Chapter Thirty

Jackson

My bag was packed. There was nothing else I could do but wait and think myself to death.

I sat on my bed with my back against the headboard, uncaring that my boots were leaving footprints all over my bedding.

Finley was at Vivian’s.

Vivian had most likely broken her leg, if not her entire hip.

No one could get to them.

Hastings had flown the birds to safety, and Christina was already in Tennessee with family. Everyone else I knew was here.

The hurricane was due to hit in four hours.

Replacements were on their way. It wasn’t like we could leave the people here without aid. Logically, I knew that. Emotionally, I was clawing at the sides of my cage, cursing my own inability to protect my daughter.

My phone rang, and I startled. The power had gone out in Buxton an hour ago, and I’d told Fin to conserve her battery.

Wait. Morgan?

“Morgan?” I swiped the phone to answer. Shit, today was the ceremony, wasn’t it? Was it still the same day?

“They shut the Virginia Dare Bridge!” she shouted. “How do I get over the sound?”

My heart beat just a little softer with the sound of her voice. God, I missed her.

“What? Kitty, it’s really fucking loud. Are you in a car wash?” Why was she asking about the bridge?

“No, I’m not in a car wash! Why the hell would I be in a car wash? They shut the Virginia Dare Bridge, Jackson. I drove an hour out of my way because I knew the others were already closed, but now this one is, too. How do I get over the sound?” she shouted.

I sat up straight. “I know you didn’t ask what I think you just did.”

“Cut the shit!” she yelled.

“Kitty, please tell me that you’re in D.C. with your friends.” My chest constricted.

“I can tell you that, but I’d be lying. Jackson, I need to get across the sound. Please, it’s already so bad out here.”

My eyes slid shut, and I pulled the phone from my face as I fought for control. No, God. Not Morgan, too. No.

“Jackson!”

“You turn around and go inland. Those bridges are going to be hell, and the storm surge is already at the high tide line. Fuck, I don’t even know if you can get across the Oregon inlet bridge if you do make it across the sound, so please, Morgan. Please do not do this.” She couldn’t know, could she? How would she?

“I’m not leaving without Finley, and Vivian can’t move.”

“Fuck! How do you know?”

“Finley called me!”

My door opened, and Sawyer leaned in, no doubt because I was screaming like a madman. “Morgan, you can’t do this. The Mini will get swept away. Please, baby. Don’t do this.”

“I have the truck, and I know the rule. If you can’t see the bottom of the water, don’t drive through it.”

My eyes flew wide, and Sawyer must have heard her because he nodded. “It’s a heavy-ass truck.”

“That doesn’t apply to ocean waves.” I wasn’t scared. This was three billion levels beyond scared. I was fucking terrified.

“They’re expecting a twelve-foot storm surge. I’ve seen Vivian’s house, Jackson. It can’t take it. We both know it. And we both know there’s only one house that can.”

Hers. There wasn’t enough oxygen in this fucking room.

“I’m the best shot Finley has!”

Sawyer leaned against the wall and nodded slowly.

“Are you seriously going to sit there and let this happen? I’m right here, Jackson. I’m an hour away at most. That’s three hours before landfall. I can make it!”

“I can’t lose you, too!” My voice shook as hard as my hand.

“Driving is driving, no matter where you do it.”

She did not fucking go there.

Sawyer walked across the room, took the phone, and hit speaker. “Where are you, Morgan?”

“Sawyer?”

“Yep.”

“Don’t you fucking dare put her in danger,” I hissed at my best friend.

“She already put herself in danger. For Finley, Jax. All I’m doing is helping her out. Where are you, Morgan?”

“I’m just outside the Virginia Dare Bridge. It’s closed to incoming traffic.”

“They’re evacuating as many people as they can. Okay, I want you to go north to the William Umstead. Find it on the GPS.”

“I fucking hate you,” I seethed.

“Hate me tomorrow, brother.” His mouth flattened.

“Got it. I’m on my way.”

“Stay on the line, would you, Morgan? I think it might make Jax feel a little better.”

“Okay. God, it’s hard to see. The rain is coming in hard.”

“And it’s just going to get even sportier out there,” Sawyer responded.

“I see the bridge. It’s closer than I thought. Shit, there’s a guy and a concrete barrier.”

