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Back Blood in the Water Save as PDF
Chapters (82)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  4. ONE
  5. TWO
  6. THREE
  7. FOUR
  8. FIVE
  9. SIX
  10. SEVEN
  11. EIGHT
  12. NINE
  13. TEN
  14. ELEVEN
  15. TWELVE
  16. THIRTEEN
  17. FOURTEEN
  18. FIFTEEN
  19. SIXTEEN
  20. SEVENTEEN
  21. EIGHTEEN
  22. NINETEEN
  23. TWENTY
  24. TWENTY-ONE
  25. TWENTY-TWO
  26. TWENTY-THREE
  27. TWENTY-FOUR
  28. TWENTY-FIVE
  29. TWENTY-SIX
  30. TWENTY-SEVEN
  31. TWENTY-EIGHT
  32. TWENTY-NINE
  33. THIRTY
  34. THIRTY-ONE
  35. THIRTY-TWO
  36. THIRTY-THREE
  37. THIRTY-FOUR
  38. THIRTY-FIVE
  39. THIRTY-SIX
  40. THIRTY-SEVEN
  41. THIRTY-EIGHT
  42. THIRTY-NINE
  43. FORTY
  44. FORTY-ONE
  45. FORTY-TWO
  46. FORTY-THREE
  47. FORTY-FOUR
  48. FORTY-FIVE
  49. FORTY-SIX
  50. FORTY-SEVEN
  51. FORTY-EIGHT
  52. FORTY-NINE
  53. FIFTY
  54. FIFTY-ONE
  55. FIFTY-TWO
  56. FIFTY-THREE
  57. FIFTY-FOUR
  58. FIFTY-FIVE
  59. FIFTY-SIX
  60. FIFTY-SEVEN
  61. FIFTY-EIGHT
  62. FIFTY-NINE
  63. SIXTY
  64. SIXTY-ONE
  65. SIXTY-TWO
  66. SIXTY-THREE
  67. SIXTY-FOUR
  68. SIXTY-FIVE
  69. SIXTY-SIX
  70. SIXTY-SEVEN
  71. SIXTY-EIGHT
  72. SIXTY-NINE
  73. SEVENTY
  74. SEVENTY-ONE
  75. SEVENTY-TWO
  76. SEVENTY-THREE
  77. SEVENTY-FOUR
  78. SEVENTY-FIVE
  79. SEVENTY-SIX
  80. Praise for Blood in the Water
  81. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  82. Newsletter Sign-up

“Don’t worry,” Buddy said, stroking her hair gently. “It will all be OK.”

She buried her face in his chest. “Will it?”

He forced a smile. “It will. I promise.”

She didn’t smile back. He took her in his arms and kissed her, and she reciprocated. After a moment, she pulled away. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re suit’s wet,” she said. “And I feel gross.”

“Go get changed. I’ll be down in a second.”

She nodded and stood up, rubbing her fingers through his hair as she separated from him. He stayed there on his knees for a moment, in silent prayer—for what, exactly, he wasn’t entirely sure. Then he got to his feet and opened the door at the rear of the salon. He stepped back out onto the deck and watched the mainland shoreline stream by as the boat sped south.

A moment later Cormack stepped out onto the deck with him. “Things OK with the two of you?” he asked.

Buddy shrugged. “I think things are going to be all right, eventually. Better than all right, maybe. I hope.” He looked at Cormack. “Are you good with that?”

Cormack shrugged. “It’s not for me to judge. Besides, I’ve got bigger things to worry about.”

“This thing with Soh isn’t over, is it?” Buddy said.

“It’s barely started,” Cormack said.

Buddy looked uncomfortable. “You’re gonna need help.”

Cormack looked at him, frowning. He needed all the men he could get, he knew. Even one more might make the difference. “You’ve got responsibilities now.”

Buddy nodded. “I do. But she’s not gonna be safe if this thing isn’t taken care of. Our child isn’t gonna be safe.”

“It’s gonna get uglier. Are you prepared for that?”

“I did all right back out there, on the island.”

“That’s true, you did.” Cormack sighed. He knew Buddy was right, but he also knew the risks. “If you fight this thing, and you die, Diamond will never forgive me.”

“If I don’t fight this thing, and you die, she’ll never forgive me,” Buddy responded. “Your daughter could never love a coward.” The boat was pulling into Weymouth Harbor, and Olney eased off the throttle. “Once we’re through this, I’ll make sure they’re safe,” Buddy said. “I can promise you that.”

The boat slowed and eased its way forward. Cormack breathed in the cold air. “I understand how hard you’ll try to keep that promise,” he said. “But it’s been my experience that there’s no way to keep bad things from happening to the ones we love. In the end, that’s up to God.”

FIFTY-THREE