At least the guys on the crew had goals and dreams. Maybe that’s what I need to do is get together with them. When I was with them, I felt motivated and useful. At least they appreciated what I could do in the kitchen.
There’s a brunette with a piña colada nearby, and my mind instantly thinks of Coral. Now there’s a girl who was destined for greatness. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that she decided to go back home. There, she’d be in charge of a whole kingdom.
What did we have to offer her? A group of jerks fighting over her. My idea of a showing her a good time was getting her drunk and having sex with her in the back of a pickup truck.
God, I miss her, though. She never made me feel like I was less than anyone else. And she was so damn beautiful it was impossible not to stare at her. I felt like a better man just having her with me.
“Were you wanting in?” A voice breaks me out of my stupor. I look around and realize I’ve been in la-la land long enough for them to finish a game of eight-ball. What am I doing here? This place is not making me feel better.
“Nah, I gotta go.” I toss back the rest of my warm beer.
My head feels a little clearer outside where the air is clean and quieter. Bright stars in a clear black sky remind me of nights on the island, and I realize I miss it there. That life was a lot simpler.
I decide to go see what Gio’s up to. He could probably use some help planning for the next trip. I was pretty excited about the first one, maybe I can rekindle that enthusiasm.
I don’t bother calling, just hop in my truck and head for the marina. It’s a lot nicer there than at the bar. The water slaps gently at the boats bobbing by the dock, and the only other sound is the dull thunk of their hulls bumping into the pilings. The air smells like fish and bird poop, but that reminds me of the island, too.
I stroll down the pier towards Gio’s boat, feeling better already just being here, but I almost have a heart attack when a middle-aged woman steps out of the shadows. I jump and yelp like a little girl, slapping my hand to my chest.
“Is this your boat?” She points at Gio’s ship.
“Uh, sort of? You’re probably looking for Gio.”
“You must be Jude.” Her smile is instantly familiar. She has long, dark hair and a pretty face, and I suck in a breath when I realize who she looks like. I shake my head, trying to clear it. I miss her so much, I’m seeing her face in everybody.
“Uh, do I know you?” I ask, remembering that she knew my name.
“No, but I think you know my daughter, Coral. My name is Pearl.”
I grab onto the side of the boat to keep from losing my balance. “Holy shit, she found you?”
She nods her head, a dreamy look on her face. “She told me all about you, and the others.”
“Come on aboard. I gotta sit down for this.” I jump onto the boat and hold a hand out to help her up. Once she’s up, I plop down on one of the benches and wave a hand towards the other one. The rocking motion of the boat isn’t helping with my dizziness.
She sits down and rubs her legs with her hands as she looks at me with a canary-eating grin on her face. I can’t stop gawking at her.
“Wait, is she with you? Is she okay?” I run a hand through my curls, messing them up, but that’s the last thing I’m thinking about.
Pearl’s face droops with worry and she shakes her head.
“Then where is she?” My face is twisted like a cartoon character.
“She was captured by some divers, but she escaped with the help of a merman. He brought her home and introduced her to me when he found out we were from the same shoal. We were both shocked when we realized the truth about our relationship.”
Pearl smiles again, and it’s so much like Coral’s smile it jabs me in the heart. But her smile disappears as she continues.
“She was desperate to get back to you four, but once I told her my side of the story, she became convinced that she needed to reveal the truth to the merfolk back at Persephone’s Cradle. Llyr, the merman who helped her, and I led her as close to the shoal as we could, but we couldn’t go in with her. Merfolk from other shoals aren’t welcome, and a curse prevents me from entering. After several days, Coral’s friend came to find me. She told me Coral is being held captive by her grandfather.”
“You want us to go rescue her,” I blurt out as soon as it dawns on me.
She nods solemnly. “You’re her only hope.”
“Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi.” I shake my head at the craziness of the situation, but a broad smile takes over my face. Hello, opportunity for greatness.
I rub a hand over my head and stand up, pulling my phone out of my pocket. “I think I need to call Gio.”
“What’s up, Jude?” His gruff voice tells me his mood hasn’t improved since I last saw him.
“There’s somebody here to see you.” I start pacing the length of the deck, adrenaline building up in my bloodstream.
“I’m busy, man. I’ve got Bella.”
“Take her home and get over here. It’s important. It’s Coral’s mother.”
Gio gasps. “Don’t say anything else. I’ll be there in twenty.” He hangs up on me.
I call Liam next, and he says he’s on his way.
Avery’s phone rings a dozen times, and it’s just about to go to voice mail when he answers with a groan.
