Page 9 of Hunted (Desert Island Duet #2)

Slowly, I lean forward and press a soft kiss over my name, then turn my head to the side and wind my arms around his back, hugging him tightly. He instantly hugs me back and we stand there in silence, not needing any words to convey what we both feel right now.

After a few minutes, when I feel like I can stand on my own again, I pull back and give him a soft smile. Returning it, he strokes the back of his finger down my cheek, then silently turns and heads to join the other two in the ocean.

“Well, that was intense,” Kingsley says, reminding me that he’s still here.

I let out a deep breath as my mind wanders back to Reece’s tattoo. “Yeah, that was… I didn’t expect that.”

I turn to Kingsley, who’s still seated, staring at the guys in the ocean with what looks like an expression of longing on his face.

“Kingsley?”

“Hmm?” He turns his head to me in question.

“You can join them. I’ll be fine here on my own. ”

His brows furrow a bit in confusion before he shakes his head. “That’s okay, I’m fine here.” He turns back to the ocean, the same expression returning to his face.

Does he think I need a babysitter or something? Unsure what’s wrong, but wanting to break him out of his mood, I grab a pear and step over to where he’s sitting.

“You want the last pear, Kingsley?” I ask, offering it out to him.

He glances at it then shakes his head, turning back to the ocean as he answers, “No, thanks.”

I drop my arm and frown down at him. Normally, his eyes are always seeking out mine. What’s changed? Is he upset that I slept with Bower after all? He said it was fine with it, but…

A sharp pang surges through my chest, and I drop the pear, pressing my hand there as if I could hold my heart in place.

Has he changed his mind about me?

Feeling confused and hurt, I reach into my bag to grab Steve, only to find it empty. I pull it open and look inside, my eyes wide with alarm. When did I last see him?

When you were bashing someone’s head in.

Shaking that gruesome image from my head, I run out onto the beach, my eyes searching everywhere. It’s hard to remember exactly where we had been, but I know it was this side of the fire.

“Darla?” I hear Kingsley call my name, but I ignore him. I don’t want to talk to him right now. I need Steve.

I run back and forth, my panic growing heavier with each step. I need to find Steve. He’s been there with me every day for years. He’s helped me through every pain-filled thought, every nightmare fueled night, he’s… my rock .

Someone steps into my path, and I stumble back in surprise. When I look up, Bower stands there dripping wet, his expression filled with concern. He reaches out to me, arms open, and asks, “Zee, what’s wrong?”

Normally I’d be admiring his ripped body, covered in water and glistening in the sun, but my mind won’t let me focus on that right now. Instead, I’m spiraling, barely holding it together as panic claws its way up my throat.

“Where’s Steve?” I ask, turning around in a circle as my eyes search the sand.

“Steve?”

I whip back around to face him. “Yes! Steve! He was here yesterday, where is he?”

“Who’s Steve?” Reece asks. I turn and see all four of them are closing in on me, watching me with looks of apprehension on their faces.

“It’s what she calls her rock,” Kingsley explains. The sound of his voice makes me panic again. I can’t tell if he’s simply explaining it or if there’s a hint of frustration in his voice, like he thinks I’m stupid for caring so much about a rock.

“I had it right here,” I say, my voice growing louder.

“I used it yesterday to—” I cut myself off as my hands clench into fists.

I close my eyes, the memory of all that blood is not only fresh in my mind, but it’s so much like last time that the events overlap in my head, bringing tears to my eyes as my breathing starts to become labored.

“Oh, that rock,” Reece says quickly. “I, um… I got rid of it.”

I whirl on him, my wide eyes filled with fear. “What do you mean, you got rid of him? Where is he, Reece?”

“It was covered in blood, and was evidence against you, so I threw it away. ”

“Evidence?” I ask, exasperation coating my voice. “Do you see CSI out here?” I wave my arms around as I stare him down.

“They could show up some day, we don’t know.”

“Reece!” I yell, stepping towards him. “Where. Is. Steve?” I ask through clenched teeth, my heart beating so fast I think it might actually leap from my chest.

His eyes flick to the ocean before meeting mine, a small glimmer of guilt filling his gaze. “I threw it in the ocean.”

“No!” I gasp, turning to look. It only takes me half a second to decide what to do next.

I take off, running as fast as I can towards the water, avoiding both Weston and Bower’s outstretched arms as they yell, “Wait!”

