I took the stairs two at a time, my fear for Alex’s safety heightened. I nearly launched myself through the door, but Jax caught up to me as I pulled it open. A draft of chilly air rushed inside, carrying the scent of the ocean. We were several miles inland, but that distinctive part salt, part fish smell infused the air.

“What’d Shelton want?” Jax asked.

I stepped outside and hastened my stride. He followed on my heels, mere paces behind me. I threw a glance over my shoulder. “Nothing to worry about.”

We crossed the field toward the dock, our sneakers sinking into land soggy from the downpour of last week. Fog drifted low on the ground, and the constant mist that was more annoying than rain clung to our clothes. I burrowed into my hoodie as the urgency to get to Alex spurred me on. I nearly broke into a run.

“Hey, slow down, man. Where’s the fucking fire?”

We approached the dock, and a small niggle of relief tore through me. The boat appeared untouched. I moved down the wooden planks, my feet skidding over the slick surface, and stepped aboard. Preparing for the sway, I let the craft settle under my sneakers before descending the stairs into the cabin, through the galley, past the living area, straight to the bedroom.

To her.

I curled my fingers around the knob and turned, my breath stalling in my lungs. A second passed with an ominous preamble, and a million what-ifs nagged me.

What if she was gone? What if Zach had already gotten to her? What if she’d awakened sooner than anticipated and had somehow broken free of the restraints?

What if she fucking hated me?

The door creaked open, and all my fears escaped in an exhale that encapsulated the very meaning of the word relief. Right where I’d left her, indeed. I drank up the sight of her like a man dying of thirst. Quiet footfalls sounded behind me.

“Why are you so jumpy?” Jax asked, his voice low as if he sensed the need to whisper. “There’s no way Zach found this place so fast.”

But he had. How, I didn’t know.

Backing away slowly so I wouldn’t wake her, I followed him into the galley and went straight for the beer. Jax was always up for a good brew. Shit, after the day I’d had, maybe I was too. I grabbed two bottles from the fridge and handed him one.

“So what’s up with Shelton?” he asked, popping the cap.

I did the same with my beer and took a drink before answering him. “He wants to do something different for the next fight.” That much was true. “I don’t know all the details yet.” Also true…sort of.

If I wasn’t going completely fucked-up insane, Shelton was hinting that only one of us would walk out of there alive.