Waterfall Kisses (The Kisses 9)

I knew what Leo would want to do to cool down. Drive that stupid boat of his. To go fast, skimming over the water and letting his troubles fade while he risked just a little more speed.

Except he promised.

Except we had argued.

He had said we were a mistake.

I looked up at the thin moon, trying to remember if that was good or bad for the waves. It hung in the sky like a shard of forgotten glass, ready to cut the unwary. I ran my fingers through my hair in exasperation. I couldn't remember and I didn't even really know if he was out on the water.

But now I knew I wouldn't be able to stop pacing this stupid porch or tossing in my stupid bed until I knew he wasn't on that death trap of a boat.

I needed to go to the docks and check.

With a deep breath, I took the stairs as fast as I could and started walking down the beach toward the dock. The ocean whispered against the sand and the breeze ruffled my hair and filled my nose with the scent of moving water.

“Where are you going?” A dark voice asked, coming out from behind a palm tree.

I nearly jumped three stories and was half way to throwing a punch before recognizing the voice.

“Dammit, Elijah!” I gasped, putting my hand over my racing heart to keep it in my chest. “You scared me! Don't you sleep?”

Elijah shrugged like sleep didn't matter. “Where are you going?”

I let out a breath, trying to get my adrenaline under control. “The docks. I just need to see if Leo's boat is there.”

Elijah's brow darkened as he left the shadows of the tree and came out into the open. “You're worried about him,” he observed. “You think he's on that speed boat.”

I nodded. “I just can't shake this feeling...” I ran my hand through my hair. It was heavy with humidity. “If his boat's there, then I'll feel a lot better.”

“And if it's not?” Elijah's question was one I didn't want to answer. I paused.

“I don't know,” I answered honestly, but my stomach twisted and I thought I might be sick.

“Let's get going then,” Elijah said, stepping to the side and waiting for me to catch up with him. I was glad he was with me. Even if he drove me nuts, I knew Elijah always had my back. Even in this. If Leo's boat wasn't there, Elijah would know what to do. He was good at stuff like that.

Together we walked along the beach. Eli moved through the dark like a hunting cat- never tripping or stepping on anything that could give away his position. Me, on the other hand, sounded more like an elephant stampeding through the bush.

It wasn't long before the glow of the lamps on the dock greeted us. My footsteps sounded hollow and doomed as we walked along the wooden planks to where Leo stored his boats.

The stall holding Speed Demon was empty.

My heart stalled. My chest collapsed and I couldn't find the air to breathe. Elijah's strong grip found my elbow, keeping me from sinking to my knees. I was glad he had come with me.

“Is there another boat?” he asked, his voice gruff and commanding enough to make me answer.

“Yeah, the Silver Lightning...” I turned from the empty stall and went to the next one. Maybe Elijah knew how to hot-wire a boat and we could go out looking for him. Maybe there was a radio and we could contact him. Maybe he was tied up in that boat because someone had stolen Speed Demon.

The last one was rather far-fetched, but I still hoped for it.

But Leo wasn't bound and gagged in the boat. Instead, Murdoch sat in the driver's seat with this feet propped up on the dash.

“Hey, boss,” Murdoch said into his headset, his dark eyes landing on me. “There's a girl here to see you.”

I swallowed hard, unable to make out the words coming through the headset. The headset must have been some sort of long distance radio for Leo to communicate while out on the racing boat.

Murdoch nodded at whatever command was given to him, plopping his feet on the deck with a thud. He stood, taking the headset off his head and handing it to me. It looked tiny in his giant hands. I swallowed hard and took it, careful not to drop it in the water.

“Leo?” I asked, my voice shaking. I didn't want to argue again. I just wanted to know he was safe, but somehow, being out on a ridiculously dangerous speedboat in the middle of the night just didn't scream safe to me.