Fight the Tide (25 page)

“How have I never heard of this island before?” Parker asked. “It looks pretty big, but it’s not on any of the maps.”

“It’s a private island. My family paid a lot of money over the years to keep it that way. We encourage you to come see for yourselves. See what we have to offer. You’re free to leave anytime.”

“Gee, thanks,” Parker grumbled.

Adam jumped in. “Thank you. We appreciate your hospitality. If we can see the doctor tonight, that would be good.”

Theresa frowned. “Yes, I think you should. He doesn’t sound well. We can help the boy. My mother’s a nurse.”

“Thank you.” Craig glanced at Parker. “I think it’s worth a try. I can’t let anything happen to him.”

Kenny addressed Parker. “I was scared too when we first came. But it’ll be okay. I swear.”

“I’m not scared.” It was such a ridiculous lie that Parker flushed as soon as the words were out, going hot all the way to his ears. But they were in the middle of the ocean and Jacob was getting worse, so what the hell else could they do? He nodded, pulling free of Adam’s grip to go fire up the engine. “Then what are we waiting for?”

He followed the motorboat with sails down, the engine humming. While Craig went below to get the kids ready, Adam stood by Parker, not touching him.

“I know you’re not happy.”

Parker had to snort. “What gave it away?”

“You usually have such a poker face.”

The laughter was nice and warm in his chest, and he exhaled as Adam leaned close and kissed his cheek, his scruff scratching. Parker whispered, “What if they’re big bad wolves and we’re the pigs?”

“I won’t let them hurt you. Or any of us.” He wrapped his arm around Parker’s shoulders. “I feel good about this. But I’m still on guard. I promise.”

The urge to change course and motor as far away as they could was a cold pull in Parker’s gut. The island loomed bigger and bigger, fire dancing in torches along the shore. They couldn’t trust these people. They couldn’t trust anyone but themselves. They should go and—

He bit back a gasp as Craig emerged from below, carrying Jacob in his arms like a much smaller kid. Jacob moaned and thrashed, barely conscious, and fear slithered icily through Parker’s veins. Jacob was so much worse, and for the first time, Parker realized he might really
die
.

As Adam went to help, taking Lilly by the hand as she followed her father on deck, Parker’s throat burned, thoughts of Abby and the warmth of her blood pulsing out between his fingers consuming him. He’d promised her. He’d promised to keep Jacob safe. He should have known the kid would try something stupid and go for the gas can. He should have been smarter. Should have been more prepared.

He should have been better.

Salvation Island surrounded them now on three sides, hilly peaks rising above, black lumps amid the stars. The only way out of the deep curve of the harbor would be back. But to where? Parker’s own words to Jacob echoed.

We have to move forward.

With a deep breath, he pulled up to a long jetty, one of a maze of wooden docks holding dozens of boats. He switched off the engine as they rubbed up against the bumpers.

A young woman on the dock called, “Throw me the ropes!”

He did, and it felt like leaping off a cliff. He watched anxiously as she tied
Bella
securely. He would have used a round turn with two half hitches, then whipped the end, but her knots did the job.

After pocketing the keys, he reluctantly followed the others onto the dock, concentrating on keeping his breathing and heart rate steady, counting in his head. He didn’t want anyone to think he was scared. Weak.

Adam was nervous and excited, giving Parker an eager little smile. Parker knew how much it meant to him to talk to other wolves instead of running away. How scared Adam was underneath it all.

If these fuckers hurt him, it’ll be the last thing they do.

Theresa was speaking. “We have a strict no-weapons policy. You won’t need them here. If you have a weapon, please leave it locked in your boat tonight and we’ll collect them in the morning, or give them to us now for safe keeping.” Her gaze slid over them. Craig had Jacob in his arms, and Adam held Lilly’s hand. Parker counted his breath in:
one, two, three, four.
His gun pressed reassuringly against his lower back.
From my cold, dead hands…

Craig said, “I left a machete on the bench there.”

Kenny hopped down and grabbed it, resettling the pillows when he found it.

