Whirlpool (12 page)

“Someone broke into the sheriff’s apartment? Are they insane?” She looked around in shock. “Either they are visitors and don’t know who lives where, or they have a lot of chutzpa.”

Braden snorted. “It’s not like being sheriff makes me immune to crime, baby. It’s okay. We’ll get it cleaned up. In the meantime, I—”

“Jamie can’t stay here.” Chelsea crossed her arms. “There’s room for him at the house.”

She sounded determined, completely convinced, and Braden struggled to find the correct response. His first reaction of “hell, yeah” might not be the right one to utter.

Jamie’s soft chuckle broke through his mental ramblings. “Why can’t I stay here? We’ll put something over the broken glass temporarily, and I’ll be fine.” He kicked a few loose feathers. “Although we’ll have to hit the hardware store before they close for the night.”

Chelsea frowned. “You can’t stay here. It’s not safe.”

“They didn’t come in with machetes and axes. They were vandals. They make messes to make themselves feel big. I’ll be fine.”

She shook her head again and turned to face Braden. “Tell him. He can have the main-floor room.” She stared, her eyes moist as if on the verge of tears.

Braden pulled her into his arms and rubbed her back slowly. “If he feels safe you can’t make him move, but if you’d like to join us in cleaning up that would be a big help.”

He’d never seen her react like this before. Jamie was obviously becoming more important to them both, digging his way into their affections.

“Really, Chels, I’m fine. You want to come check out the damage in the back with me? You can hold the garbage bag while I stuff it.” Jamie waited patiently as she stood on tiptoe to kiss Braden on the cheek. She took Jamie’s hand as he led her toward the back. Jamie glanced over his shoulder at Braden and nodded slowly—comfort and caring evident in his every move.

Astute, for a human.

Strange how both he and Chelsea seemed so attracted to Jamie. He had no merfolk blood, Braden was sure of it, but in the midst of chaos, the man was a point of calm.

It was both reassuring and alarming, and for the first time since having the responsibility of the pod laid upon him, Braden wished he could talk with his matriarch. She would have the skills to help them figure out just what the hell was going on. In Jaffrey’s Cove, and in his personal life, because none of it was normal.

None of it made a lot of sense.

From the back of the condo Chelsea’s bright laugh rang out and the knot in Braden’s belly tightened. Jamie had managed to make Chelsea laugh after how worried and concerned she’d been. The man entangled himself deeper into their relationship without even trying and suddenly Braden wasn’t sure what it was he felt anymore. Gratitude? Companionship?

Interest?

He gathered a few cleaning supplies and headed to the back of the condo to join them. Answers would have to wait.

“I’m glad you decided to dive today, Jamie. I don’t think I could stand another minute inside that shop. If I hear one more person mention how there’s never any crime in Jaffrey’s Cove, I’m going to go nuts.”

Jamie passed the air tanks out of the back of the truck to the youth. “But you know, there isn’t usually crime here. Braden said that the run of break-ins is unusual for the area.”

Thomas groaned. “Please…”

Jamie laughed. “You let me know your triggers.”

Their gear was laid on the shore when the sheriff’s vehicle rolled up and Braden cranked open the window.

“You got room for one more on the tour today?”

Jamie glanced past Braden into the vehicle. “You’ve got someone hidden in there?”

Braden slid out of the driver’s seat and reached into the back to pull out another tank. “Actually, I’m talking about me. Hell if I can stand another minute of that chaos. I need a chance to get away from it. You boys mind if I join you?”

Jamie concentrated on getting his gear together. The instant rush of pleasure that swept over him at getting to spend time around Braden raised questions he didn’t feel comfortable answering.

Thomas let out a delighted howl. “You mean it? Damn, you haven’t come out diving forever. I thought you hated tanks…” The kid trailed off again but not before Jamie spotted a flash of annoyance on Braden’s face.

“Where are we headed?” Braden asked Thomas as they walked toward the shore with his equipment.

“Cutter’s Reef and the wreck of the
Diana
. I thought Jamie would enjoy it.”

Braden nodded his approval. “Have you shown him the caverns yet? Sunstar Hideaway?”

