Chapter 867
867 Chapter 866
The boat was ridiculously small—one good wave and it would’ve rocked like a toy in a bathtub. And yet, somehow, it stayed steady. Keira had no idea what kind of trick Lewis had pulled, but whatever it was, it worked.
She sat on the deck beside him, helping steer.
The moon cast a pale glow over the dark waves, both cool and intense.
“This ocean feels like it could swallow every last person on Earth,” Keira murmured.
It was too deep, too dark.
Like staring into a void.
Lewis chuckled. “It’s not scary when you’re on this boat. But soon, we might have to ditch it p>
Keira narrowed her eyes, nodding. “And what’s our cover story p>
He glanced at her, grinning. “Runaway lovers. You caught the eye of a crime boss, and I had no choice but to steal you away. Now we’re on the run, drifting in the ocean on this little wreck of a boat. But we won’t last long—his men are after us. We’ll have to abandon ship and swim to shore. And where do we end up? The South family’s island, as two drifters with nowhere else to go p>
Keira’s mouth twitched. “You can’t be serious. I was targeted by some crime boss p>
Lewis smirked. “With your looks? Not surprising. And with mine, convincing you to run away with me instead of him isn’t exactly a stretch. Besides p>
He pointed at the cruise ship they’d just left behind. “There he is, right on that boat p>
Keira let out a long sigh. “You really thought this through, huh? What else did you plan p>
Lewis shrugged. “To make it believable, we need to lighten the boat’s load. Once we do, the shift in weight will throw us off balance, and a wave will capsize us. Which means, Keira, you know how to swim, right p>
Keira nodded immediately. “Yeah p>
The last time she jumped into the ocean, she nearly drowned. Someone had to drag her out. After returning to Clance, she’d spent the past two weeks training—she needed to be ready to go home.
Lewis nodded. “Good. That just leaves one last touch p>
She blinked. “What touch p>
Before she could react, Lewis pulled out a gun and shot himself in the leg.
Keira’s eyes widened in horror. “Lewis, what the hell p>
She lunged toward him, her hands already pressing down on the wound as blood seeped through his jeans. Her throat tightened. “Are you out of your mind p>
Out here, in the middle of the ocean—if they didn’t treat it fast, what was he going to do?
Lewis only smiled. “A crime boss should have a gun, don’t you think p>
Keira’s eyes burned. Without hesitation, she tore a strip from her shirt and wrapped it tightly around his leg. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. We could’ve come up with another story p>
“My storytelling skills are limited. Only a crime boss would have enough power to chase us into the ocean. Only a crime boss would make us too scared to go home. Otherwise, the South family would just send us right back p>
Lewis ruffled her hair. “This is the perfect excuse. I’m fine, Keira. But from now on, we need new names—yours is too obvious p>
Keira wiped her eyes and huffed. “Fine. Call me Norma p>
Lewis raised an eyebrow. “Then I guess I’m Solomon p>
“Norma Olsen p>
“Solomon Horton p>
They exchanged a glance, then burst out laughing.
Keira groaned. “That sounds awful. Let’s drop the last names p>
Lewis nodded. “It’s like we’re reborn p>
She leaned into him, eyeing his leg. “Doesn’t that hurt? And you’re sitting here joking p>
“It’s not so bad. I’m used to it p>
His voice was light, casual. “Back when I fought pirates, I nearly took a bullet to the heart once. Still made it out p>
Keira rested against him.
Then Lewis spoke again. “We’re almost there. Keira, I’m taking apart the boat’s rigging. The last two miles, we row ourselves in. Think you’re up for it p>
“No problem p>
At her answer, he pressed a button. Keira immediately felt the boat shift—its weight lifted, making it unstable. The waves crashed harder, the boat rocking wildly atop the water.
She glanced toward the South family’s island, just two miles away, and let a smile creep onto her lips.
She was finally home.
That thought had barely formed when a wave hit, and the boat flipped over.