“You feeling okay, A
very?” He sounds like he’s been swallowed by the swamp monster.
“I’ve been shot, how do you think I feel?”
“Well, I need you to get your bullet-riddled ass to the marina. Coral’s mother is here.”
I hear a thump that might be Avery falling out of the bed, then a rustling. Finally, Avery speaks again, this time sounding more like a human than a zombie. “Is Coral okay?”
“Just get down here.” There’s no quick way to answer that.
“They’re coming,” I tell Pearl as soon as I hang up. She smiles in satisfaction.
“You want a drink? Cuz I could sure use one.”
Half an hour later, Liam, Avery, and Gio are gawking at Pearl the same way I was a little while ago. I’m grinning now that I’m over the shock.
Her face is grim as she looks intently at each of us. “I won’t lie to you. Going there will be dangerous. Mermen are strong and vigilant. It won’t be easy to get to Coral. But there’s no one else who can help her.”
“I’m in,” I say without a moment’s hesitation, suddenly ignited with a sense of purpose. It’s amazing how one little sentence changed everything. Coral wants to be with us, and she needs us.
Gio and Liam both echo my enthusiasm, but Avery looks like he’s been punched in the gut.
Chapter 10
Gio
“I want to go with you.”
Her words are like warm water poured over my desiccated heart, and it bubbles over with happiness, but a cold rush of dread instantly freezes it into a block of ice. Those words are simultaneously the best and worst thing that could ever come out of Bella’s mouth.
I’ve been desperate to spend time with her ever since we came back from our last diving expedition, but once I told her we didn’t find the gold and it would probably be a while before she could move in with me, she’s been giving me the cold shoulder. Now she wants to be with me, when I’m getting ready to go on a dangerous mission she absolutely can’t know about?
I clench the steering wheel and grind my teeth as I stare into the night at the Wilson’s driveway. I barely recognize the guy reflected in the windshield. He looks weak, broken, and agonized.
Pain twists my features as I try to force the words out that I know will drive a deeper wedge between us. “I’m sorry, Bella, but I can’t take you this time. You have school, and I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone. Plus, these waters are dangerous. It’s going to take all my attention to keep my crew safe, and I don’t want to put you at risk.”
She tosses her long, dark hair and scowls at me, her face, and attitude, so much like my own. Am I that obnoxious?
“I can miss a couple days of school. It’s not that big a deal. And I’m not a child, you know. You won’t need to babysit me. I can even help some. Maybe I can join the team someday and we can dive together.”
Her words hammer at my frozen heart. That’s exactly what I’d dreamed of! Turning her down is torturous. What if she writes me off for good? I’m so tempted to say screw it, I’m not going, but I’d never be able to forgive myself if I didn’t do everything I could to save Coral. A huge chunk of my heart belongs to her, too.
I thought I’d get over her eventually. I figured once I accepted the loss of her I’d be able to move on. It’s not like she’s family, or anything. But losing her was almost as painful as losing my parents had been, and instead of getting better, I’ve just felt worse every day since we gave up looking for her. If I don’t go do this, I won’t be able to live with myself, with or without Bella.
“Bella, I’d love that. Really, I would. But not this time.” I stroke a hand down her cheek but she bats it away, crossing her arms over her chest and huffing at me.
I open my mouth to promise I’ll take her next time but shut it before I make that mistake. I can’t even promise her I’ll be back soon. What if I don’t come back at all? Pearl said it would be dangerous. A ton of bricks hits my chest at the thought of leaving Bella all alone in the world with no family left at all. I can’t let myself think about that, or I might talk myself out of going.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay? And we’ll do something fun when I get back.” That’s the best promise I can make.
She screws up her lips and glares at me. “Like what?”
“Like… whatever you want, Bella. I don’t know. You think about it, and we’ll do it.”
She rolls her eyes and opens her door, sliding out of the high seat. “Fine. Whatever. See you later.”
The door slams closed with a groan and a creak, and she traipses up the front walk without glancing back. I resist the urge to run after her and squeeze her till her guts come out, but I don’t want to clue her in to how worried I am about this trip. I console myself with the thought that she would have given me a hug goodbye if she had any idea this might be the last time she saw me.
I throw the truck in reverse and squeal away, taking out my frustrations on the accelerator. The taillights and stoplights in front of me blur into a kaleidoscope of red, green, and yellow smudges. Is it raining? I tap my windshield wiper, but it doesn’t help. When a drop of moisture drips onto my cheek, I swipe a big, rough hand across my eyes, and the lights come back into focus.
