Brothers of Paradise Series

“What about you?” I ask. “I haven’t heard anything about women in your life lately, Parker. Your mom mentioned something about a girl…”

Parker’s eyes narrow but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he looks over at Rhys, who’s blatantly not paying us any attention. “I’ll talk to him,” he promises. “Text Lily and tell her to meet us at the marina when we get back. We’ll get a beer at the Yacht Club, all of us.”

I watch as he ducks under the beam and heads to the front of the boat to stand next to Rhys. They’re polar opposites-one dark and one light-but next to each other it’s clear that they’re cut from the same cloth.

I shoot Lily a text with the invitation. Reception is dodgy at best out here, but I watch as the little tick appears. Delivered.

It’s several hours later when we finally set course back to the marina. Rhys has, somewhat reluctantly, begun to talk to me again.

“I can’t believe Parker let you off easy,” he murmurs beside me, our hands moving fast over the rope, the knots as familiar to us as our own names.

“I guess he’s the smarter brother.”

Rhys sends me a sour look, but it’s tinged with amusement. “We won’t get rid of you this time around, will we?”

“No, you won’t.”

He nods, glancing out toward the glittering waves. “Good.”

The sun is low in the sky when we finally spot the marina in the distance. It’s been good, this, being out today. Reconnecting with her brothers. Gaining-somewhat surprisingly-Parker’s unequivocal support.

I check my phone again. I haven’t had service for hours, but the closer to shore, the higher the likelihood. I watch as my phone gets one… two bars of service. A text comes through from Lily, sent hours ago.

I’ll be there when you get back! And please ignore my family. It’s still just us, Hayden. You and me.

I smile at my screen at the same time as guilt rolls up inside me. She’s still afraid I’ll run or spook, like a skittish horse. I’ve given her reason to feel that way-my brave, proud girl, who was never afraid of charging headlong into new situations. Who climbed the tallest trees and woke up in the intensive care unit with a smile, who bought an art gallery on a whim.

Rhys, Parker and I barely need to communicate when we sail into Paradise Shores Marina. We know the boat and we know the docks here. It’s automatic, the movements and the teamwork.

Parker jumps onto the dock first, and I throw him the rope, holding a hand up to signal to Rhys to cut the engine.

We cruise to a smooth halt alongside the dock. The place is nearly empty, most people already done for the day or at the Yacht Club. I can see the lit terrace from here. There’s a faint sound of laughter and music.

I jump down from the boat, closely followed by Rhys.

Lily isn’t waiting by the Marchands’ dock.

“Didn’t you say she’d be here?” Parker asks, and I nod, finding my phone in my pocket.

“She said she would. I’ll call and see, maybe she went ahead.”

“Is this what we have to get used to now?” Rhys murmurs to Parker. “Hayden handling communications with our sister?”

Parker just shakes his head. “Shut it, man.”

“Whose side are you on?”

“Lily’s. Just like you should be.”

I shake my head at them and call her. Two dials go through before I’m clicked off the line. A chirpy, electronic voice tells me that the subscriber is unavailable.

“Her phone is off.”

“Damn it,” Parker says. “She always forgets to charge it.”

She often does, but I still feel uneasy. Lily wouldn’t say she’d be here and then not show up-or at least text one of us.

We head up to the Yacht Club. It takes me only a few seconds to scan the terrace. There’s no auburn hair in sight.

“She’s not here either.”

Rhys shakes his head. “Damn it, Lily.”

My mind runs through a list of things that might have happened, and for a second, I have to fight to keep the unease from turning into panic. We don’t know. She’s probably just late, even if it’s not terribly in character.

One of the girls at the Yacht Club stops us on the way out and throws us a winning smile.

“Heading out so soon?”

“Yes. Thanks.”

“No worries. Avoid Ocean Drive on the way back,” she says cheerfully.

My heart goes cold in my chest. “Why?”

“Haven’t you heard?” An uncertain note creeps into her voice as she looks at me. “There was an accident. The police have closed off the street entirely, no traffic in or out.”

There’s blood ringing in my ears.

If the waitress says anything else, I can’t hear it. I’m already out the door.

My hands are clenched at my side as I break into a half-run, heading to the parking lot. I’m aware of Rhys and Parker by my side, but if they’re speaking, I’m deaf to that too.

An accident.

Ocean Drive.

This can’t be happening again.

We get into Rhys’s car in silence. I want to strangle him for the extra few seconds it takes for him to turn the key in the ignition in his old Mustang. Fucking rich kids and fucking statement cars and goddamn fucking car accidents.

We’re halfway out of the marina when Parker swears loudly in the backseat. He answers the phone a second later.

The world spins when I hear his response. “Yeah, we’re already on our way there, Mom.”

Rhys speeds up.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

It feels like a bad dream when I see the blinking lights in the distance. A police car is parked sideways in the middle of the road. Rhys hasn’t even pulled the car to a full stop before I’m out the door and running.