not numb. I feel the brutality of Flynn’s death, and it hurts. It’s personal.
I watch helplessly as our worthy ally’s soul is pulled away to hell by demon spirits, and my rage threatens to make us known. I watch as Z’s teeth chatter and Anna goes limp with grief in my arms. I watch as Blake has lost all remnants of humor, and even Kope’s face is desolate. I hate that we must sit here in silence, vulnerable and defenseless.
How much more can we take of this? How many more of us must die before we can act?
I’ve never been more relieved than when the Dukes leave the island. Anna’s frozen stiff as I hoist her onto the dock with my weakened arms. My sore muscles ache as I pull her into my lap and bring Zania closer to Anna. Kope and Blake quickly leave us for the other side of the island, with the hope of retrieving Blake’s boat as fast as possible. Anna and Zania’s shaking has become violent, and they can hardly open their eyes.
“Shit—I think you have hypothermia.” I rub Anna’s arms, but she’s soaked through. I know the wet clothes are supposed to come off, but I need to wait until she’s in the boat. I surround her with my arms and she encircles Zania weakly. “It’s okay,” I say. “You’ll be all right now. The boat is nearly here.”
Hurry, hurry, hurry.
The boat finally docks and Kope jumps off. Together we rush the girls down into the cabin. My first instinct is to put them on the bed, but they’re soaked. I set Anna in a chair, and Kope follows my lead.
“Can we get the heat on down here?” I call up to Blake. “We need to get them out of these wet clothes.”
“I’m trying to figure it out!” he yells back. “I might need some help up here. Can one of you guys find the extra blankets?”
I squeeze Anna’s hand. “I’ll be right back, luv. We’re going to get you warm.” With eyes closed and jaw rattling, she nods.
I take a running leap up the stairs and find Blake shivering at the panels. “The heat’s not labeled. I’ve never had to use it.” We try different switches until we finally figure it out. Then we run about readying the boat so it doesn’t drift away while we’re thawing. When I go back down the stairs I can hear the heater cranking, and I’m so ready to get Anna dry and warm.
What I see stops me in my tracks. Kopano is taking off Anna’s shorts. His hand is on her calf. Anger rumbles through me at this blatant act of intimacy.
I can barely get the words out. “Get. Your. Bloody hands. Off her.”
He freezes, caught. I am shaking all over now. It is my job to care for Anna. My job to touch her. Only me. All of my unvoiced fury over his betrayal comes back, full force, driven by the day’s horrific events.
He always knew how I felt for her, and yet he still pursued. Even now he thinks he has the right to touch her.
Kopano moves away and stands to face me. The girls, like mannequins, open their eyes and stare blearily up at us.
“She is in the worst condition.” Kope points to Anna. “The wet clothing must be removed—”
“Not by you! I can’t believe you’d take advantage of this situation.”
Deep down, I know the truth. I know he was not making any kind of advance, but the familiarity and openness he shares with Anna kills me. I want it gone once and for all. I can’t handle her being close to any other man. Anna would point out my own insecurities, but whatever it is, I’m feeling irrational and I just can’t stop. I need to be mad.
Kope’s eyes slant at me, seething. “You go too far, brother!”
Seeing his wrath ignited thrills me. I move forward, and so does he. It would feel bloody good to throw a wobbler right now—to pummel each other until we’re too tired and sore to be angry anymore. I owe Kope an arse-kicking, plain and simple, for kissing my girl when I couldn’t be in the picture.
“You will never touch her again.”
Kope’s badge is pulsing dangerously. I’m ready, fists clenched, blood and adrenaline rushing through me at a dizzying speed. We are face-to-face, anger growing, until we’re suddenly shoved apart and Blake is looking back and forth between us. His intervention causes my hearing to clear