“Severe hull breach…”
“…”
The ongoing status reports filtered into Echo’s ears, snapping her back to reality. She blinked, locking onto the sunlight streaming in through the window.
Just moments ago, she’d thought they were all doomed, but here they were, alive.
Hearing the crew’s voices echoing around her, Echo’s face turned bright red. She pushed at Ryan with all her might, but her weak attempt didn’t budge him at all, making her so frustrated she almost felt like biting him.
Ryan noticed her resistance, furrowing his brow and finally lifting his head.
Her face was so flushed it looked like she might melt, and she buried herself in Ryan’s chest, trying to shrink away as she could just disappear.
Ryan initially frowned but then seemed to understand, glancing around. He noticed Bill and the others working as if nothing unusual had happened, though a hint of a smile played at their lips. Realizing the situation, Ryan gave a cold grunt, which immediately erased the crew’s smirks. He pulled Echo closer.
“What’s your problem? I…” Echo stammered, cheeks flushed, her eyes flashing with embarrassment as she tried to squirm free like a startled cat.
Ryan looked at her briefly, then picked her up and repositioned her so she was sitting with her back against his chest, securing her hands in his. His eyes darkened as he noticed the bruises and cuts on her arms.
Seeing his gaze, Echo quickly realized her mistake. Ryan wasn’t the type to think only about “romantic things” at a time like this.
Blushing even more, she tried to sound calm. “It’s nothing,” she muttered, trying to pull her hands back.
“Don’t move.” Ryan’s cold command stopped her in her tracks, and she reluctantly held her hands in front of him.
Ryan tore off her torn sleeve, revealing her bruised, swollen arms with a deep, blade-like cut running across them. Though it wasn’t bleeding anymore, the wound looked harsh and painful.
“I told you I wouldn’t let you get hurt again,” Ryan said, turning her face toward him, his eyes locked on hers with a mix of emotions that words couldn’t capture.
Echo raised an eyebrow and gave him a playful smile. “Well, then, Boss, you owe me one this time. What’s my reward?”
“You disobeyed my order.”
The icy tone, laced with a hint of anger, made Echo’s face fall. She glared up at him. “Fine, then just take it off! It acted on its own; I don’t need it! You can have it.” She lifted her hand in a mock offering.
Ryan’s eyes flickered, catching the glimmer in her gaze. Gripping her hands tightly, he held her gaze for a moment before saying in a low voice, “No next time. If there’s danger, I’ll dodge it. You got that?”
Ryan signaled to Bill, who promptly handed over his stash of emergency medical supplies, always prepared for high-risk missions like this.
Ryan carefully applied the medicine to Echo’s injuries, his movements skilled and gentle. Though he was not completely focused on her, he could still sense the danger creeping up from behind. Originally, he planned to pull Echo aside, but she moved faster, leaping up to shield him, her hand covering his eyes.
It was hard to describe what he felt in that moment. His expression hadn’t shifted once, and he hadn’t asked about her injuries. But somewhere deep inside, something in him softened. At that moment, it was as if a corner of his iron heart had been warmed, sending that warmth through every fiber of his being.
After coming back to his senses, Michael couldn’t help but keep his eyes on Ryan and Echo in front of him. It wasn’t that he wanted to stare, but sitting directly behind them, he couldn’t avoid it.
He’d seen them wrapped around each other, kissing with an unrestrained, almost defiant passion that he couldn’t ignore. Watching them stirred a bitter feeling in his heart, a pang of jealousy mixed with awe.
It was beautiful-a beauty born from surviving life and death together, one that he didn’t want to disturb. It was as though their strength and vulnerability were woven into something unforgettable, touching his soul in a way he couldn’t quite explain.
Michael slowly stood, letting out a faint, resigned laugh. Maybe he’d arrived too late. Although he’d technically met her first, maybe missing his chance once meant he’d missed it for good.
Glancing over at Ryan, who was carefully tending to Echo’s wounds, Michael shook his head slightly, thinking that love was truly an unpredictable, inexplicable thing.
