Page 65 of No One Aboard

He screwed up his face and let himself lean into Francis’s chest. It was safer to be this close. It meant he was protected.

Francis’s hand landed on Rylan’s narrow shoulder. “I cannot wait for you to see where we’re going.”

“Wherearewe going, Dad?”

Francis held him at arm’s length. They were the same height now, and Rylan was still growing. He’d be taller than him someday. It was a strange thought to have.

“It’s going to be an adventure, Rylan. Our whole lives are about to change.”

Theirwholelives?

Rylan stiffened, his body reacting before he had the foresight to remain calm. Miraculously, Francis hadn’t noticed. He kept talking. Almost... nervously?

“Just wait. It’ll be an adjustment at first, but where we’re headed is beautiful. Finally we can get away from all the noise, right? We’ll dive every day, watch the sun set into the sea every night.”

Francis seemed thrilled. He was still speaking, but Rylan couldn’t process the words anymore because, between them, Rylan finally heard the answer to the question. Not to where they were going, exactly, butwhy. He had heard the same fanciful language from his twin when she explained her plan to leave.

“This was never a vacation. You’re running away...” Rylan breathed, and Francis went silent. He was still holding Rylan by his shoulder, and his grip tightened, fingers into bone. Rylan inhaled sharply and struggled to remain rooted in the present moment, fighting not to trip into memory.

“I want you to understand something, son.”

He’s not denying it.

Rylan couldn’t move. Francis looked up to the sky as if for guidance, then pushed Rylan down onto the cockpit bench. Rylan’s knees buckled and he folded. Francis kept one hand on the wheel even as he trained all his focus on Rylan.

“The life we live is a privileged one. A truly unique one. How many fathers can give a world like this to their sons and wives and daughters?”

Rylan was nodding even though Francis hadn’t been asking him a question. Francis placed a hand on the back of Rylan’s neck, and he stopped.

“You don’t get to be extraordinary if you only operate in the ordinary,” Francis continued. “Simple as that.”

“I know. I know, I know,” Rylan said, unable to break out of a loop. He couldn’t let himself be too emotional. Too dramatic. But suddenly he couldn’t shut up, like something had short-circuited inside him. Francis moved his hand over Rylan’s mouth.

“Shh, shh, shh. I know you do. That’s why I’m telling you this. Smart kid. Ordinary people will never understand the lengths it takes to achieve the extraordinary. How can you be expected to comprehend the sun if you’ve only ever seen a fire in a cave?”

He’s running away. He’s taking us with him. He’s trying to protect us from something.

That means we’re never going back.

Rylan tried to nod, but Francis kept his head from moving.“Don’t be scared.” He withdrew his hand, but Rylan still held his breath.

“The Cameron family is the thing I love most fiercely in this world,” Francis said, holding eye contact with Rylan. “Built it with my bare hands. Ordinary people will not be the reason it falls.”

He extended a hand. Rylan took it, and Francis pulled him smoothly to his feet.

“Let’s get you back to bed.”

Chapter 32

Tia Cameron

Call sign: Thimble

Day 7 at Sea

Tia lay cocooned in her sheets like a corpse wrapped up for burial at sea. She had gone through the day corpse-like as well, unsure what to do now that she knew they couldn’t radio out for help. Alejandro had said cutting the cord had been meant to protect someone.Ourselves.But what didourselvesreally mean? Him and Francis? Him and the Cameron family? All seven of them? Or—now—six of them? How would cutting them off from the outside world protect them? And protect them fromwhat?

Orwhom? Did her father have enemies? She supposed plenty of rich men had people who disliked them. There were other yacht companies that had rivalries with Unwind. Some had gone bankrupt. Maybe someone was jealous, wanted revenge?