“Well, yeah, she’s not out there yet,” Sawyer whispered, his face tense.

“She shouldn’t be out there,” I snapped. But she was Finley and Vivian’s only chance.

“Okay, I’m in Manteo. How’s the weather down there, anyway?” she shouted over the barrage of rain.

My eyes just about popped out of my head. “Could you just concentrate on driving?”

“Bet you’re glad I’m not in your ear during a rescue, huh?”

“Don’t even start with me, Kitty.” Fuck, I was going to throttle her the next time I saw her. Then I was going to kiss the shit out of her. Just let them live.

“Here we go, there’s sixty-four. Sorry! I know, I know! Sorry! I think I just pissed off whatever’s left of the State Patrol out here, Jackson.”

“Trust me, they have bigger fish to fry than to chase you down. Now listen to me. You’re getting out to shore, and the wind is going to start throwing things around, so keep your eyes open.” I leaned forward, as if it would help.

“Okay.”

A minute, maybe two, passed with only the sound of the rain against the truck.

“I’m on twelve!”

“Good job, baby. Now just take it steady.”

“Whoa, whoa!”

“Morgan?”

“Sorry, there, um… I think that was plywood, but it missed me!”

My heart jumped into my fucking throat.

“Oh look, there’s another person out here! Nice to know I’m not alone. It’s really windy, though.”

“It’s just going to get windier.” And harder. And rainier, and then the surge would hit.

Sawyer flipped his phone around so I could see the screen. The station clocked the wind at ninety-six miles per hour five minutes ago. Fuck.

“Morgan, what’s in the back of the truck?” Why the hell didn’t I think sooner?

“About four hundred pounds of sand! Grayson called before I got too far and told me to stop and buy some.”

“Good. Good.” Grayson was my new favorite person in the entire fucking world. “Can you see the water yet?”

“I’m just now clearing the residential— Holy shit.”

My head fell to my hands. “How bad is it?”

“It’s…everything is white. And huge. Holy shit, Jackson. It’s coming up the beach. It’s past the high tide line.”

The storm surge was coming.

Sawyer leaned his head back against the wall and shut his eyes.

“Okay, let’s, uh…let’s look at the road, Kitty. Can you still see it?”

“The rain is coming at me sideways, but there’s no standing water on it.”

I nodded, like she could see me or some shit. “I need you to listen to me. Can you hear me?”

“I’ve got you.”

“Morgan, this is the easiest part of the drive. Soon, you’re going to have to go over the new Bonner Bridge. Do you remember it?”