When I hit the water, I don’t stop. I have no idea how far he threw it, but I’ll comb this entire ocean if I have to.

When the water reaches my waist, I dive under, arms outstretched as my hands search the sandy bottom.

Visibility is nonexistent, the current churning too wildly for any hope of clarity.

I close my eyes and rely on touch, sweeping my hands across the sand as I swim in a straight line, pushing forward as far as I can before I’m forced to surface for air.

“Zee!” I hear them yelling my name, but I don’t stop, I just take a big breath and dive back under, continuing my search.

The next time I come up, I’m gasping for breath, but I can’t stop. I need Steve.

“Zee! Stop!” Weston yells my name, and I give him a quick glance, seeing he’s only a few feet away now.

Not wanting him to stop me, I dive back under, my fingers exploring the ocean floor.

They snag on something hard and smooth, and I grip it with both hands and push the surface, breathing in a lungful of air as I lift the rock up to look at it .

My heart drops, instantly realizing it isn’t Steve. I growl in frustration and throw it further out to sea.

Just as I start taking in another deep breath, ready to go back under, arms wrap around me from behind and I’m pulled against a firm chest.

“Let me go!” I yell, trying to pry Weston’s arms off me.

“Not happening.” He grunts when I elbow him in the side.

“West! I need to find him!” I plead before finally sagging in his arms as tears of frustration start to fall.

He doesn’t respond, but he hugs me tighter, his head dropping to rest against the back of mine.

“Please,” I say, quieter this time as I pull on his arm. “I can’t lose him.”

“And I can’t lose you,” he whispers before turning me around to face him. “Baby, you’ll exhaust yourself and drown if you keep this up. Steve could be anywhere; it’s like searching for a needle in a haystack.”

“But—”

“I’m sorry, Zee. You can hate me for this, but I won’t let you kill yourself out here.” Before I can respond, he lifts me up and throws me over his shoulder, his large arm banding around my legs so I can’t move.

“No! West! Put me down!” I try hitting his back, but he doesn’t seem to notice. I push myself partially upright so I can see the ocean he’s taking me from. “Steve!” I yell, my eyes scanning the water as if I expect him to suddenly make his appearance known to me. “STEVE!”

“What’s going on?” I hear Bower’s voice and try to turn to face him, but Weston has me firmly in place.

“She’s having a panic attack,” Weston tells him.

Tears of frustration stream down my face as I yell, “No! I just need Steve! Then everything will be fine! Let me go!”

“Maybe you should—”

“No,” Weston says, cutting Bower off firmly. “If I put her down, she’ll run right back out into the ocean. I’m not gonna let her drown herself.”

I scream for him to let go as I try to wiggle free. I hear all of their voices around me as we step up onto the beach, but I can’t focus on any of them. I just see myself getting further and further away from my rock.

Reece comes into view behind me. “Darla, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize—”

“You threw him away! He was my best friend, and you just tossed him a-away!” My voice cracks on the last word, tears streaming down my face. I don’t care that Reece looks heartbroken and guilty. That doesn’t make me feel any better. If anything, I feel worse, knowing I’m upsetting him, too.

I turn my head away, not wanting to see his expression anymore, and my eyes connect with Kingsley’s. My whole body freezes in that moment. He looks upset and worried, and something about that breaks me.

A huge sob bursts free as my emotions overwhelm me. I struggle to breathe in this position and Weston must notice because he carefully places me on my feet. When he stands up and looks down at me, all I can think is that I’m falling apart and he’s the one I need to hold me together right now.

I jump up into his arms, wrapping myself around him as I cry into his neck, hiding my face from everyone else. He doesn’t disappoint. He holds me tightly, his large hand slowly stroking up and down my back in a soothing manner.

I cry as I think about Kingsley, how he looked at me with concern, but only minutes before, I was sure he was having second thoughts about us.

The truth was, I have no idea what he was thinking, and I’ve probably just made this whole problem up in my head, but it’s like my thoughts keep spiraling out of control.

Even the thought that I was wrong makes me cry harder, knowing that by freaking out, I’ve probably pushed him away. Who wants to be with a mess like me? Maybe Weston does. He’s still here, giving me what I need, and saving me from my panic and almost drowning.

That reminds me of Steve and the fact that I’ll never see him again. I know he’s just a rock, but he’s my rock. And yesterday wasn’t the first time he’s killed for me. In some ways, I felt like if I give him a name and a personality, then it’s like he’s the killer, not me.