Page 53 of Casey's Hero

Minutes that felt like hours passed. Soon, she could see the outline of a boat ahead. Hope swelled in her chest. They were going to make it.

The skiff slowed and came up to the back of what appeared to be a dive boat. Half the team that had been inside the compound stood on the deck, cheering as the skiff came to a halt. One of the men grabbed the line and tied it to the side of the boat.

A big blond-haired man held out his hand and pulled her aboard.

Jacob scrambled up on his own, wrapped his arm around her and guided her inside. Kalea and Hawk were seated on a bench.

Kalea opened the blanket she was wrapped in. “Come. Sit by me. The Pacific is cold at night, even this far south.”

Casey sat on the bench beside her and pulled the blanket over her shoulders. She hadn’t realized how cold she was until that moment. Her teeth chattered, her head throbbed and she couldn’t seem to get warm.

Jacob sat beside her and slipped his arm around her back. “I suspect you’re going into shock after all you’ve been through. Hold on. We’ll get you back on Oahu as soon as we possibly can.” He scooted closer, sandwiching her between himself and Kalea.

She could feel the movement of the boat beneath her. The gentle rocking motion lulled her into semi-consciousness.

What seemed like only minutes later, Jacob nudged her awake. “We’re back.”

She blinked her eyes open to the lights of a marina.

The Brotherhood Protectors team had stripped out of their wetsuits and wore street clothes. Sometime during the ride back, Jacob had changed into jeans and a T-shirt. The men climbed off the dive boat, laughing and joking as they carried their gear to the vehicles that would transport them back to Reid’s house.

“Hawk, you and Kalea can ride with me,” Jacob said. “I’d like to run all three of you by an urgent care clinic to make sure you’re all okay. I want a doctor to make sure there are no wounds that need stitching or internal injuries that will bite you later.”

“I’m okay, just bruised and maybe a cracked rib. I don’t need to see a doctor,” Hawk said. “But I’m all for the ladies getting a good once-over from a physician.”

His bride frowned. “I’d rather you saw one, too. Can’t have my future husband passing out at the altar before he can say ‘I do’.”

“Well, when you put it like that, I guess I could see a doc to put your mind at ease.”

Kalea sighed. “Thank you.”

They stopped at a twenty-four-hour urgent care clinic where the doctor on duty checked them over, bandaged Casey’s head wound, and pronounced them fit for a wedding—if they took it easy and watched for signs of a concussion.

“I’ll drop you two off at the hotel before I take Casey to her apartment,” Jacob said as they left the urgent care clinic.

“That works.” Hawk took Kalea’s hand in his. “I don’t care how much bad luck it might bring to see you before the wedding. I’m not letting you out of my sight until we’re back on the Big Island.”

Kalea laughed. “Seems like we’ve already lived through the bad luck. It’s about time for some good luck.”

“Agreed,” Casey said.

Jacob slipped his arm around her waist and led her to the parking lot where he’d left his truck. He hit the button to unlock the doors and helped her up into the passenger seat while Hawk and Kalea climbed into the back seat.

Once they were on their way through town toward the hotel, Hawk asked, “How did you find me?”

“It was a team effort between Hank, his computer guy, Swede, Casey’s dogged determination and a hairdresser with attitude.”

“A hairdresser?” Hawk laughed. “I want to hear all about it. Later. Right now, I just want to sleep for eight hours straight.”

“Me, too,” Kalea said. “My father will have gotten to the hotel by now. I don’t think I have the energy to stand up to his inquisition. He’ll have a fit when he finds out what happened.”

Casey glanced at the clock on the dash. “You guys sleep. I’ll take care of everything.”

“Will you?” Kalea asked. “I thought you had my entire day blocked out with wedding preparations I needed to be a part of.”

“I did, but we can adjust.” Casey’s thoughts went through her mental list of tasks to be accomplished. It was a lot, but she could get it done. A few phone calls, and she might even get a couple of hours of sleep herself. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll make sure everything comes together.”

“You’re an angel.” Kalea sat back in Hawk’s arms. “After I sleep, I’ll be ready for anything.”

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