Stretching out his limbs, Michael turned and walked away. He needed to check on the others in the rear hold. People like Brook, Frank, and Ivy were back there, and he couldn’t ignore their situation. If the sturdiest part of the ship had been battered like this, he could only imagine the damage in the back. There was no way he’d be at ease until he saw for himself.
“Boss, I can’t get in touch with Cobra and the others,” Bill reported, scanning for their signals but coming up empty-handed.
Ryan’s face darkened as he replied, “Keep trying.”
“Understood.” Bill’s fingers flew over the keyboard, struggling with the weak signal on their heavily damaged ship.
Echo saw this and offered, “Let me handle it,” reaching her hand toward the controls.
Bill nodded, about to explain the signal codes to her when he noticed how exhausted she looked. After hesitating a moment, he said, “Never mind; I’ll do it. You should rest.”
Echo, still dazed from the relief of surviving and Ryan’s kiss, hadn’t noticed how worn out she was until then. But now, with Bill’s words, a wave of pain surged through her body, leaving her feeling utterly drained.
She gasped, face turning pale, and forced a weak smile. “Guess I really am cursed to be put through the wringer, huh?”
In the heat of chaos, Ryan’s kiss had consumed her entire focus, dulling her awareness of the pain and pressure she’d been under. Now, with the danger passed, it all hit her, and her body began to rebel. She sighed inwardly, feeling like her unpredictable body would be the death of her.
Ryan pulled her close, resting her head against his chest as he gently rubbed her stomach, trying to ease her discomfort. In a low voice, he ordered, “Contact Tiger and have him pick us up.”
Bill instantly complied.
At this point, they didn’t care about collecting algae samples. If the Street family made a move now, they’d be done for without even needing to fight. The Dark family knew their priorities, and Bill was already reaching out to Tiger without another word from Ryan.
“Boss! Cobra’s ship is ten nautical miles out; we’ve got a signal!” Bill exclaimed after a burst of static, practically cheering louder than he had after their own narrow escape.
“Head that way,” Ryan ordered with a nod, his gaze flickering with a hint of pride. Cobra hadn’t let him down.
Cobra’s ship hadn’t been as lucky as Ryan’s. Instead of landing flatly on the sea, it had tilted sharply as it hit the water. Fortunately, it gave them a moment to catch their breath, just enough time to avoid a shipwreck disaster.
When Ryan’s boat approached, he saw that only the bottom of Cobra’s ship was still floating, while the rest had already sunk. Cobra and his crew were clinging to the exposed hull, waving frantically in their direction.
“Looking pretty rough, aren’t you?” Bill said as he personally helped Cobra, Hawk, and the others aboard. The near-death experience and reunion had put him in a good mood, so he couldn’t resist a jab.
Cobra, soaked to the bone with his clothes torn up, rolled his eyes at Bill and replied, “Like you’re any better off.”
Hawk came over with a small smirk and said, “You’re in a good mood, huh? Great. I’m injured, so you’ll cover for me once we get back.” He held up his arm, which had a barely noticeable scratch.
Bill immediately turned away with a dismissive wave, saying, “Handle your own tasks-Boss’s orders. Unless you’re offering to switch roles with me, don’t even ask.”
Cobra chuckled, and Hawk shook his head, grinning.
The thrill of surviving was still fresh, and light-hearted jokes like these didn’t happen often.
As they left the captain’s quarters, they saw Ryan finishing up a call with Tiger. Hawk and Cobra both nodded respectfully, greeting him with a quick “Boss.”
Ryan turned, nodding back, and said, “Well done. Head northwest now; that’s where the crew will meet us from Hawaii.”
“Yes, sir.” Cobra took Bill’s previous seat. When it came to piloting, he was the most skilled after Ryan.
But before they could turn the boat, the calm sea under the sunset suddenly erupted. The previously clear sky grew dark, and a strong, fishy wind filled the air as waves began to swell. The ocean turned choppy, and a chill ran through the crew as the gusts grew sharper.
Cobra’s face paled, and he shouted in alarm, “A storm’s coming!”
He hadn’t even finished the sentence before the sky dimmed further, and a howling wind whipped across the water, turning the waves wild. The peaceful ocean transformed instantly.