Submerged

And Adam had pulled her from certain death.

Cobie shrugged off the memory and helped Adam and Nate secure the boat.

“How do we get to the cabin?” Adam’s rigid tone set her on edge, but she knew that deep down he was only worried about her. She wondered if he’d finally learned to think about consequences—something he’d never bothered to do in the past. He’d been reckless with her brother’s life, after all.

She pointed. “It’s just there. The trail is overgrown. Not many people come here, but enough do, I guess.”

Her father had. Others before him, too. Hard to believe the cave was mostly unexplored. Uncharted and undiscovered. There were hundreds of caves in southeast Alaska that they knew of. Many more they didn’t. And plenty had yet to be explored or mapped.

Cobie trekked behind Adam and Nate up the barely visible trail that would take them to the cabin. The same trail she’d taken earlier when the pilot had dropped her off. He’d escorted her to the cabin. When he’d expressed concern about leaving her alone, she had assured him her friends would arrive soon. He had a schedule to keep and had to leave, but he promised to stop by after his deliveries to check on her. Billy seemed like a nice enough guy, and she knew people who knew him in Mountain Cove. She could trust him.

As they climbed higher, the Sitka spruce grew thicker, and the birds chirped. In the distance, sea lions barked. Cobie’s encounter with the man bent on killing her seemed surreal. To think, a couple of hours ago this island had been a peaceful refuge. Now her fear gauge inched upward by the minute. What if the man was still on the island? What if he’d hurt Laura and Jen? What if he hurt Adam and his friends because Cobie had gotten them involved?

“Shouldn’t we call out for them?” Cobie glanced up, searched the trees above. Small animals scuttled across the branches. “They could be anywhere on the island.”

They could be in trouble.

“True enough, but until we know what we’re up against, I’d prefer to take the stealth approach.” As soon as he’d said the words, Adam stopped.

Nate did the same behind him, as did Cobie.

“I can see the cabin up ahead in the clearing,” Adam said.

“Let’s go.” She tried to hurry past him.

He held his arm out, clutching her waist, holding her back. “We don’t know if it’s safe.”

“Then you’d better be prepared to use that weapon.” Cobie shrugged free and ran toward the cabin. “Laura! Jen!”

* * *

Adam held back a few choice words. But what he’d said to Cobie came back to bite him.

We don’t know if it’s safe.

Those were the same exact words Brad had said to him when he’d tried to persuade his best friend to go down deeper into the cave they were exploring. Adam hadn’t heeded Brad then, and Brad had been the one to die. Life certainly wasn’t fair. Didn’t pick the person who deserved to live over the person who deserved to die.

The guilt was crushing, except Cobie wouldn’t give him a chance to stop and catch his breath. Gather his thoughts. That was the only good going on here. He rushed after her, but she was already out in the open, out of the protective cover of the trees, and yelling at the top of her lungs. Whoever was in the cabin had to know they had company by now.

With his gun in hand, he readied himself to defend them if it came to that.

“Cobie, wait!”

Adam caught up to her, grabbed her arm, pulled her back behind him. “At least let me go first. Let me protect you.”

Cobie opened her mouth to argue when the door to the cabin opened. Adam’s heart jumped to his throat. He threw himself in front of Cobie.

A tall brunette stepped out of the cabin and pointed her weapon at Adam. “Let her go.”

“Laura! Wait. This is my friend Adam.” Cobie stepped out from behind Adam.

Laura frowned and lowered her weapon. “I thought...”

Cobie ran to Laura. They hugged. Another woman, dirty-blond hair, short and sturdy like an athlete, joined the hug fest. Adam stood in the rain watching, the rapid beat of his heart keeping time with the drops. He dragged in a few breaths. That had been too close. Two friends trying to protect a mutual friend had nearly gotten one of them killed.

“Come inside.” Cobie and Laura pulled Adam and Nate into the cabin.

Cobie made the introductions. Laura cocked a brow when she recognized either Adam or his name—he wasn’t sure. He might have seen her with Cobie years ago, now that he thought about it. But she’d changed something. Lost weight. Dyed her hair. And the other woman, Jen, didn’t look happy to see him.

“We thought something had happened to you,” Jen said. “We went to the cave looking for you. You didn’t tell me you were bringing other friends, Cobie. Guy friends.”

“No, wait. You don’t understand.” Cobie started to explain but then stopped. “What’s...what’s all this?”

Laura and Jen moved out of Adam’s line of sight so he could see gear was strewn across the floor. Bags ripped. Junk tossed.

“I don’t know. We found it like this. And you were gone.” Laura flashed a suspicious look at Adam. “That’s why we were so worried.”

Cobie covered her mouth and glanced at Adam. Her eyes said everything she couldn’t say. This guy had tried to kill her. Had rummaged through her things. Why? Adam wanted to hug her to him. He thought about that brief moment on the trawler when she’d been in his arms. He wanted to comfort her like that again. Protect her. But he wasn’t the man for that.

“What’s going on, Cobie?” Laura asked, looking from Adam to Cobie. Nate didn’t merit a glance.

Cobie told them about the man who had tried to strangle her to death at the cave. About the jump off the bluff. And about how she’d almost drowned before Adam pulled her out.

Jen leaned against the wall and slid down. “Gotta sit down. My legs are shaking.”

“Mine, too.” Cobie joined her on the floor. Laura was next.

Tears welled in all three women’s eyes. Adam looked away. He couldn’t take watching them cry. It wasn’t that he had a hard heart. No. It was the exact opposite. He was too softhearted for his own good, and that had always gotten him into trouble. He had to work hard to protect himself. At least Cobie’s friends were here to comfort her. Adam wanted to join them in their efforts, but he couldn’t afford to let his heart grow soft again when it came to Cobie.

Nate shifted around the cabin, drawing Adam’s attention. He moved closer to his friend, away from the women who huddled next to Cobie, talking among themselves.

“The guy could still be here,” Nate said under his breath. “We need to keep our guard up.”

“Yep. Wish Ray would get here.”

Adam looked around at Cobie’s things all over the floor. Man, she’d brought a lot of stuff. How long had she been planning to stay? But then she’d need fresh clothing after she explored the cave, and maybe after she stepped outside, too. This could have gotten awkward real fast, considering he and his friends had planned to use this cabin while they mapped the cave. Had Cobie made a reservation, too? Or had someone overbooked the cabin?

“Cobie, you missing anything?”

“I don’t know. What could I have that anyone would want?”

Someone knocked on the door. The women against the wall yelped. Laura stood, pressed her hand against her gun. Adam frowned. “You might be good with your weapon, but I don’t need you shooting a hole in my friend.”

She scowled. “How do you know it’s him?”

“Is Cobie’s attacker going to knock?”

“Stranger things have happened.” Jen was on her feet, pulling Cobie up with her.