Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

close to them as he could. He and Peter grabbed Garrett under the arms and pulled him out of the frigid water. Sonya swam up to the boat, her actions slow and sluggish, her arms leaden. She reached up a hand, and they pulled her into the skiff.
    The night air sliced like shards of ice, stealing her breath. She’d been warmer in the water.
    “What the hell’s been going on here?” Peter asked, fear causing his voice to crack. “Why are you guys in the water? What’s up with Aidan?” They all heard his tormented sobs carrying over the water as the skiffs drifted away from each other with the tide. “What’s with all the fireworks? I thought Cranky and Crafty were going to wait ’til tomorrow night.” He helped her sit in the bottom of the boat, next to Garrett, since her legs couldn’t seem to hold her weight. “Damn, you’re cold, Sonya. We’ve got to get you back to the cabin and warm you up.”
    She shook her head. “Garrett’s h-hurt.” She put her hand on his bare chest, relieved to feel air rhythmically breathe in and out. Blood seeped steadily from a gash on his forehead. “We n-need blankets from the Double Dippin’ . C-cabin’s too far away.” Wes had already angled the skiff near the ladder at the stern of the drift boat. Peter scampered aboard, while Wes tied them to the boat. “Grab something to h-help stop Garrett’s bleeding t-too,” Sonya hollered.
    Peter was back in moments with two sleeping bags and the first aid kit. Bless him, he’d also grabbed their boots. “Crap, Sonya, the boat’s a mess.” He draped one of the sleeping bags around her shoulders and handed over a pair of boots. “What the hell went down here tonight?” She grabbed the folds of the down-filled sleeping bag tight around her and struggled to get her wet, frozen feet into her rubber boots.
    Garrett moved his head and groaned. “Sonya.”
    She reached for his hand and held it in hers, bringing their clasped fingers to her chest. “I-I’m right here. H-hang in there, Garrett. W-we’ll get you f-fixed up.”
    Wes picked her up and moved her away from Garrett. “You sit here and let Peter and I take care of him.” They stripped Garrett’s soaked jeans off him and zipped him snug in the sleeping bag. Then Wes covered the cut on his forehead with gauze pads, taping them in place. When they were finished, she crawled back to Garrett’s side and brushed a hand over his wet hair.
    “There isn’t anything more we can do for him until we get to the cabin,” Wes said.
    She shook her head. “No, you n-need to take him to Wanda. He needs s-stitches, and checked over for a c-concussion,” she said through chattering teeth. Aidan’s anguished suffering echoed over the water. She had to help him, too, before he did something bad…like turn his gun on himself. “I want you to drop me off with Aidan, and then take Garrett to Wanda.”
    “No.” Garrett struggled to opened his eyes. “Skip and Judd will be here. They can help Aidan.”
    “They’ll a-arrest him and a-ask questions later. That’s the last thing he n-needs right now.”
    “We’ll get you two to shore and then come back and help Aidan,” Peter suggested. “You need to get dry and warmed up.”
    “No.” She hoped Peter would understand. She knew he was worried about her. “Peter, Aidan just k-killed Earl. I can’t leave him a-alone. He n-needs me.”
    “I need you, Sonya.” Garrett’s hand squeezed hers.
    The words warmed her heart and she wished she could go with him, but of the two men, Aidan needed her more right now. She gave Garrett a soft smile and kissed their joined hands. “Garrett, you’re the kind of guy who doesn’t need anyone.”
    “Damn it, Sonya.” Garrett pushed up to a sitting position, and then his eyes rolled back in his head. He would have fallen back if Sonya hadn’t caught him in her arms and helped him lie down. He was quickly losing his ability to fight with her. “Sonya.” He swallowed. “Listen—”
    “Save your s-strength for Wanda. Y-you’ll need it.” She ran her fingers alongside his stubbled jaw, and then turned to Wes. “Take me to Aidan.”
    “You’re sure?” Wes asked. “One of us can stay behind with Aidan.”
    “It’ll take b-both of you to get Garrett to Wanda’s. I-I don’t have the strength.”
    Wes drew the skiff alongside Aidan’s. The two boats drifted recklessly with the incoming tide. Aidan held Earl in his arms, his fractured sobs breaking her heart. She stepped