Chapter 276

I froze. A second later, the meaning of his words hit me. Panic surged as I spun my head from side to side, scanning the endless sea. Nothing to the left. Nor to the right. Ahead, nothing. Behind, nothing. I should’ve have known: a tiny yacht in the face of such destruction had almost no chance of surviving. Ashton and I were stranded at sea. The thought made me clutch the regulator in my hand. Kicking hard, I swam towards the small island ahead. Ashton followed swiftly. I scrambled onto the sand, tearing off the oxygen tank and flippers, flinging them aside as I stumbled along the beach. My eyes darted frantically, searching for something. Ashton reached the shore a few moments later. His longer strides closed the gap between us in seconds. He caught my arm, his grip firm, his voice calm and cool. ‘Calm down.’ I didn’t even look at him. With a twist, I wrenched free and pressed forward, still searching. Ashton moved quickly, his arm snaking around my waist, pulling me tight against hi