Claiming the Drakos Heir

It wasn’t until he made it down to the marina that there was some light. He didn’t know how. The rest of the island was cast in darkness. But down here, light reflected off the dock and the boats. There must be some sort of backup generator. Whatever it was, he was extremely grateful.

Because the storm had stirred the sea into a frenzy. The normally serene water now moved toward the island in swells, with white caps that crashed upon the shore. The anchored boats moved to and fro, straining against their moorings. It was a miracle they hadn’t broken free.

The rain was now coming in sheets. He was soaked to the bone. And he was cold, but he brushed off his discomfort. This was the most important thing he’d done in his life. If he didn’t get help, Popi and the baby might die.

That thought sent an additional flood of adrenaline rushing through his body. Once on the dock, he was left with the decision of how to get on a swiftly moving boat. And on top of it was the fact that the deck was wet. So even if he made the jump, who was to say that his feet wouldn’t slip off the edge. His body tensed. It would not end well if he were caught between the boat and dock.

Once he decided upon a boat, he studied it. In. Out. In. Out.

At least the boat appeared to be moving at a predictable speed. Before he could talk himself out of this, he jumped. Grabbing a rail and holding on for his life. For a moment, he didn’t move, as he struggled to gain his footing.

And then he moved cautiously from the stern of the small yacht toward the bow. It was easy enough for him to find the control room. He wiped the rain from his face before swiping his dripping wet hair back, out of the way.

Once he turned the lights on, he went to work. With all of the adventures he’d experienced over the years, boating hadn’t been one of them. He’d just never gotten to it. When it came to his excursions, he’d always favored the kind where he was physically challenged. When he thought of boating, he thought of lazy days on the deck, enjoying the sunshine. Obviously there was more to boating than he’d first assumed.

A strong current struck the boat. Apollo lost his balance. His shoulder hit the corner of a cabinet. That was going to hurt in the morning.

All he knew now was that he had to radio for help because there was no way he could deliver a baby. He didn’t know the first thing about childbirth.

Another wave struck the boat, sending him stumbling to the floor. He didn’t have much time before this yacht broke free of the dock. And there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to make sure Popi and the baby were safe.

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE BUNGALOW WAS SECURED.

But Apollo hadn’t returned.

With every passing minute, Popi’s concern for him mounted. She should have insisted he stay here. It wasn’t fit for man or beast out there. But it wasn’t like he would listen to her. It hadn’t taken her very long to deduce that he was a stubborn man.

The door flung open. Apollo stepped inside. Wind rushed into the room, sending the kitten scurrying away. With effort, Apollo closed the door, shutting out the storm. He kicked off his wet shoes.

He was drenched with rivulets of rain racing down his face. She tossed him a towel that she’d used earlier to wipe off after venturing outside. He swiped it over his face before running it over his hair.

Holding the towel to his chest, his gaze turned to her. “How are you?”

She pressed a hand to her rounded abdomen. “Still pregnant.”

“And the contractions? Did they stop?”

She shook her head. “They’re coming at seven minutes apart.”

“What does that mean?”

She shrugged. “I think there’s still time to get to the hospital if this storm would let up.” Now it was time for her to ask a question. “Were you able to reach anyone?”

He nodded but his gaze didn’t quite meet hers. “I did—”

“You did? That’s great!” But the look on his face said otherwise. “When will they be here?”

“They won’t be.”

“What? But why?”

“The storm is a lot worse than we thought. They can’t get to us via sea or air until this storm is over.”

“Oh.” Another contraction stole her voice away.