"I'm sorry that the memories are painful." She squeezed his forearm and stepped close enough for him to smell the citrus scent of her shampoo. "But you're not alone." A smile played on her lips. "If God can carry me through all my family drama, then he can carry your pain. Let him."
"Throwing my wisdom back at me, huh?" He lifted her hand from his arm and laced his fingers through hers.
Her gaze jerked toward Emil's yacht. "They're leaving?"
"They?" He followed her gaze and watched Cassidy and Emil step into a smaller boat next to the yacht.
"Where's she going?" Lena's question was a strangled cry.
He flung open her car door. "Get in the car."
"What?"
"Get in the car. I'm going after them, but you stay here."
The small boat pulled away from the pier and headed into the black ocean. Clouds covered the moon, hindering his view of the small craft. "Stay put. I'll be rightb—"
An explosion reverberated through the marina. Followed by a fireball and flying debris. He planted himself between Lena and the blast, but not fast enough to shield her view. In the seconds that followed, he realized they were out of physical danger. But Lena's guttural scream made it sound as if her body were on fire—Cassidy and Emil's boat was now fully engulfed in flames.
Chapter 20
Lena's body lurched toward the burning boat.
Nash wrapped his arms around her waist and held her firm against him. In her near-delirious grief, she kicked and flailed her arms.
Her screams for Cassidy gutted him. She continued to fight him, but he didn't take it personally. She wasn't thinking. She was reeling. Her feet kept trying to run, so he picked her up off the ground and held her against his chest.
Soon, her screams turned to sobs. Her fighting limbs stilled, and she collapsed against him. She cried into his shoulder, fisting his shirt.
Knox emerged from the shadows a few feet away. His expression alone asked if Nash needed help. He'd obviously witnessed the explosion.
But there was nothing to do but comfort Lena.
Nash waved him off, and he disappeared into the shadows again.
Tension drained from Lena's muscles, so he eased her down his body and returned her feet to the pavement.
He cradled her head against his chest and let her cry. He felt—rather than heard—"Why? Why?" against his damp-with-tears shirt.
He didn't have an answer for that.
He held her tight against him, partly to comfort her and partly because he was afraid she'd slump to the pavement if he didn't hold her upright. He needed to get her out of here. He needed to figure out what was going on. He needed—
Hurried movement to his left snapped his attention across the parking lot. In one fluid motion, he pushed Lena behind him and reached for his weapon.
Two ghosts ran at him. No. Not ghosts. Emil and Cassidy, soaking wet and wide-eyed, rushed straight for them.
"Stone!" The tremor in Emil's voice belied the fury stamped on his face. "Get me to the house! Now! As fast as you can!"
Nash's brain hurtled over the confusion, trying to make sense of what was happening. Emil and Cassidy were alive.Emil was barking orders at him. And bleeding from the head.
He scanned Cassidy's face and trembling body. Saltwater dripped from her elegant dress. Wet hair stuck to her head. No blood, no apparent injuries.
Lena, paralyzed with shock, mouth gaping, hadn't uttered a word.
Emil hopped into the back passenger seat where he normally rode and slammed the door.
Cassidy grabbed Lena's forearms. "Don't say anything," she begged. "Let's just go."
