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The deck quaked beneath us.
“What was that?” I darted my gaze to the inferno.
“Indy!” Tyler yelled from the top of the step that bordered the flames. He aimed the extinguisher at the blaze, but nothing happened.
Oh fuck. The fire extinguisher is empty.
Tyler tossed the tank aside and sprinted toward us.
“I love you, Indy.” Dad’s hand slipped from my fingers.
“Get out of there!” Tyler yanked the equipment room door wider.
“Kingsley,” Dad croaked.
“We have to get you out of here.” Tyler grabbed Dad’s arm to lift him.
“No!” Dad barked and slapped Tyler away. “Leave me.”
“Hell no,” Tyler hissed.
“Listen to me, you fool.” Dad gripped Tyler’s wrist so hard his knuckles bulged. “I’m dying. You can’t save me. I need you to save Indiana.”
A tangled web of emotions twisted Tyler’s expression.
My chin dimpled. “No. Dad.”
Dad raised his hand with a stern look I’d seen on him a thousand times.
Tyler squeezed his palm to my father’s. “I promise I’ll look after her.”
“I know you will.” Dad’s voice broke. “I’m so pleased I met you.”
His hand flopped onto his chest.
I gasped. Tears streamed down my cheeks. “I love you, Dad.”
His eyes rolled to me, and the fog that had clouded his irises forever shifted away. “Goodbye, my sweet Indy.”
A sob burst from my lips as the light in his eyes faded and his eyelids closed.
“Oh my god.” I sucked in a ragged breath.
Tyler pulled me to my feet and wrapped his arms around me.
As I sobbed into his chest, the flames roared behind me.
CHAPTER 18
Tyler
I gripped Indiana to my chest as sobs wracked through her body. Her sorrow seeping into my bones was as raw as her warm tears dripping onto my neck. Gliding my hand over her hair, I wanted to say that everything would be okay, but I would be lying. Her father’s death was just the beginning. Flames leaped up from the lower deck as if celebrating that Indiana’s boat wouldn’t survive this night either.
Wesley appeared amidst the flames. Just like Old Smithy, his death could have been avoided.
My bullet had killed Wesley, and I had to live with that for the rest of my life.
Wesley gave me the bird, his signature parting wave goodbye, then vanished in a puff of smoke.
