Page 160 of The Best of Us

We broke the surface a second later.

My lungs burned. My limbs felt like lead. But I gritted my teeth and pulled him over to the rocks. Somehow, with my last ounce of strength, I got him up onto the ledge beside Lennon.

She was shaking—wet, cold, and in shock.

Daniel coughed, water spilling from his lips as I climbed up with them.

I used my knife to cut Lennon’s bindings. “Get under that ledge,” I directed, pointing to a cove in the rocks. “There might still be gunfire overhead.” I turned to check on Daniel just as?—

Crack.The force slammed into my back, the kinetic energy transferring through my vest like a hammer against my spine and ribs.

I lost my breath. My balance. Dropped to my knees.

Lennon’s face twisted in terror. She lunged for me. Slipped on the wet rock as my world tilted.

The last thing I saw was her hand reaching for mine as I slipped off the ledge.

Chapter54

Juliette

Five Minutes Before

Colin narratedeverything like a podcaster calling a UFC fight. I was relieved he didn’t seem terrified, but it also terrifiedmethat he wasn’t scared.

“Holy shit! Did you see that?” Colin was on his feet, standing behind Gwen and Izzy, gripping the backs of their chairs as he watched the different camera angles they had displayed. “Damnnnn.”

I didn’t even bother to correct his language. At this point, why?

I wasn’t watching along with him. The rocking of the yacht was already messing with my stomach, but add the anxiety of knowing my loved ones were out there risking their lives? Nope, I was good.

Honestly, I would’ve preferred even more of anignorance is blisssituation, but my son’s play-by-play wouldn’t allow that.

“Holding up?” Izzy glanced at me on the couch, and all I could do was offer a fake nod. “They’re inside the house. It’ll be over soon,” she assured me.

So Colin’s said.

“Ope, a guard is rounding the corner with a knife.” Colin practically vibrated in anticipation, shifting back and forth on the balls of his feet like he was about to Mike Tyson his way in and take on the enemy himself. “Uncle Alessandro’s got this. Ohhhsnap.”

I peeked at the screen as Alessandro dodged a knife aimed at his ribs. He stepped inside the attack, trapped the man’s knife arm between his forearms, pivoted, and twisted to dislocate the guy’s shoulder before slamming him into the wall. After an elbow to the attacker’s throat, Alessandro slit it.

“Lovely.” I definitely regretted my curiosity. “This is notCOD, by the way,” I reminded Colin.

“You’re right. Those assholes aren’t zombies who can get back up again,” he replied, unbothered.

Yup.He was mentally reframing this into a game. I had a feeling if he didn’t, his anxiety would gut him the way it was me. Coping mechanisms for the win.

“They’re moving like phantoms, taking everyone down one by one,” he added, eyes locked onto the action.

“You’re my brother’s kid, all right,” Izzy said with a nod of approval while poking him in the side. “You’ll make a hell of a fighter one day.” She made eye contact with me and instantly winced. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine.” I waved a dismissive hand, even though casual was not something I could easily pull off. “His choices are his.”

Colin peeked over at me, brows raised in clearso you’re saying there’s a chancemischief.

I shut that down real quick. “When you’re eighteen and out of my house, that is.”

As Gwen guided the teams, Izzy encouraged Colin to come around on her side, then pointed at something. “Sebastian’s about to go to work. His target’s grandfather is the one who had my mom kidnapped back in the day. Long before I was ever born.”

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