Possessed by Lies (Truth or Lies 5)

This can’t be happening. I’ve had too many nightmares of Kai's death. Too many times she has been taken from me. Sometimes due to my own stupidity. Sometimes because of how dangerous our life is. But this can’t be happening.

As I approach, I realize most of the yacht is underwater; the part remaining is on fire. There are men and women swimming in the water. There are other yachts of ours approaching, trying to put the fire out and dragging injured crew out of the water.

The scene is organized chaos. And for a second, I can breathe a little easier. I just talked to her on the phone less than twenty minutes ago. She was calm and already taking action. She is the reason for the organization.

But my heart won’t stop hurting until I see her. Until I can touch her with my own hands.

I carefully inch my speedboat closer to the sinking yacht. The only plus is I don’t see any enemies attacking. This was a hit from afar, a bomb from the looks of it. And Kai was on the yacht when it happened.

Jesus Christ, this woman knows how to attract danger to her. And she knows how to stop my heart.

But then I see her, her hair blowing in the wind, her face covered in dirt, blood staining her shirt. She has a phone to one ear and alternates barking orders into it and the men who surround her. She’s not afraid. Most people would be terrified in this moment. She doesn’t know if another explosion is coming or not. She doesn’t know if she is safe. Men will die all around her if she doesn’t do something to help them. But that doesn’t stop my girl. She takes the lead. She doesn’t let the chaos or lurking danger stop her.

And I’ve never been prouder of her. I almost don’t want to let her know I’m here. I just want to watch her in the shadows. Be the sniper watching over her and shooting any danger that approaches her. But of course, she feels me.

It takes her a second to scan the faces and boats approaching before she spots me.

I feel her take a deep breath when she sees me, and the tiniest of smiles touches the corner of her lip.

She may have been in complete control before, but now that I’m here, she’s completely fearless.

I want to jump up on the yacht, throw her over my shoulder, and get her away from the danger. But I have a feeling that is part of what this entire situation is about.

I’m sure Felix is behind this. And that’s exactly what he wants—to show my love for Kai.

I wink at her, letting her know I’m close if she needs me, and then I start pulling crew out of the water, loading up my speedboat before bringing them to the larger ships to safety. Each time I have to drive away from Kai, still on the sinking yacht, it kills me. But she’s as safe there as anywhere else in these waters. She’ll get off the yacht before it sinks. Even if that means heading into the water.

She has a great backstroke. She can swim as well as any competitive swimmer. She will be fine. I have to let her shine, even if it kills me.

I continue to keep myself busy, pulling my men out of the water and moving them to safety. Over and over, glancing over my shoulder at Kai as often as I can.

Get off the ship.

But then I see why she hasn’t left. A man is trapped under some beams, and she is leading the effort to free him.

I dump the last of the men off on one of the yachts and head in her direction. The yacht is minutes away from sinking, and it appears they could use all the manpower they can get.

As I turn toward her, I hear the sound I’ve been most afraid of—another explosion.

The yacht explodes in front of my eyes.

Fire burns.

Smoke bursts in a large cloud.

Remains of the yacht drop into the ocean.

No.

No, no, no!

I can’t catch my breath. My soul is sinking into the water along with the ship. There is no way she survived that unscathed.

I drive toward the smoke, hoping somehow she got off. That she’s in the water somewhere.

She has to be alive.

I don’t feel an intense loss. I would feel her if she died, right? I would know it immediately. I would probably drop dead right beside her; I would have no reason to keep living if she were dead.