Thomas’s face lit up. “If you’re along we can go. I can’t take solo divers into the caves yet since I’m under eighteen.”

“Sunstar Hideaway? Is that the one you told me about the other day?” Jamie asked. It had sounded like a glorious, if dangerous, location.

Thomas nodded. “With the sky clear like it is today it should be amazing.”

The three of them worked together in an easy rhythm, putting on their tanks and slipping into the clear waters of the Pacific.

As they descended into the rich blue of the ocean, all sound grew muted. Long-distance noises carrying on the air became outweighed by the more intimate whisper of air bubbles escaping. The rush of blood through his own veins. Thomas motioned to him and they kicked together toward the intact skeleton of a sunken vessel.

Colorful fish darted around them, flashing in schools away then back as they passed the coral ridges. Jamie slowed to touch the delicate arch forming between two ridges of rock, minute creatures turning the ocean floor into a gallery of art painted with streaks of sunlight from above.

Jamie’s watch beeped, and he glanced at it in surprise to discover the first set amount of their dive time had passed already.

He’d been fascinated with the wreck, with the objects scattered over the ocean floor. The trio turned and headed toward the shore where the towering cliff plummeted to be swallowed by the surf. Here below the surface the crash was a constant buzz, and the tug of the tidal current like the embrace of a lover, cradling him and directing his path.

The entrance to the cave was glorious, the stone worn smooth by millennia. Above them the roof hung in a solemn arc, guarding the surface of the water from the sky, the colors more muted and monochromatic as they passed out of the direct sunlight. They followed the right wall toward the back and the constant repetition of his breathing calmed his excited nerves. Jamie loved this. Being underwater, seeing a world that so few people had experienced to its fullest. Sailing or gliding along the surface was one thrill, but moving beneath the waves, exploring the dwelling places of creatures that lived for years in a constantly moving environment…

It never ceased to amaze him.

A soft touch on his arm brought his attention to the others. The two of them signaled to the back section and motioned they were ready to enter the cave system. Jamie checked his tank air levels, just to be sure. The danger of underwater spelunking was just the adrenaline rush he wanted right now, but he wasn’t going to be stupid.

They set off together, the first section of the passageway wide enough for them to pass through three abreast. Soft white sand lined the floor, and he could imagine at low tide the stories of pirates dragging their chests back into the cave would have entertained the imagination of many, young and old.

Slowly their route narrowed and Braden took the lead, guiding them through the eerie half-darkness that grew deeper the farther they proceeded. Jamie adjusted his headlamp, tightening the focus of the beam to shine the light into the more distance reaches. He kicked lazily, his flippers propelling him smoothly after the big man in front of him. The passage narrowed again and Jamie swallowed hard. The promise of the sights ahead pulled him along and gave him courage to proceed. Just a little farther, just one more bend.

They were there.

A beam of light descended from above, cutting through the glittering surface and breaking into a million sparkles of light. Luminescent algae and starfish of every color and size were everywhere. A sunstar with over twenty-four legs decorated the near sidewall, and Jamie stopped to examine the rigid bumps and prominences on the creature’s limbs. There were few colorful fish in the cavern, but many crabs that darted back under rocky ledges at their approach. Jamie smiled as an eel bared razor-sharp teeth in his direction when he ventured too close to its hiding hole.

Paradise—an Eden hidden beneath the waves.

They spent as long as they could exploring. The direct sunshine entering the top of the cavern disappeared and the light dimmed, now reduced to the vertical passage cutting through to the underground grotto. Thomas tapped him on the wrist and pointed to his watch. They were at their agreed turnaround checkpoint. Jamie took one final pivot, soaking in as much of the beauty around him as possible.

They headed back out into the passage and Jamie noticed immediately the current had changed. Tide was sweeping in and the force of the water increased, propelling them backward if they didn’t deliberately kick toward the exit. He was glad of the extra light Braden carried that helped illuminate the tunnel.