Shit. Wait. I was supposed to feel relieved. I didn’t want Morgan on the island…but if Morgan didn’t get to Finley, there was a high chance she wouldn’t make it. Morgan was right—Vivian’s house wasn’t made to sustain that high a surge. Was I seriously about to risk Morgan’s life for Finley’s? How the hell could I ask her that?

“There’s always a guy and a barrier,” Sawyer noted.

“Go to the left. There will be space to the left. I know how they set those up,” I said, hating myself the whole time.

“Okay, I see it. I can make it.” The rain filled the gaps in conversation hard enough that it sounded like she was in a storm of golf balls. “Sorry!”

I snorted a laugh. Only Morgan would apologize to the guard when she blew right by him.

“Tell me you have gas.”

“Three quarters of a tank,” she confirmed. “It’s raining, but I’m okay. The bridge is good.”

“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?”

“God, I hate that thing!”

“Yeah, well, just be careful. It should drain the water, but you want to make sure you go a little slower on it so—”

“So I don’t hydroplane. I know how to fucking drive, Jackson!”

I threw my hands up, and Sawyer snorted.

“Okay, I’m coming up to the bridge,” she said after what felt like forever. “And I’m on it.”

She’d be up in the air for two-point-eight miles.

“This thing is moving,” she sang.

I could almost see her biting her lip and gripping the wheel. Why the hell weren’t we there? What good were we all the way down here when our families needed us?

“How’s the bridge?” Sawyer asked.

“I’ll tell you when I’m off it.”

He lifted his eyebrows.

Tense moments passed where all I could do was stare at the phone and pray.

Sawyer flashed his phone. The winds were up to ninety-nine.

“I’m off! Thank you, sweet baby Jesus!”

My shoulders sagged in relief.

“It really pushed me around up there, but I’m okay. It’s getting hard to see, though. The windshield wipers can’t keep up!”

“Okay. Now before you bite my head off, do you remember asking me about the road washing out? The day I took you to Avon?”

“Yeah. That’s where the road’s close to the beach, right?”

“You got it. Listen to me, baby. If that road is washed out, turn around and go back. You have no idea how deep and fast that water will be. It would be like driving the truck straight into the ocean. Do you understand me?”

Silence.

“Morgan?”

“I understand. I’m not leaving Finley to get washed away, Jackson.”

“I can’t lose either of you.” My head dropped.

Sawyer put his hand on my shoulder.

“You won’t. I’m going to make it in time. I promise. The surge isn’t up that far. It can’t be. Now hush and let me drive.”

But it wouldn’t be the surge. That section of road would go down to the waves.

“Holy Lord, that water is creeping up. I’m at Rodanthe,” she called out the update.

“Okay.” I didn’t want her to think she was alone. My nails dug into my arms.

“Shit!” she shouted.

“Morgan?” Pretty sure I drew blood.

“The wind.” Another minute passed. “I’m okay. The wind just pushed me clean onto the shoulder. I’m okay.”

If I never heard the sound of rain again, I’d be just fine with it.

“Avon! Oh my God, I think that’s a porta-potty! There’s stuff flying everywhere! Shit, there’s water on the road, but it’s not up to the curb yet.”

I was going to vomit any second now.

“Leaving Avon.”

She was getting close. “Do you know if the road is still there?” I whispered to Sawyer.

He lifted his shoulders and shook his head.

She could be driving straight into the water.

“The waves. I can see the waves and— Shit!” Skidding tires. “Okay, well, the water’s coming up over the road here with every wave.”

I jolted. “Turn around.”

“No.”

“Morgan! I love you. Please, turn around! Go back to Avon!”

“What did you say to me that night? People will die if I don’t leave right now?”

Every muscle in my body locked. Don’t do it. Don’t do it.

“I’m okay, Jackson. It doesn’t look that deep. I’m going to get your little girl.”

The rain cut out.

The sound stopped.

“Morgan? Kitty, are you there? MORGAN!”

Morgan was gone.

The call had ended. I grabbed the phone and dialed her number.

Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.

“All circuits are busy—”

“Fuck!” I screamed and slammed my phone on the bed. She’s okay. It’s the cell tower. Not her. She’s okay.

“What can I do?” Sawyer asked quietly.

“Put me on a fucking plane!”