Page 20 of Pax

“Enrico.”

“Where are you taking him?” Pax asked the EMT.

“We’ll take him to Coronado Medical,” he said. “He’ll be examined there, and we’ll try to find out if he has any other family.”

“We’d like to speak to him further,” said Pax.

“Dude, like I said, he’s not the first. This is a problem we’re having right now with illegals trying to come in any way they can.”

“Dude,” said Pax harshly. “Illegals don’t chain themselves to boats, nor do they intentionally sink those boats. This is the second one I’ve come across like this, and you’re telling me there were others. So, forgive me, but I don’t give a fuck what you think. I want to speak to the boy.”

“Fine, geez!”

“Pax, we’ll spend some time with the boy and try to gather more information. Let them get him to the hospital and see what other injuries he’s got. Right now, hypothermia is taking hold of his little body, and it’s going to kill him if we don’t hurry. I’m going to call Cam and Luke. Let them know what’s happening here. They might want to send a few more folks.”

“We’ll head back to the house to wait for everyone,” said Alice. “I’ll get some more of the rooms ready and make sure there’s enough sleeping space for everyone. We probably need more food.”

“I’ll head to the grocery store,” said Annie.

“I’ll go with you. Two people can carry a lot more than one,” nodded Deanna. She gripped Pax’s hand, kissing him. “I love you. Be careful.”

“I love you, too. Go. Mom and Alice know what to do. Just prep for at least four or five more people coming.” As the women left the beach, Pax looked at his brother, father, Saint, and Bogey. “Well?”

“Something is seriously fucked up.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

By the time Annie and Deanna were back from the grocery store, Alice had all the bedrooms ready for their new guests. She wasn’t sure how many would arrive, but she knew it would be a crowd.

Rollaway beds and cots were made up, fresh towels placed in the bathrooms, and all the groceries put away while they were deciding on something for dinner.

“I’ll start something for dinner,” said Deanna.

“Make it easy, honey. A big casserole or something,” said Alice.

“Lasagna?”

“Perfect,” smiled Annie. “Deanna? If I haven’t said it yet, I’m glad you’re going to be a part of our family. You’re perfect for Pax and we always knew that you would be. Unfortunately, my sons have very, very hard heads.”

“Thank you,” she said, smiling at the other woman. “I’ve always loved him. We were being so stupid, not keeping up with one another.”

“I know a thing or two about that,” smirked Alice. “I let my sister interfere with Bogey and me. I regret all the time we lost, but we’re here now, happy and living the life we always dreamed.”

“You know, I wonder if my parents lived the life they dreamed. They kept that small tax and accounting business going for more than thirty years, never spending a dime for themselves. I hated that for them.”

“Didn’t you take vacations?” asked Alice.

“Not really. Dad’s idea of a vacation was taking a long weekend and going to Biloxi or Gulf Shores, something drivable. Then, not telling me about what was happening with Douglass and the others. It was just too much. I don’t understand.”

“We try to protect our children, right or wrong, Deanna. I know that my husband and son are retired Navy SEALs, but it didn’t stop me from praying for them as they swam out to that boy. They’re good, but you can’t beat the ocean, and if the rip currents had taken them, we might be standing here having a different conversation. I think your folks were just trying to protect you, that’s all.”

“I get that, really, I do. It’s just that in the end, they put me in more danger by not trusting me enough to tell me what was going on with their business.”

“You have to forgive them,” said Alice. “If you want to truly move forward and create a life for you and Pax, you have to forgive your parents and move on.”

“I know,” she started. The front door opened, and the women stepped into the foyer. Pax, Brax, Saint, Bogey, and Benji were all staring at them.

“How is he? How’s the boy?” asked Deanna.

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