The island held no salvation but perhaps the ocean would.
A boat?
A plane?
My gaze bounced from whitecap to reef, searching.
But nothing.
Just pristine, perfect, periwinkle blue water.
Chapter Twelve
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G A L L O W A Y
......
DIZZINESS STOLE MY eyesight as I tried yet again to stand.
Come on. Get to your bloody feet!
I’d burned all the energy I had, ignored every minor cut and scrape, and done my best to stand on a severely broken ankle and leg.
I’d tried over and over again. I’d clung to the tree behind me. I’d crawled sideways, back-ways, front-ways (all which damn-near killed me) all in the name of getting off my ass.
But I couldn’t do it.
I was still ground-locked, reclining against the palm tree, doing my best not to focus on the resonating throb now that shock and adrenaline had left my system.
One more try.
Gathering everything I had left, I planted my hands into the mulch and pushed upward. My good leg bent, ready to hurl me upright, but the minute my broken one shifted with pressure, I collapsed with a shard of blistering agony.
“Goddammit!”
Balling my hands, I sucked in lungfuls of air. Frustration and fear sat in equal measures on my thoughts. The storm had passed, the sun had risen, and still, no one had come to investigate.
The fact that no one had appeared to rubberneck or call authorities gave me all the answers I needed.
This wasn’t an island with resorts and humans. This was an island that could very quickly become my grave if I didn’t get to my feet.
All my life, I’d been so confident, acting immortal in my younger years. I’d been arrogant with no thought to the consequences. After what happened with my mum, I’d learned a hard lesson: I was nothing.
And this...
This simple task of climbing to my feet taught me another lesson. I was useless. Completely utterly useless.
I punched the ground, adding bruised knuckles to my list of injuries.
A crash in the bushes wrenched my head up.
“Hello?”
The thought of company (even if they turned out to be cannibals) was a damn sight better than being on my own.
“Hello? Can you hear me?”
The noise came again, followed by the most beautiful sound in the world.
Footsteps.
“I’m over here.” I hauled myself into a less slouchy position. My legs splayed in front of me, dirt covered every inch from trying to move all night.
My heart raced as eyes met mine, appearing from the greenery. I held my breath as a hesitant boy stepped from the undergrowth.
A kid.
Conner Evermore.
Thank God more than one of us survived.
“Hey.” I smiled, swiping at dirt sticking to my chin. “Remember me? I won’t hurt you.”
The kid shuffled closer, keeping his hands behind his back, protecting something.
Holding out my palm, I beckoned him forward. “It’s okay. Come here.”
One footstep. Two. Slowly, he traversed the sodden ground and stopped within a few metres. His gaze fell on my jeans, flinching when he understood what the swelling and odd position of my ankle meant.
He shifted from one foot to the other, clearly uncomfortable. He dropped his eyes. “You okay?”
I ignored the question. I wouldn’t be such a selfish bastard to accept the concern of a kid. “Don’t worry about that.” Pointing at what he hid behind him, I said, “I’m more interested if you’re okay.”
Conner shrugged. “I’ll live.”
Spunky kid.
I hated that he’d lived through the crash and whatever would come next, but I liked that he was here. As much as I pushed people away, I didn’t want to be alone. Not now. Not like this.
A twig snapped behind Conner. He spun in place. “I told you to wait—”
I smiled as another survivor appeared. Thank God, they’d both lived. They were children and didn’t deserve to die so young.
Not moving, so I didn’t spook the little girl, I spoke to Conner. “You found your sister. That’s great.”
Conner nodded as the copper-haired girl darted toward him, coming to stand within touching distance. She had a wicked bruise on her cheekbone and blood covered her top. She trembled as tears glittered in her orb-like eyes.
My own pain was forgotten as something inside me softened. I’d never been around kids before. I didn’t know how to relate to them. But seeing anything in distress (either human or animal) turned me into some comic book superhero, fighting to the death to avenge and help.
That’s what happened with Mum and look how that turned out.
I snorted, cutting off my thoughts before they led me back into darkness. I was the only adult and these two kids needed guidance. They deserved a grown-up to tell them comforting lies that everything would be okay.
I would be that liar.
I would protect them...somehow.
“Not the best landing, huh?” I smiled. “You okay...Pippa, right?”