Jamie caught a glimpse of the stalactite just before the force of the tidal rush snapped him into the wall. He twisted his body rapidly, but there wasn’t enough time to take the full force on his forearms, and the thud of his tank crashing into the rock made his stomach clench with fear. His oxygen tube ripped from the tank, air bubbles rushing into the water surrounding him, his lifeline disappearing in an instant. The escaping pressure from his tank jerked his body. He twisted to attempt to shut the air valve off at the source. Scrambled for the secondary mouthpiece and clutched it between his teeth. He flipped open the valve to clear the air passage.

Nothing happened.

His lungs screamed for a fresh breath of air. He locked his teeth around the mouthpiece to force himself to remain calm for another few seconds. Braden and Thomas both had buddy breathers on their tanks. He reached a hand toward Braden, signaling his need. Out of the corner of his eye he vaguely saw Thomas shoot out of sight down the passageway.

He grabbed Braden’s outstretched hand and grasped for the life-giving tube. Braden shocked him by ripping off his own facemask and regulator and then pinning Jamie’s arms to his sides. Jamie struggled—kicking and kneeing as hard as he could, striving for freedom. The man had gone mad. Without Braden’s help he was going to die in an underwater grave. Suddenly his regulator was torn from his lips and the pressure of Braden’s mouth over his registered just as he gave into the instinctive urge to inhale.

Sweet air.

It made no sense. Why was Braden feeding him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when he could just use the tank breather? Still, he wasn’t about to complain. He was in no position to ask any questions. He clung tightly to Braden, staring at him through his facemask. A clear membrane covered Braden’s eyes, and Jamie blinked in surprise.

Another breath. Braden twisted them to head back to the entrance of the tunnel system. Braden’s tanks hung suspended in the current for a moment before slowly sinking and moving farther down the passage, dragging along the sandy bottom. As the abandoned tank vanished behind them Jamie felt lightheaded in spite of the regular oxygen supply.

Maybe he’d actually drowned and this was a part of the final journey?

The distance back to the surface took longer than he remembered, and he tried to close his mind to the hovering fear, the need to totally rely on Braden for his very life.

The world grew a little darker, and Jamie, embarrassed even as it happened, passed out.

Braden supported Jamie’s limp body against him carefully, his mind racing to figure out what in the hell to do.

Of all the stupid, dim-witted and foolhardy things…

He should have known to carry some oxygen. Merfolk always did when they swam with humans. Not a full tank, but enough in case of emergencies. It added to the illusion of using the tanks.

Braden headed toward the surface. There was no way he could let Jamie drown. The man’s incredible rapport and patience with Chelsea—how he went out of his way to make her feel successful and competent—she didn’t get that kind of treatment from her family, or from many of the folks around town who saw her as just a pretty face.

Jamie genuinely cared for Chelsea and it showed. And damn if that didn’t make the man even more attractive in his own eyes.

Thomas darted back, passing a thumbs-up before swimming toward the cave, no doubt to gather the tank he’d left behind. Help would be waiting at the shore. Help that could keep secrets and make sure that Jamie was all right without alerting the entire world to the existence of the merfolk.

Their heads broke the surface and Braden rolled to his back, cradling Jamie on his torso. He waited, making sure that Jamie drew a full breath of air on his own without any troubles.

Troubles. Now that’s something they had in plentiful supply. Braden adjusted his grip carefully and made his way to shore with his precious burden.

Chelsea hovered outside the door of the bedroom. She’d come over as soon as she’d heard to make sure Jamie was all right. Now she couldn’t seem to stop herself from fluttering around like a lost bird. “Are you sure he’s okay? We don’t need to take him to the hospital?”

Braden pulled her close and pressed her head against his chest, smoothing his fingers through her hair, rubbing her back gently. His touch calmed her, but still the ache in her belly refused to go away.

“He’ll be fine. He’ll come around soon. The doctor gave him a shot to keep him sedated for a bit, but Jamie didn’t get any water into his lungs. Come on, we need to talk about what we’re going to do before he wakes up.”

She took one final look into the darkened room, listening to Jamie’s uneasy breathing. Braden tugged her toward the second bedroom just down the hall. He sat her on the bed and pulled the chair from the wall to sit opposite her. Her fingers were cold as he took her hands in his.