Devil and the Deep (The Ceruleans Book 4) - Julie Ann Walker Page 0,53

eyes had adjusted. “Should’ve known.”

Alex didn’t bristle or take offense. She grinned and held out the last of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Mason hesitated for a whole half second before accepting it. He shoved the entire thing in his mouth. “Thanks. I’m starving.”

“See.” Alex waved a hand at Mason. “This man has sense.”

Bran rolled his eyes. “So did the signal work? Were you able to get LT on the marine radio?” he asked Mason.

“Ya-huh.” Mason nodded, motioning for Alex to make him another sandwich. She snapped him a salute before slathering peanut butter onto a fresh slice of bread. “I gave him the skinny, and he put in a satellite call to the Coast Guard station on Key West.”

“And?” Bran prompted when Mason stopped to accept the sandwich Alex handed him. Between the two of them, Ranger Rick would soon be eaten out of house and home. Bran knew from experience since somehow it had become his job to keep the cupboards and refrigerator on Wayfarer Island stocked—probably because he was the only one who cooked—and the endeavor was proving to be a full-time occupation.

“And LT says the closest Coast Guard cutter is three fuckin’ hours out,” Mason said, shoving half the sandwich into his face. When he realized there were underage ears listening in, he turned to the teenagers who were blinking and eyeing him with awe. Bran couldn’t blame the girls. Mason was as big as a Mack truck and twice as tough-looking, what with his M4 slung over his shoulder and a huge Celtic cross tattoo stretched across his mammoth back. “Uh…pardon my French, ladies,” he garbled around his PB and J.

“Three hours.” Bran made a face.

Mason nodded and chewed. “We’re supposed to hang tight until they get here. Oh, and by the way, I had to convince LT not to power up the Otter and head in our direction.” He was referring to the single-engine, propeller-driven floatplane that Romeo, one of their teammates, had purchased soon after moving to Wayfarer Island.

Amusement and affection for his best friend warmed Bran’s heart. “That shouldn’t have taken too much convincing since he doesn’t know how to fly the damned thing.” He winced and turned to the teenagers. “Pardon my French, ladies.”

“I think he was thinking he’d wing it.” Mason snorted around another huge bite. “But he eventually agreed it was probably best if he didn’t try to become a pilot in one night. He’s going to hang out by the radio in case we need to relay any additional information.”

Bran nodded, then looked around the room. “So that’s it then. We wait.”

“In the fort,” Mason added for the benefit of those who weren’t privy to the plan. “At least that’s where all of you guys will hole up. I’ll keep vigil on the cat.” He used their abbreviation for the catamaran. “Just in case the Coast Guard tries to reach us on the marine radio once they get closer.”

“I’ll help you man the radio,” Alex piped up.

“F-for fuck’s sake, why?” Mason sputtered. He grimaced as he peeked at the group of girls. “Sorry. I’m not used to having kids around.”

“Hey, man. We’re not kids,” the dark-haired girl named Louisa said, her Spanish accent barely noticeable. “And we’re pretty proficient in the use of profanity. So you can stop apologizing.”

Mason lifted his eyebrows. “Duly noted.” Then he turned back to Alex. “Manning the radio is a one-man job.”

“But I wouldn’t want you to get lonely out there on the sailboat,” Alex said. “And I wouldn’t want you dozing off either. I’ll be there to provide company and keep you awake.”

“No.” Mason adamantly shook his head. “You need to go with Maddy and the girls into the fort. Stay safe in there while Bran and Rick”—he tilted his head toward the park ranger—“keep watch from the parapets.”

“Wow,” Maddy blurted from beside Bran. “Do you even hear yourself?”

“Huh?” Mason frowned at her. “What do you mean?”

“I mean the fact that this plan of yours reeks of machismo and misogyny.” She crossed her arms and thrust out her chin.

Uh-oh. Danger, Will Robinson, Bran thought.

“Well said, sister suffragette.” Alex raised a fist like she was auditioning to be the next leader of the Black Panthers.

Mason opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. Then closed it again. He started blinking like he had something in his eyes.

When Mason had been silent for too long, Maddy shoved her hands on her hips. “You have a way of not sayin’ anything louder than anyone else