Page 224 of Irreversible

Don’t die.

By the time I snapped out of my jealous spiral and realized Jasper Cross was goading me into following them, I was almost too late. The bane of my existence—The fuckingTimekeeper,himself—is here.

“Come on…”I grit my teeth, pushing the boat faster.

When I arrived, the show was underway. Unsure of Vincent’s plan, I had to clear the building of bystanders before more innocents suffered. As I realized Everly was not in the crowd, I caught a glimpse of one of Vincent’s men pulling away from the marina. That’s when I was intercepted by another man.

By the time I dispatched him, the boat was gone.

Now I’m searching for a mid-sized yacht with a head start.

There was no time to call for backup; I had to grab a boat and go. If I let them get much farther ahead, I’ll never find them.

She’s with him. He’s taken her.

I can feel it.

After a few minutes of searching the marina, I found a small center-console whose owner thought stashing a key in a hidden compartment was safe. Fortunately, I know enough to fake my way around a boat, andSeptember Dawnis easy to handle. Fast, too.

Now, to make up for lost time.

It helps that there’s only one direction they’d be going. It would be ideal if Everly had her phone, but with no way to track her, I’ll have to settle for the next best thing. Luckily,Dawnhas radar. I hit a button and turn it on, watching dots of different shapes and sizes light the screen, and head for the monster looming dead ahead: The Golden Gate Bridge.

Beyond it, an even bigger monster.

The Pacific Ocean.

When the building was evacuated, Vincent knew I was on his tail. Taking Everly is his insurance policy. My options are limited if he keeps her close.

She’s become my weakness.

Vincent isn’t stupid, so he’ll use whatever tools he can get. First, he used her as a distraction—and now, she’s bait.

Time to turn the tables in my favor.

This is one mission I can’t fail.

I made a promise.

This bastard is mine.

The currents beneath the bridge can be deadly to a smaller boat, but the tide is slack right now, so I have a chance. Carefully, I navigate beneath the steel giant and through the Golden Gate Strait. Above, its glut of passengers travel at a snail’s pace, oblivious.

The Pacific stretches out endlessly on the other side. Vincent’s cruiser can’t be far ahead, and I’m still faster.Be good to me, Dawn.

A horn sounds.

I glance at the radar; there’s a boat ahead. A shot of adrenaline to my system.

My fingers clench around the steering wheel, relaxing when a yacht four times bigger than the one I’m searching for comes into view.

The gravity of my task looms like the bridge behind me.

I’m searching for a needle in a fucking ocean.

The rain comes down harder, pooling on deck. The waves become choppier. Despite the weather shift, there are a few vessels around me. Nothing of the right size showing on radar yet, so I push farther. Faster.

I don’t get a promising lead until?—

---