22. Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter twenty-two
T he Next Day
The sun's glare off the ocean is blinding, forcing me to squint as I stare out at the waves. The sand is hot beneath my bare feet and I dig my toes in, seeking comfort that won't come.
"Do you think we're doing too much?" I blurt out.
Angel turns, eyebrows raised behind her sunglasses. "What do you mean?"
"The clothing line, the surfing school..." I trail off with a frustrated sigh, raking a hand through my hair. "They're all big ventures on their own without considering the rest of our operations."
I start pacing, unable to contain the nervous energy thrumming through me. "Aria's opening a fucking restaurant, for god's sake. Is this really the time, when we're trying to overthrow the Bowser of the islands?"
Angel's lips quirk into a wry smile. "So we're meant to stop living until this is all over?" She steps in front of me, halting my frantic movements. "What if this doesn't end, Devon? What if this isn't the final act and there's more to come?"
"I know, but I just spent a couple of days in the jungle trying to turn into some kind of action hero. I have the basics down, but this type of thing takes years to fully master. It feels like we're taking Nerf guns to a nuclear war. Imagine if we really stepped back and focused until we knew without a doubt we were ready to take him down."
Her hands come up to frame my face, forcing me to meet her steady gaze. "Do you want to just wait and wait for the perfect time?" She shakes her head, tendrils of hair blowing in the breeze. "There is not, and never will be, a perfect time. He's only going to keep getting stronger, bringing more and more onto his side who will be loyal without question."
I close my eyes with a shaky exhale, leaning into her touch. Her words wash over me, equal parts reprimand and reassurance.
"I don't know about you," she continues, "well, I do actually. You're the same as me." Her thumbs brush over my cheekbones. "You don't want to spend your life living in regret and wondering 'what if'."
I nod slowly, the fight going out of me. She's right. Of course she's right.
"Okay," I breathe out, opening my eyes to meet her steady gaze again. In that endless blue I find the calm I've been seeking. "Okay, we do this."
Her answering smile eases the clench in my chest. As long as we're together, we can weather any storm.
As I realize the inevitable path ahead, my mind drifts and I consider the exhausting alternative she outlined so pragmatically—living each day on high alert, endlessly strategizing and trying to stay one step ahead of him. Never fully relaxing or letting my guard down, always anticipating his attempts to push us off the islands or eliminate us completely.
It's a mentally draining way to live and I'm tired of it. Tired of the scheming, the violence, the fear of what he might do next. As thrilling as outmaneuvering him has been at times, I'm ready for it to be over.
"I'm too tired for that, honestly… the thought of him getting stronger." I sigh, jaded at the thought of another round with Tane. "I think we all are ready for this to be over."
I sink down onto the couch, leaning my head back and closing my eyes. "Not that it hasn't been fun, plotting and scheming—and especially going along with Brick's wildly creative and—well, psycho...plans." A wry smile tugs at my lips. "But there's a lot of risk involved, and it can be... scary."
I open my eyes, gazing up at the ceiling fan as it lazily circulates the humid air. "The thought of a more normal life, something with a level of predictability, has its appeal."
Skyler, overhearing some of the conversation as he enters the room, perches on the arm of the couch next to me, mussing my hair affectionately. "We'll still have our operations running in the background, you know. While we pursue these other things."
"It's just… a lot," I sigh, overwhelmed by my rapidly growing mental to-do list.
He nudges my shoulder playfully. "I know my surf school hasn't taken me away from our regular business. In fact, it's enhanced it.
I roll my eyes, swatting his hand away. "But you use that to access intel from your clients. It's really complementary to the other things we do." I wave a hand vaguely. "I hardly think we're going to change the world through sports bras and yoga pants."
Skyler grins, undeterred. "Hey, you never know."
Angel's musical laugh rings out. "What do you mean? Spandex saves the day?"
Skyler snorts, shaking his head. "No, but you're going to have access to a whole new pool of people. And do you know what people have, Dev? Secrets and information."
He leans in conspiratorially. "Whether you gather it at a surfing lesson or a yoga retreat, information is information."
I raise a skeptical eyebrow, prompting him to continue earnestly.
"And, I don't mean to be sexist, but you get a group of women together at a fitness class, and from what I've seen on television—on those reality shows you watch—that's the prime time to share the juiciest news." He nudges me again. "People really seem to let their guard down in those environments."
I can't help but chuckle. "Come on, Sky...I've walked in and seen you checking out Real Housewives episodes by yourself, when nobody else was in the room. Is that where you learned how women operate in 'those environments'?"
A blush spreads up his neck and across his cheeks. "I was just...keeping up on pop culture so I could wow my clients." He rubs the back of his neck self-consciously. "Anyways, that's neither here nor there."
Rake walks up to us, overhearing Skyler’s excuses. “Just own it, man. I watch it to perfect my table-flipping techniques. Hasn’t come in handy yet, but I’m just waiting for the right time…”
We all smirk. Trust Rake to bring the levity and make Skyler feel better in the moment.
I wave a hand, taking pity on Skyler. "Message received, Sky. I shouldn't worry about this taking me away from our end goal. There's more to life than Tane Brown, and hopefully soon he won't even be part of the equation, and just a distant memory."
Skyler smiles, relief evident on his face. "Exactly."
I take a deep breath as Skyler's words truly start to sink in. He's right—there's more to life than constantly watching over my shoulder for Tane's next move.
Skyler's perspective helps give me hope. He and Angel make a compelling case that now is the time to go on the offensive. That we can still run our regular operations in the background even as we pursue new ventures we're passionate about.
The more I think about it, the more a plan comes into focus. My athleisure line with Angel will provide the perfect cover as we put additional pressure on Tane. And everyone else's new businesses will allow us to gather intel from entirely new networks of people.
I feel a spark of excitement begin to grow within me, replacing the uncertainty I'd felt before. We're going to take Tane down once and for all. And then we'll be free to build the lives we want, spreading our wings beyond the shadows of the past. The future is ours for the taking.
I look between Skyler and Angel, gratitude welling up inside me. "You're absolutely right. Both of you. I was losing perspective but I'm back on track now." I squeeze Angel's hand before pulling Skyler in for a quick hug. "Let's do this. It's time."
I feel myself shine with renewed purpose as I turn to leave the hideout, Skyler and Angel's words still ringing in my ears. This is far from over. But with my found family beside me, I know Tane stands less of a chance than ever before.
As I step outside into the humid night air, I take a deep breath, feeling it fill my lungs. The neighborhood sounds surround me with distant music, raucous laughter, a police siren wailing. This island is well and truly my home now, these streets course through my veins. And I'll be damned if I let anyone take that away from me.
My boots thump decisively on the pavement as I make my way through the maze of back roads, back toward the heart of the city. I can already envision the next steps—shoring up our existing operations, laying the groundwork for the new businesses, and hitting Tane where it hurts most. My mind whirs, strategizing even as I walk.
There's a lot to do, and nothing is for certain. But I'm back in the fight now, energized and determined.
I won't stop until Tane is nothing but a distant memory.
The future belongs to me and my family.
And I'll reshape it with my own two hands.