Ocean's Surrender

Read Ocean's Surrender for Free Online

Book: Read Ocean's Surrender for Free Online
Authors: Denise Townsend
admit you can trust anybody.”
    With a shiver, River remembered Fen’s words about how her brother could see more than others, because he was one who watched. Was that really how he saw her?
    Was that really how she’d become?
    “This isn’t about me,” River insisted. “This is about safety, and the fact this guy’s a stranger.”
    “Then why are you going?”
    Why am I going? she thought, to herself.
    The fact was, she couldn’t really answer that question. There was too much going on inside of her. There was fear, for herself and for Jason. But stronger than any fear was the need to take care of this herself, rather than be rescued again. River also desperately wanted to keep Jason away from trouble. It was her turn to kill someone in self-defense, after all.
    Such straightforward feelings were only the top layer of why River wanted to see this thing through with Fen. Deep down, and well hidden behind years of carefully cultivated cynicism, River was also curious. She wanted to know what this stranger really was.
    For there lurked an even deeper, totally unacknowledged part of River that wanted to believe.
    Her mother and father had been lousy parents, but exceptional storytellers. They’d told her the folktales of Europe and Louisiana, and she’d believed so fiercely when she was a child, in fairies and magic and mysterious forces that would try to hurt a body for no obvious reason, and even more mysterious forces that would rescue someone, just because they could.
    Those stories had always ended well, something River rarely saw reflected in her own young life.
    The truth was that, hidden deep inside, there lurked a part of River that was still a lonely girl wanting to believe in love and life and magic. But after so many experiences ranging from the banal to the truly terrible, that innocent part was deeply hidden. Which meant River wasn’t ready to admit any other reason for seeing Fen than to put the fear of God into him.
    “I’m going because I’m getting to the bottom of that man’s story. And if he’s lying, I’m going to make sure he never comes back to hurt you, Jason.”
    “And if he’s telling the truth?”
    “Then I’m going to tell him to stay far away from the both of us. We don’t need his kind of help.”
    Jason sighed, obviously disappointed in her. River picked up the shotgun and headed for the sliding doors at the back of the house.
    “If I’m not back in a few hours, call the police.”
    Jason just stared at his sister with a long-suffering, patient look, as if she were the one who was a little slow.
    “Yeah, sure, River,” he said. “I’m going downstairs to watch a movie. Have fun with Fen.”
    And that’s just what he proceeded to do.
    He’s not going to call the police , River realized. I could be out all night and he wouldn’t do it. He really does trust this guy.
    And that’s what really pissed River off.
    She knew she was being ridiculous, but River slammed the glass door shut behind her when she left.
    Should I call Leo, since Jason isn’t going to be any kind of backup?
    It was tempting, especially knowing her brother had lost his mind over Fen.
    Leo will know what to do…
    No , she thought fiercely, shaking her head as if she could shake off whatever need was clouding her judgment. I’m taking care of this by myself. I won’t have anyone else handling my problems for me, ever again.
    With a determined stride, River walked through her backyard and towards the sea. Pine needles crunched under her feet as she crossed the little wooded threshold separating her property from the beach.
    As soon as her feet hit sand, River took a Rambo stance, shotgun at the ready.
    Only there was no one there. The beach was empty, the descending sun making an idyllic scene of the lonely stretch of beach she’d planned on making her battle ground.
    Feeling part boob, part secret agent, River crept forward peering around her carefully.
    “Hello?” she called. “Anybody

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