Page 46 of Sheltered By Love

I start to shake my head, but he grabs the phone and shoves it in my hand.

“A kid is missing at sea, Felicity. Take the damn phone. It can’t hurt you. It doesn’t even have web capabilities.”

He spares me a single glance before he rushes out the door.

Zane

In Blueskin Bay when someone is in trouble at sea, everyone is in trouble. It’s no surprise to find half a dozen volunteers all ready and waiting.

My Pathfinder comes to a skidding stop right outside the surf club where Search and rescue are located.

Jax and Levi have dropped everything, have the boat moored to the jetty, and are waiting on me.

“Where was he last seen?” I ask Jax.

“Out past the heads. His old man says he took the boat out without asking.”

I shrug into my lifejacket as I search the onlookers gathering around. Garrett is busy talking to the boy’s distraught mom, but his dad is pacing and looking furious.

Same as my dad, Ethan’s a fourth-generation lobsterman, but unlike my father, he has no time for his youngest son, Noah, and uses every opportunity he gets to drink.

I don’t spare another thought for Ethan, just jump aboard, and bob my head at Levi.

Weather conditions can change in minutes. The sky is already darkening so Levi doesn’t mess around.

The second we’re out of the harbor, he opens the throttle and makes straight for the last known sighting of the dinghy.

Other than communication by radio with other boats in the area, we’re silent, Jax taking the port side of the boat, me starboard side, both of us using binoculars so we can see in as many directions as possible.

I check my watch and wince as Levi casts me a look. It’s getting late. Someone should have spotted him by now.

None of us want to think Noah’s lost. But it happens. A dinghy, a freak wave, and even an experienced sailor could wind up in trouble.

The radio crackles and we all snap our heads toward Levi who picks up. His forehead is creased, and he looks about as serious as I’ve ever seen him.

He may mess around and play the goof, but never when involved in a SAR op.

“This is SAR, go ahead,” he says.

“Levi, this is the Captain of the Wave Runner. Found the little bugger. You want us to bring him in?” comes the response.

As Jax looks skyward and seems to breathe a prayer, a little of my unease loosens as Levi gets the coordinates. “Negative Wave Runner. Keep him in your sights, we’ll pick him up and tow his rig back to shore. Can you let his folks know he’s safe and sound?”

The captain responds in the affirmative and Levi turns hard to port.

After ten minutes and a lot of confirmation from boats in the area a storm is rolling in we arrive covered in salty spray at the dinghy.

It’s sole occupant is shivering, miserable, and red-eyed from crying, but none of us are going to draw attention to that.

Jax hauls him out singlehandedly by his lifejacket and even manages a smile as he does it. “Need any help?” he says.

Noah gives him a wobbly nod. “The engine seized and I’m taking on water. My phone went flat.”

Jax glances at me but neither of us says a word. There’s a strong undertow and it was blind luck the Wave Runner found him before he drifted into the strait.

Another hour and he’d have been lost at sea.

Noah is shaking so hard, and looks so embarrassed, only an unfeeling prick would make him feel worse. His father will do a good enough job of that.

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