Master of the Deep
Page 14
She wrapped both her hands around one of his. “Probably just the way the light hit the water. It’s surreal, isn’t it? This is the most peaceful place on the planet, I think. You must be so happy to live here.”
At the moment, the answer to that was a resounding no, but he made a noise that could be interpreted however she wanted. If he could eliminate his emotional feelings surrounding the estate, he might feel the same way, but that would never happen. Not now. This place was ruined for him, and after he fulfilled his obligations as a shark and a father, he would never return.
As they walked through the mansion, he felt the weight on his chest grow heavier.
“You got rid of the broken shelf? I was thinking… all this space, it’s a shame you don’t have any pets. Even an aquarium,” Monroe was saying, and Koenraad stopped suddenly.
Aquarium. That was the answer.
Several feet ahead, Monroe turned to look at him, and while he was acutely aware of her—was always aware—he barely saw her.
There was still a chance to save Brady. It wouldn’t be easy…
“What is it?” Monroe asked.
“I was thinking about aquariums.” He felt disgusted with himself as he said it. He would never want to live in a tank. Great white sharks died in captivity… but not right away. He had a contact at the Tureygua aquarium. He could hide Brady there, in plain sight. It was the only place a dangerous shark would never come into contact with humans.
But was he doing this for Brady, or for himself?
For Brady, he decided. For the boy who loved to build model ships. For the boy who had been excited when his father had found him six months earlier. For his son, who had listened and understood when Koenraad explained why he should stay in the inlet. Brady wasn’t violent. That was the shark, and Brady was a victim.
“I can help you set it up,” Monroe said brightly. “I mean, if you want.”
He barely heard her, but he nodded. He should consider the aquarium more of a boarding school than a prison. And if Spencer was right, if BioAmbition could successfully adapt the treatment, then Brady could shift human within a few months, and Koenraad would take him as far from water as possible. To the Kalahari Desert if need be. No one would ever have to know what Brady had done, and no one would be at risk of an attack.
He would call Spencer, tell him to forget secrecy about what BioAmbition was working on, explain that speed was all that mattered.
He would get his son back. He’d fought too hard to lose him now. And if BioAmbition didn’t show signs of panning out quickly, then he would reevaluate.
“Koenraad?”
“I’m fine,” he said with a smile, but he could sense her unease. He caught her face in his hands and stared fiercely into her eyes. “Thank you, Monroe.”
“For what?”
He didn’t have the words to answer that, and he needed to silence the voices in his head, so instead of talking or thinking, he dipped low and kissed her soft, sweet mouth until everything in the world felt right.
~ ~ ~
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