We take off early the next morning while the sun is rising hot and steamy out of the water. The warm rays fight with the cool breeze blowing past us as we cut through the sea. Jude, Liam, and Avery are all on deck with me, staring out into the endless stretch of ocean in front of us. It feels right being back together with them in a way I never would’ve imagined. Somehow, loving Coral has bound us all together.
Jude looks excited, Liam looks nervous, and Avery looks like a whipped puppy.
“You sure you want to go with us, Avery? We understand if you need to stay home and rest.” I reach to put a hand on his shoulder but drop it when he flinches. Right. Bullet wound.
“It’s not like I’m gonna do anything strenuous. If I can’t dive with you guys, I at least want to be here.”
“What about your new job? Were they cool with you taking time off already?” Jude asks, and Avery cringes.
“I’ve got all the time I need.” Avery’s pretty face is twisted into a snarl.
Liam raises an eyebrow at him. “What does that mean?”
“My shoulder gave out on me, and I passed out and dropped a curling iron on an old lady. She threw a fit, demanded they fire me.”
“They fired you for that? But it was an accident!” I growl.
“Well, they didn’t say I was fired, but when I explained that my shoulder was injured, my boss said I should go home since I obviously couldn’t handle the job. When I told her I’d be back the next day, she said, ‘we’ll let you know when we need you.’ I’m pretty sure that’s code for never.”
“Shit, I’m sorry, Avery.” I feel so guilty for Avery’s injury. It wasn’t intentional, but it never should’ve happened. It wouldn’t have if I’d been more cautious. Man, I feel terrible about that.
I’m kind of surprised that Liam is here, too. He just started back to school. It’s probably not a good time for him to be taking several days off. But I guess he feels the same way the rest of us do. Coral needs us, and we can’t let her down.
I think we’d do it anyway, even if Coral chose to stay in the sea and live with her mother, but our motivation doubled when Pearl told us Coral wanted to come back to the land to be with us. Every single one of us would risk our life to get her back.
The guys and I spend the entire trip on edge, worrying about how this will go down. We’re so anxious, we’re biting each others’ heads off. But once we reach the coordinates Pearl gave us and I anchor the ship, I find the guys huddled together in silent camaraderie. There’s something about sharing Coral that makes our differences seem petty.
I pushed the boat as fast as it could go, so there’s still daylight left. I’m tired from navigating all day, but I’m so anxious about getting to Coral that I don’t even think about suggesting we wait till the morning to get star
ted.
Besides, Jude and Liam are obviously ready to get going. They’re already in their wetsuits, and they each have a pack tied around their waist with a few tools they might need, including a hefty knife.
Pearl said the merfolk in her home shoal don’t have weapons; there’s no need for them. They’ve gone undetected by humans for thousands of years, and they have no enemies. Plus, the king is opposed to anything human. Hopefully that means we can get in and out without a lot of resistance. I hope it doesn’t come to violence, but I’m not opposed to hurting anyone who tries to stop me.
I slip on my suit and scuba gear, too. “Okay, guys, you ready to do this?” I move to the dive platform and pull on my mask.
Liam opens his mouth, and I’m sure he wants to review the plan one more time, but we’ve gone over it a hundred times, and I’m too worked up to talk it through anymore. I’m ready for action.
“We’ve got it, Liam. Let’s just do this.” I slap him on the back then jump in with a big splash. Jude follows right behind me. Liam joins us a moment later. The cold water stings my body into hyperdrive.
We’ve anchored far enough away that hopefully our boat won’t be noticed, but that means we have a bit of a swim. Pearl drew us a simple map of the shoal from memory, pointing out the weak points, but she hasn’t been there in 20 years, so who knows how accurate it is.
She told us there are guards around the outer perimeter, but they’re on the lookout for merfolk who tend to swim higher up in open water. She said we should be able to get past them if we stay low to the ground and swim through the maze of coral.
Once we get closer, we drop down low into the coral till we spot the nearby guards. There’s a big gap between the nearest two, and a lot of ocean for them to scan. They look bored and apathetic like they know the odds are nil they’ll ever see any action. That makes it easier for us to slip past them when they’re looking the other direction.
We kick our way around the mounds of colorful coral, careful not to get too close. Some of those suckers are wickedly sharp and jagged. I can hear my heart beat, quick but steady, and the whoosh and bubbling of air with each focused breath. Otherwise, the reef is silent. With limited vision due to our masks and the surrounding coral, we have to hope that no one is around to spot us, because we can’t see more than a few feet in front of us.
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