The salt-laced wind blew through Peyton’s hair, whipping it around when the boat bounced. Desmond sat beside her, eyes forward. On this early summer night in the South Pacific, with the wind on her face, Peyton was at peace. She marveled at the events of the last two weeks. Her father had returned. Desmond had returned. And she might be about to lose it all.

Avery sat across from her. The blond woman had stuffed her hair in the helmet and applied the face paint liberally. Her eyes glowed unnaturally, like a predator sitting silently in the jungle, examining its prey, contemplating whether to spring. She looked from Peyton to Desmond and back, saying with her eyes, So you’re together again?

Peyton wanted to kick the woman in the chest, send her over the boat’s edge. But they needed her. And Avery would probably just catch Peyton’s foot and snap it like a twig anyway.

Peyton’s father seemed to read the exchange. He also glanced at Desmond and raised his eyebrows. Peyton felt herself turn red. It was so bizarre—all her teenage years squeezed into this moment.

Not to be left out, Charlotte eyed Desmond and Peyton. She smiled, apparently delighted at the prospect of her former boyfriend’s sister and the orphan she had cared for getting together. The only ones who didn’t seem clued in to the exchange were the Navy SEALs at the bow and stern.

The beach ahead appeared deserted, but Peyton couldn’t help but hold her breath as the small vessels crested wave after wave.

Their boat came to a crunching halt as sand dragged the bottom. The beach was littered with shells, driftwood, and fallen coconuts. It wasn’t a pristine resort beach. It was an untouched land, the way nature had made it and kept it for all these years.

Soldiers were waving their arms forward, urging their five passengers out of the boat. Seconds later, Peyton took her first step onto the island.

Chapter 112

Chapter 112

SEALs and Force Recon operatives hoisted the two boats up and jogged into the lush forest. They hid the vessels under camouflage and led Peyton, Desmond, Avery, William, and Charlotte deeper into the South Pacific island jungle.

The troops formed a ring around the five civilians. They crouched slightly as they crept through the jungle, over coconuts on the ground, with palm trees above and dense tree ferns in every direction. The air was humid, sticky almost. The heat was oppressive, but the breeze off the ocean beat it back every few seconds.

To Peyton, the jungle seemed alive, constantly in motion, like a single organism breathing in and out. The dense trees and plants swayed in the wind. Creatures she couldn’t identify clicked and called and slithered all around her. The plants were so thick she could barely see ten feet in front of her.