z P

her, a silent shadow. Call it instinct, call it a protective urge, but something about her fragility masked a fierce strength, and I knew she was in d

the moon hidden behind thick clouds. The air tasted of salt and impending doom. My N

wn gloom, a luxury car half-submerged, teetering on the jagge

ng pale. I dove in, the frigid water a shock to my system. I swam ag

. She was barely breathing, her face pale, bruised, and marred with what looked like fresh cuts. Her hands

thready. I wrapped her in a thermal blanket, starting CPR, willing her back to li

oice barely audible, before sli

rn, Baylee. I had heard the rumors, the whispers of Elliana' s public downfall. Now,

charter was more than just a business; it was a sanctuary. For broken ships, and sometimes, for broken people.

sing to surrender. It took days for the fever to break, for her to regain some semblance of strength. I fed her broth, changed her dressings, a silent sentinel by

ry hues, she spoke. Her voice was raspy, but clear. "Thank you, Cruz," sh

na," I replied, my voice

die, you know. My husband." The words were devoid of inflection, a raw statement of

and righteous. But I kept my expression neutr

ping her lips. "Baylee. She orchestrated the kidnapping, th

e of the sea. It was a story of betrayal, of cr

ce cracking. "My career, my reputation, my baby..

her, the resilience, was awe-inspiring.

softly, turning to face her. "You lost what

ew in her eyes-hope, perhaps, or recogniti

ze steady. "You get stron

learned to fish, to mend nets, to navigate the choppy waters around my island. Her hands, once delicate, grew callou

aper. The front page screamed Britton Cohen' s name. A blurry photo of him, gaunt and disheveled, stoo

He's putting on a show," she said, her voice flat. "Trying to salvage

istraught," I offered

the one that gives me half of everything. Or maybe his beloved Baylee is proving to be more troubl

o clung to hope was gone, replaced by someone colder, stronger,

sked, my voice betrayi

"Rebirth, Cruz. A complete, utter rebirth. And then... justice."