Page 37 of Waves of Fury

“We have to save it,” I grunt, dropping my ax to the rooftop beside me.

Kellen finally breaks his silence and whips around to glower at me. “Are you kidding me? You’re not swimming in that wateragain.”

Ignoring him, I yank off my backpack, jeans, shirt, and shoes. Once I’m ready to swim, I make it to the edge of the building to assess the murky, churning water below the surface.

Kellen’s footsteps crunch on the loose gravel behind me. His hand curls around my bicep and squeezes.

“I said no,” he growls.

Snapping my head to look at him over my shoulder, I bite back, “You’re not my boss, Kell. You may be theirs, but you’re not mine. I’m going to rescue that dog.”

A flash of terror gleams in his eyes, lurking behind his sudden anger. “You can’t! You’ll get yourself killed just like Frannie and Brian!”

“I’m saving the damn dog. End of story.”

His jaw muscle ticks as he affixes a hardened glare on me. It may work with his subordinates, but not on me. That dog will die unless I help it. It’s all alone with no food or water.

I pull my gaze from Kellen’s and survey the choppy waters once more. If there were sharks, I’d see their dorsal fins. I think I’m more at risk from debris and actual buildings beneath the surface than another shark encounter. Still, a shiver of apprehension skitters down my spine.

“Please,” Kellen rasps out. “Don’t do this. I can’t save you if shit goes south.”

“I don’t need rescuing,” I grunt out.

He opens his mouth to argue some more, but I use the element of surprise to my advantage. I tug from his grasp, take a running jump, and then land feet first into the water, which is better than headfirst.

Quickly, I kick back up to the surface, not eager to be underwater so soon after my near drowning. When I emerge, I can hear Kellen bellowing my name behind me. A wave swells toward me and I barely keep my head above it.

The dog starts barking in earnest now that it sees me in the water. I take a huge breath before swimming hard against the wave. Once I make it over it, I let it pull me toward the building where the dog is making its presence known to the world. Kellen doesn’t stop hollering my name, which is mildly annoying but easily ignored.

Something scrapes against my leg and I shudder to wonder just what all is floating around beneath the surface. There could be jagged pieces of metal or hunks of concrete or massive glass shards. Not to mention dead bodies and sharks. In the water is not my favorite place to be, but I can’t leave the poor dog all alone.

If Jesse were here, he’d get that dog.

I’m doing this for my brother.

The swell of another wave sends me hurtling to my destination but quicker than I expect. I hit the side of the concrete on the building, knocking the breath out of me. Something hard bangs into my arm.

That’s going to leave a bruise.

Grunting with exertion, I fight against the waters as I’m tossed continuously against the side of the building until I reach the fire escape. The dog is on the landing another level up. When I finally climb from the water, I’m battered and exhausted. I don’t know how in the hell I’ll make my way back with a dog in tow. Didn’t really think that one through too well.

“Tyler!”

Kellen is pissed based on the way he stalks up and down the ledge of the roof like a ferocious lion. So much for apocalypse partners. Guilt niggles at me for going rogue. I really fucked that one up.

The dog howls pitifully and scratches at the metal, trying to get to me. I take my focus off Kellen and use the last of my energy to climb the ladder until I reach the landing. I step over the railing and don’t even have to bend all the way down to pick up the dog. It launches itself several feet from the ground right into my arms. A laugh bursts out of me as it starts licking my chin and jaw.

“Hey there,” I say, grinning at the happy pup. “And just yesterday, I didn’t think you liked me in the elevator.”

The dog yaps, tongue lolling out before licking me again. I squeeze it to me, kissing the top of its furry head. Its collar jingles, drawing my attention. I grab hold of the metal circle hanging from the soaked collar to look for its name. Pretzel.

“Pretzel? Is that your name, buddy?”

Pretzel howls and whines. I snuggle him to me. Since his owner is nowhere to be found, I’d say it’s safe to assume she perished when the tsunami hit. There’s no telling how long this poor dog was here, exposed to the elements without food or water. My heart aches knowing he was all alone.

“Not anymore,” I murmur. “You’ve got me now.”

“Tyler!”

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