Page 43 of Black Waters

Chapter Ten

Once More

Istared at my dead brother.

The only thing keeping my body from shutting down was Whitney gasping for air. She needed me. So I scooped her drenched little body to mine. Her fingers frantically grasped my wet shirt, her eyes pleading for mercy. I touched her pale cheek. “Shhh, I’m here. I’m here. Get air in. That’s all you have to do. Keep breathing for me. Okay?” Matted hair clung to her face while she shakily nodded, not breaking our locked gaze.

My yell for help had echoed throughout the lake and attracted the attention of a neighbor, who had called 9-1-1.

Kneeling on the dock next to my crying mother holding her deceased child, his arms around her trembling shoulders, my father told me, “I’m so sorry, Reether. I’m so sorry for this unbelievable loss, but I have to ask for you to wait before mourning.”

“What do you mean?” My scratchy voice croaked.

“How do we explain this? Too many unanswered questions, Reeth.” He looked at Mom and Whit, who were illegally here. Whether it was their choice or not, too much poking around would have two governments from two countries interfering in their lives—lives that were falling apart and spinning out of control.

“How do we keep them out of this?” I tightened my hold on shivering Whitney, wondering how much of this she was understanding.

“Hide them until we come up with a better plan.”

“Link?”

I looked down to the green eyes that owned my shattered world. I kissed her forehead and thought about Crash’s words. “I need you to love her enough for the both of us.”He knew. He knew all along that this would be the only way to get the Russians off us—off her.

I told my dead brother, “I will. I do.”

“Is Crash okay?” Whit weakly asked, snuggled to my chest.

My dad ushered a woman, mentally torn to shreds, into the water and following with her dead son in his arms. Choking on unbearable sadness, I whispered my answer. “No… No, he’s not.”

Trying to ignore the emotional pain—fire burning my heart—I followed my father’s example and tried to show strength. Tears ran down my face as I stood with Whit still cradled in my arms. Noticing how her soaked cast made her heavier was only a bitter reminder of what had happened.

Whit searched for Crash. Her eyes landed on my mother, who was hiding under the dock with my father and a ghost-white Crash. Whit gasped, causing her to cough again while timidly reaching a dancer hand out for him. I headed in the direction of my folks, taking her closer, needing to conceal Whit from the help on the way. But the closer I got us to the lake, the more agitated she became. “No. NO! I don’t want back in that water!”

Who could blame her? She had just died there, and so had the man she loved. “No! Link! Please! Get Crash away from the water!”

I tried to talk over her wails. “Shh, Whit. We’re in trouble, and you have to listen to me.” But I was interrupted.

“Better believe you’re in trouble. Put the girl down!”

I looked over my shoulder toward Whit’s house. There were two policemen and two security guards. Guns pointed. “Step away from the girl! Now!”

Whit screamed at the sight, wrapping her arms around my neck. I think she believed it was the Russians returning. With my arms still cradling her, I exposed my palms and slowly turned to face the armed men. “Okay, just don’t shoot. I’ll do what you say. I’ll put her down.”

“NO!” Whit screamed. “Don’t put me down!”

One of our house guards asked, “Miss Summers?”

Whit dared to peer from my neck; recognition crossed her face. Her voice trembled, but she answered. “Yes, John. It’s me. Why are you pointing guns at us?” The poor girl was so lost with everything happening around her.

“Lower your guns,” the guard quickly insisted. “Miss Summers, I’m so sorry. We had a call that someone needed help.”

She cried and sniffled. “You did?”

“Yes, ma’am. Are you okay?”

Whit’s head tiredly lolled on my shoulder as she quietly sobbed. “I think so.” She didn’t seem to know how to react to any of what was transpiring. “Please don’t take me from Link. I can’t bear it.”

“Yes, ma’am.”