Out, two, three, four. In, two, three, four. Out…

If they wouldn’t need weapons, then great. He’d keep the gun tucked away, and no one had to know.

*

Torch-lit pathways cut
through the forest, palm trees giving way to denser foliage. Craig stumbled over a root, grunting as he hoisted Jacob higher in his arms, Jacob moaning. Guilt tugged at Parker again, low and insistent. Should have kept him safe.
Should have kept my promise.

“Do you want me to take him?” Adam asked, still holding Lilly’s hand.

“I got him.” Craig cradled Jacob close, muttering, “I got you, buddy. I’ve got you.”

“No electricity?” Parker asked Theresa.

“Don’t worry, we have plenty. But the paths have never been lit. We didn’t need them to be. But now that humans are here, things are changing.”

Parker wondered how she felt about this development, but her tone was even, giving nothing away. “There were no humans at all before?”

“The odd one—a husband or wife, girlfriend or boyfriend. Not nearly enough to install lights on the paths.”

“So what did you do at this werewolf resort?”

Theresa tucked a long strand of dark hair behind her ear where it had come loose from her ponytail. “Same things most people do at any resort. We’ll answer all your questions, don’t worry.”

He wasn’t so sure about that, but feeling Adam’s gaze on him, he bit his tongue.

The square, single-story infirmary building did indeed have electricity, and Parker blinked at the fluorescent lights and sterile white tiles glaring in stark contrast to the dark forest. A handful of empty beds lined one wall, storage cabinets on the others.

As Craig gently lowered Jacob to the nearest bed, Theresa said, “We have a full store of medicine. You did the right thing bringing him here.”

“If werewolves don’t get sick, why do you have medicine?” Parker asked.

She frowned. “Who said werewolves don’t get sick?”

“My boyfriend.” He jerked his thumb at Adam. “The werewolf.”

“We do get sick—just not in the way humans do.”

Parker frowned at Adam, who shrugged back. That was potentially disturbing news, but there was no time for it.

Theresa added, “When the trouble began, my cousin traveled here from Miami with his human wife and children. As time went on, more of our number came, and we decided to open our doors to other survivors. We traveled to the mainland and stocked up on medical supplies for all our residents, human and wolf.”

Jacob whimpered and cried out, and Parker’s heart clenched.

“Mom,” Jacob cried. “I want my mom!”

“I know you do.” Craig brushed back Jacob’s too-long bangs. “I do too. But she’s looking out for you. She’s here—you just can’t see her. But you can feel her. Hang on. Everything’s going to be okay.”

He tried to stop the images from coming, but Parker could only withstand it as he relived it all over again—the dock under his feet, splinters under his skin, Abby’s blood pumping between his fingers in the sunshine, her cries and desperate eyes, Jacob and Lilly watching helplessly.

The door opened, and Parker spun around, certain creepers were going to flood into the white room, their eyes bulging, lurching with bloody fingers outstretched, teeth ready to tear. But it was only a short older woman entering with Kenny at her heels.

Swallowing his gasp as the danger didn’t materialize, Parker looked to Adam, who had reached out to him. But now Adam stared at the new arrival, his lips parted. Parker turned to her again. Under the relentless fluorescent lights, he could tell her eyes were definitely hazel with flecks of gold. Her gray hair was bobbed around her jaw, and she was plump, wearing jeans and an ugly purple sweatshirt featuring butterflies and flowers.

Theresa said, “This is my mother, Connie. She was a nurse for many years.”

Connie nodded to them, but only had eyes for Jacob. “Let’s take a looksee.”

As she spoke, Parker jolted in recognition. It was the woman from the radio messages, he was sure of it. Adam still stared at her intensely, and Parker wished he could read his mind. But Adam stayed silent, holding Lilly’s hand. Craig took her other hand, and a pang of irrational loneliness struck Parker, standing off to the side.

Efficiently and quietly, Connie asked questions in her soothing, even tone, and stitched Jacob’s festering puncture wound with a few efficient strokes, cleaning and bandaging it before lifting his head and feeding him a few pills. She wheeled over an IV stand and got a bag out of a little fridge.

