Page 22 of Riptide

“Kaimana knew Evan. And this is the part where I really need you to keep an open mind…she believes that Evan was taken, that he’s alive.”

“She thinks he’s alive?” Garrett said with a disbelieving smile on his face. “No.”

“One hundred percent she does. I know it sounds crazy.”

“Because it is crazy. Is she mentally stable?” Garrett asked.

“Yeah. I mean, what’s your definition of stable? Who is really stable? Look at the shit we do.” Seth laughed.

“If you want me to help, you know I’m in. But I need to know the truth about her. She could be anyone.”

“I’m not sure I can tell you the whole truth. Because, my friend, I don’t know the whole truth. But I can tell you that she’s…” Hot. Sexy Smart. “Resourceful. Kind of badass.”

Garrett stared a hole through him as if he was reading his mind. Seth cracked a small smile and raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t particularly good at lying, let alone to Garrett.

“Dude. What do you want to hear?” Seth shrugged. “She’s attractive. And she’s tough. And smart. I mean, I just find her, um, you know…nice.”

“Stockholm syndrome.” Garrett sighed and shook his head. “Something’s definitely wrong with you.”

“She didn’t technically kidnap me. She rescued me and then just…you know…took me with her.” He laughed. “I was badly injured. There were people shooting at her. At us. I don’t even know how she got me to the yacht. Keanu probably helped.”

“Keanu? The brother from the boat?”

“If I’d wanted to call for help right away, I could have managed to bust into the helm. Her brother let me in anyway. But she had a problem. And I was intrigued.”

“I bet you were.”

“She knew Giordano. He’s not just involved with stealing data, you know. He’s tied up with Dom Marretta. Human trafficking.”

“Well that doesn’t surprise me. Giordano is the type to be involved with bad things, bad people.”

“You haven’t asked the most important question, which is ‘what was she doing there?’”

“I thought you said she was there for Giordano.”

“Yeah, but she said she was there following Lars. Because of Evan.”

“Maybe she knew him, maybe she didn’t. But either way, Evan’s dead,” Garrett countered. “I’m sorry. Sounds like you might be into her, but we all saw him die.”

“I was there that day too. I mean, I know—” Seth stabbed his fingers through his unruly hair. “It’s just crazy. But she insists he’s still alive.”

“Has she offered proof?”

Seth shook his head. “She said she had proof, but I haven’t seen anything if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Exactly. And how could she? Because Evan is dead. I don’t know what her angle is, but it doesn’t matter. When it comes to this Evan claim? No way.”

“I know, I know.” Seth blew out a breath. “I saw him too, but maybe—”

“Don’t say it. Just stop.” Garrett held up a hand.

“I was dead too, though. Yet here I am. Alive and in the flesh,” Seth challenged, not quite sure he believed Evan was alive either. He set his beer on the end table and looked at his friend. “I’m being serious, dude. Did you grieve for me? You just said you held a freakin’ funeral.”

Garrett quietly nodded and glanced away. “Your mom is going to kill you by the way.”

“Yeah, I know. But we can’t tell anyone yet.” Was she ever going to kill him. “Seriously. Think about it. It’s kind of the same situation. Lars saw me go off the cliff. The odds of me surviving the fall were slim. But none of you had a body and you guys still assumed I was dead. And I get it. I’d do the same.”

“That was different.”