Page 21 of Brighter than the Boss
"Settle down, guards. We have important things to discuss." His gruff voice startled me, silencing the room, and making us all swivel to the front in a hurry.
Ivan and Cain stood at the front of the room, arms crossed without a smile or good morning. Especially for Ivan, that was unusual.
"You may have seen it on the news on the way in today. We got a call there was a series of small earthquakes early this morning off the coast. Normally earthquakes that only hit three point zero on the Richter scale don't factor into a tsunami warning, but since these were a cluster of small quakes, and they were of the strike-slip variety, we felt the need to warn our crew." Ivan paused and let that sink in.
The minute he said the word “tsunami,” my heart started pumping faster, which it normally did around Cain, but this time, it was laced with fear. As a beach lifeguard, you're fully trained on what to do in a tsunami warning, but due to the large-scale evacuations necessary, you couldn't practice that training. It was all theory, which was the most dangerous training of all. The protocols in a book based on theory alone rarely held up in practical demonstration. The risk of mass hysteria, injury, and death were huge for a populated area like the one I was responsible for along with my fellow lifeguards.
My leg started a rhythmic shaking under the table.
Cain picked up where Ivan left off. "Scientists have speculated that underwater landslides that don't create much of a quake could still create a tsunami effect, though to a lesser degree. Let me be clear: there is no tsunami warning as of right now." He looked around the room to make sure we were all on the same page. "I want you hyper focused today and alert. Anything seems off, you call it in. If we get word of an official warning, you'll be the first to know. Understood?"
Everyone started talking at once, firing questions at the two men. My senses went into hyperdrive, sensing danger. Everyone needed to be calm if we were to get an actual tsunami warning. I didn't know my coworkers well enough yet to know if they had what it took. Cain raised his hand and the questions died off immediately.
"You would not be in this room if I didn't feel you could handle everything that may come our way today. You do not panic. You do not falter. Our job is the same as it's always been: we save lives. Whether that's pulling out a kid from a wave that was too big for him or helping people evacuate the beach. You're trained for this. We're all counting on you." His eyes brooked no argument. "Now one at a time, give me your educated questions that will help us all in our jobs today."
A few hands flew up and Cain called on them one by one, offering suggestions, strict orders, and encouragement. By the time we left that room to take our stations, we all knew exactly what to look for, what to do, and how to do it. My hands may have had a bit of a tremor to them as I grabbed my things and headed out to my assigned tower, but I was mentally ready for anything.
Despite the anxiety that coated my every thought as I opened up my tower for the day, I couldn't help but be proud of the leader Cain obviously was. If the day left any room for quiet contemplation, I'd be thinking about how hot he looked commanding the room like a bronzed god ready to lead his lifeguard army and take on the entirety of the ocean.
There was definitely more to this man than he let on.
And I was about to find out exactly how much more.
10
Cain
The Global Tsunami Warning System announcements blared in the background, Ivan was talking on the phone to one of our guards in the roaming truck making sure all exits were indeed clear as they were supposed to be, and I had my eyes trained on the computer screen in front of me. All of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego County were now officially in a Tsunami Watch, the yellow alert having just been shared to all my lifeguards, on and off duty. If this thing advanced to an Advisory, we'd need all hands on deck to get the public evacuated and moved to safety.
Ivan nudged me, then leaned down to whisper, "I know it's not a thing yet, but I'm not taking chances. I texted Esa to close up shop and get to higher ground. She's rounding up the Squad girls too. Just wanted you to know I broke protocol."
I looked up, saw his jaw set, knowing I'd do the same if it was my girl. Civilians weren't to be informed of anything when it was simply a yellow alert. There was no way I could be mad though, especially because I knew the girls would be smart enough not to start a public panic. I'd been wracking my own brain how I could get Sunny off the beach sooner rather than later without making it obvious. I nodded to Ivan, letting him know I understood and wasn't going to call him on it, then went back to glancing between the monitor and our detailed evacuation plans. Lord knew I broke a few protocols with Sunny the last few weeks.
My entire team of lifeguards—made up of my best friends—plus the general public expecting nothing more than a fun day jumping waves in the sun, were depending on me and other public servants to have their shit together should disaster strike. I held my guards to a high standard. I held myself to an even higher one. No matter how much I wanted to haul Sunny off the beach, caveman style, I would focus on my damn job.
One by one, the lifeguards on the towers called in that they'd put out the yellow flag and were proceeding to pull in the swimmers and surfers. We wouldn't evacuate the beach until the official Tsunami Advisory was called, but in the meantime, we'd be ready to mobilize. Having everyone out of the water was the first step to getting everyone to higher ground quickly.
The radio screeched again, Sunny's calm and confident voice carrying out through the speaker. "Tower five flag up. Entering the water."
I'd assigned her the tower closest to the Headquarters building where I knew I'd be most of the day. Her tower was also flanked by two of our best lifeguards, having been with us for years. She was still way too close to the water for my peace of mine, but that would have to do for now.
Tense minutes passed while everyone in Headquarters hunkered down to watch the computer screens, man the phones, and go over the official procedures until they were drilled in our heads. The lifeguards on towers gave updates as they cleared citizens from the water. All was going according to plan.
The phone on my desk squawked at half past noon. I picked it up, knowing this would be either a relieved call or a call that put everything in motion.
"Lieutenant Cain."
"Tsunami Advisory in effect. Thirty-minute countdown. Repeat. Tsunami Advisory, Code Orange, in effect. Thirty minutes to landfall."
"Copy. Beach Evacuation Plan to follow. Over."
Ivan jumped up, all eyes on him as I finished the call. He circled his arm in the air and hollered out, "Orange!" Everyone sprang into action, knowing we were no longer just going over protocols in a hypothetical situation.
We were initiating them.
I grabbed the radio and broadcast to all my lifeguards. "Tsunami Advisory has been called. Orange flags. Proceed with Beach Evacuation. Repeat. Tsunami Advisory. Clear the beach immediately." I paused, taking one final deep breath, knowing I wouldn't have time for another till the day was over. "We've got thirty minutes, guards. Let's do this."
I threw down the radio and followed Ivan out the door, making sure my portable radio was on and hooked to my shoulder as I ran. Communication with my guards would be paramount. My lifeguards would look out for the civilians, but my job also included making sure my guards got out in time.