Once it was hung and the needle was inserted into the back of Jacob’s hand, she stood back and looked at him. “We’ll have to wait and see. He’s young; he has a good chance. Why don’t we let him rest and get you all settled.”

“No, I’m not leaving him,” Craig said. “Lilly and I will stay here tonight. She can sleep over there.” He indicated one of the empty beds.

Connie nodded. “All right. And your name is?” After shaking Craig’s hand and getting his name, she said to Parker and Adam, “Let me show you to your cabin and we can be properly introduced.”

Parker shook his head. “We should stay too. I don’t want to leave Jacob.”

“He needs rest,” Connie said. “How about I show you around, and you can come back in a little while if you’d like.”

Part of him wanted to argue just to be contrary, but he managed to resist. After giving Lilly and Craig encouraging smiles, he and Adam followed Connie outside and along another path.

Wooden cabins were nestled in the trees. Most were dark, and Parker swore he could feel eyes watching as they passed by. It sent a chill down his spine, and he had to shove his hands in his pockets to stop from taking the gun out of his waistband.

“Here we are.” Connie walked up a few steps to a small porch, crossing it to open the door to the cabin. Inside, she flicked on a floor lamp standing beside a soft-looking blue fabric couch. “Nothing fancy, but it should be comfortable.”

Off the main room, a kitchenette lined one wall to the right, with a fridge, stove, and cabinets painted a pale green. A short hall led to what Parker assumed were the bathroom and a bedroom. The medium brown wooden floor was uneven, but polished, and simply framed photos of ocean vistas dotted the wooden walls.

He forced a smile. “It’s great. Thank you.” And it really was nice—provided Connie and the gang weren’t luring them into complacency before striking.

Adam nodded, his gaze still stuck on Connie, who smiled kindly. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said. “Someone will be by any minute to stock the fridge with some essentials. You can drink the tap water; we have a filtration system.”

“Cool. Thanks.” Parker waited for Adam to say something, but words were apparently escaping him. Having always hated an awkward silence, Parker blurted, “So you’re a werewolf?”

“I am indeed. Just like your boyfriend.” She gave Adam a contemplative look, her head tilted. “I was going to suggest you get a good night’s sleep before we talk, but perhaps we should have a word now.”

Adam only nodded.

“Um, great. Let’s sit down, I guess.” Parker waved to the couch and matching armchair.

She said, “Why don’t you settle in, and Adam and I can go have a chat. I won’t keep him long.”

Parker opened his mouth to say
no freaking way,
but Adam was nodding and already following Connie to the door. “Dude.” Parker pressed his lips into a line. “I think it’s better if we stay together.”

Blinking, Adam seemed to remember he was there. “It’s okay. I’ll be back soon.”

“I’ll wait outside, Adam. Good to meet you, Parker. Try to get some rest. You’re safe here.” She disappeared into the night.

Likely fucking story.
He grabbed Adam’s arm and hissed, “Is she doing something to you? Some werewolf Jedi mind trick?”

“I don’t think so,” Adam whispered. “It’s… I can’t explain it, but it doesn’t feel bad. I just really want to go talk to her. Okay?”

“No! Not okay.” He knew Connie could hear even though he barely whispered, but whatever. “You’re acting like a total space cadet.”

“I’m sorry.” He took Parker’s hands. “But it’s okay. Let me talk to her. I
need
to talk to her.”

And leave me here alone?

For a moment, his throat tightened, and Parker thought he might cry like a pathetic baby.
Get a grip, loser. Be a grown-up.
He shrugged carelessly. “Okay, whatever. If she offers you any Kool-Aid, the answer’s no.”

With a half-smile, Adam kissed him and followed Connie outside. Parker stood in the doorway and watched them disappear beyond the torchlight. Crickets or cicadas or something chirped, and leaves rustled in the light breeze. Squinting into the darkness, he couldn’t see anything but the hulking shadows of trees.