Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 104729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
The future is looking bleak.
Despite the beauty of this location that I now might call my final resting spot, it’s not looking like we will get out of here.
Wait, maybe there is a radio in the raft?
Leaning forward, I reach my hands into the side compartment, where I noticed that Alaric had pulled out the flare gun earlier today.
I’m met with nothing but sand.
There has to be more. No way is there only one storage space in this thing. I move into a standing position, and then I’m stepping into the life raft to look around. There are actually a few places for things. I remember Alaric placing stuff inside before we left last night, so I move to see what it was.
My hand touches a soft bag, I pull it out and find that Alaric had the presence of mind to pack a first-aid kit. A bottle of water.
That won’t get us very far. Next, I find some kind of straw, but I’ve seen it before; it filters water. Unless we find a stream or lake, it won’t help.
He took the gun and the knife.
I find another pack, and this one weighs a lot more. I recognize it right away. It’s the bag he grabbed from the Zodiac before we jumped into the ocean.
Holy hell.
We might be stuck here on this island, but at least we won’t die on day one.
Alaric had at least packed an emergency survival bag with everything you would need to survive on a deserted island for a few days. If we’re conservative, probably for a week.
A flashlight, batteries, pocketknife, water, food. It even has one blanket. I keep searching, pulling out more and more stuff. My mouth drops open when I see toilet paper. This bag really does have everything. Well, that’s not true. There is one thing I don’t find. It’s missing a radio, but this is better than nothing. I hear his footsteps before I’m done taking everything out.
“I see you found the ditch bag.”
I look over my shoulder to see him walking toward me. He’s taken his shirt off and tied it around his head. It’s hot on the beach where the breeze is strong, so I can’t imagine how it must feel in the center of the island. I let my gaze linger too long on his face, on the tiny beads of sweat dripping down his brow. I need to pull my gaze away, but when I do, I regret the decision right away.
I have seen him every day for the last week, but I have never seen him without a shirt on.
His tattoos are on full display.
I knew from the first day I met him that he had tatts up and down his forearms, but this is something else. I find no ink marring his chest, just rock-hard abs and a V that makes drool pool in my mouth.
I hear the faint sound of a chuckle, and I know I’ve been caught gawking.
Not wanting to hear anything more from him, I swiftly turn my face and go back to pulling out all the supplies we have.
He moves closer, and then once he approaches, he steps into the raft.
The last thing I expect is for him to sit next to me while I search, but here he is, only a few inches away as I pull out more items.
“We have enough here to last us for seventy-two hours.” His low voice cuts through the air, weighing me down with the implication of what that means.
“And then what?”
“Then we hope someone comes.”
“Do you think they will?” I ask, my voice cracking.
It’s rare that I’m afraid, but knowing we might die here has my body shaking.
His hand reaches out and lands on top of my trembling one. The warmth is a balm to my troubled soul … until he opens his mouth.
“Your father sent fucking pirates after my ship. There is a bounty on both of us. I’m sure they will come.”
I stand abruptly, his hand falling from where it was perched.
“It wasn’t my father,” I spit.
“You can’t possibly believe that.”
“I do. The people on the boat wanted us dead.”
He lifts his brow. “It would solve all his problems,” he responds.
“It wasn’t him. What part of that do you not understand? He will find me. George will find me. They are both looking for me.” Red fiery anger boils inside me. I start walking away from him.
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
My pace halts. “What do you mean?”
I can hear him as he steps closer.
“George is dead.”
My stomach hollows at his words. My legs drop from beneath me.
Alaric is quick to try to lift me from the ground, but I swat at his arms.
“What did you do?” I cry.
Tears pour down my face at the revelation he has just made.
“I was protecting my empire.” His voice makes my body shiver in fear, but I push down that feeling, standing up tall in front of him.