Ilia had been on Pithom, several times over the course of his employment with Damon’s father, and Gabriel had been on the yacht many times with mine.
He would’ve known the boat. Would’ve known enough about us to probably gain access to it.
I knew I should’ve sold the motherfucker. Too much shit had happened on it, but instead of getting rid of it, I’d sent it south for the season to be refitted.
Goddammit.
“What the hell happened at the house?” I heard Emmy ask. “And in the car? His eye was torn out?”
I turned my head. “Whose eye?”
But it was Banks who answered. “The car we saw on the camera. It was crashed back near Old Pointe. Dinescu was in bad shape,” she added.
“But then that just leaves Ilia,” Will shouted over the wind. “He wouldn’t be able to carry Tavi and Mads.”
“If he had Octavia, Mads would just follow,” Kai told us.
I glanced at Rika as she and Banks held Winter’s hands.
“Just find them,” Winter pleaded, her face etched with pain as tears filled her eyes. “Please, just find them.”
She always tried to hide it, but I could only imagine how helpless she felt.
I spun around and dropped to a knee in front of her. “Stop it,” I said, touching her hand. “Octavia needs to see you not scared.”
The boat bounced over the water, my own eyes watering from the rush of wind.
“If it were Athos,” she told me, “you’d be terrified.”
I glanced at Rika again, a look passing between us.
“When it is Athos, you will be terrified,” Winter said.
As if it was only a matter of time.
I clenched my jaw, not needing any explanation on what her point was.
She was right. We’d sent the kids to the dojo because we wanted to prepare them, but we were so arrogant that we never actually thought anyone would have enough balls to try anything.
“Our life creates enemies,” she stated in a low voice.
Rika’s eyes flashed to mine, and where I usually saw strength and reassurance, I saw uncertainty. We’d never stopped getting into shit, but our kids in danger from an outside threat hadn’t happened before.
It would happen again.
What were we supposed to do? Hide? Be invisible? Live quietly?
Cower?
I didn’t know how to be anyone else.
“Pithom!” I heard Will shout.
I rose to my feet, whipping around.
“Just barely,” he added. “It’s hard to make out in the storm.”
I stepped up behind him, gripping his shoulder for support, and peered over the windshield, seeing the distant purple glow of the lights.
Damon rose from his seat, getting ready. “Thank God.”
“Wait, what is that?” Banks called out.
I jerked my head, following her gaze.
Leaning closer to the edge, I clutched the side of the boat, barely able to make out something in the water.
“There’s something there!” I shouted to Kai, pointing. “Over there!”
Kai turned the boat, and we grew closer, the small vessel coming into view. Black hair and a black suit became clearer and clearer, and Banks cried out, “Mads!”
“Oh, my God.” Winter’s knuckles went white as she gripped Rika’s hand and sat up straight. “Are they okay? Are they hurt? Do you see Octavia?”
“Stop, stop, stop!” Damon urged.
I locked my gaze on the kid in the boat, looking for anything to tell if he was hurt, alive, still in danger…
But Kai was going too fast to stop on a dime. He circled the other speedboat again and again, slowing down and finally puttering up to the side.
The still boat sat in the water, rocking side to side in the wake of our craft, and I looked over, seeing Mads holding a small form to his side. Streaks of blood lined the side of his face.
Shit.
I didn’t see Ilia Oblensky anywhere. My stomach swam and sank at the same time. My hands shook, desperate to get over there, because if we didn’t get them in our arms, they could still be lost.
Before Will could tie us off, Damon jumped into the other boat and crashed to his knees, taking Octavia’s shoulders.
But her arms stayed around Madden.
Banks grabbed her son, hugging him to her, but he didn’t let go of Tavi. “Are you okay?” she cried. “Are you hurt?”
She tried to tip his face up and look at him, but he just pulled away gently. “It’s not my blood,” he said quietly.
“Octavia?” Winter called out.
Kai dove down and grabbed his son’s face, the kid looking as calm as ever with an impatient purse of the lips.
Ilia Oblensky slumped up against the dash panel, looking like the life was draining out of him.
“Mads?” Kai looked up at his kid. “You okay? What happened? Whose blood is this?”
The eleven-year-old just stared at his parents, his lips twisted to the side like he was bored. Octavia huddled close to him, shivering.
Other than some red cheeks and nipped noses, they looked okay.