Night fell.

Ethan Sullivan and Sophia Laurent's car raced down the highway for three hours before reaching the stretch of ocean that had swallowed the plane.

The dock was bleached white under floodlights.

Sophia stumbled as she stepped out of the car.

Ethan caught her by the waist.

The briny sea wind slapped their faces. In the distance, search boats flickered like fireflies on the ink-black water.

"Any news?" Sophia's voice trembled.

Ethan shook his head and dialed the search team leader.

The signal crackled.

"Mr. Sullivan...only debris found..."

The call cut out abruptly.

Sophia dug her nails into her palms.

She suddenly bolted toward the nearest speedboat.

Ethan seized her wrist. "Are you insane?"

"I have to find him!"

"Professional teams can't locate him. You want to die trying?"

Tears splashed onto Ethan's hand as Sophia struggled against his grip.

His Adam's apple bobbed. He wrapped his suit jacket around her slender shoulders.

"He can swim." His voice turned gravelly. "Survived that fire years ago."

The words made Sophia shudder.

More relatives gathered on the dock.

Some knelt wailing. Others screamed at the sea.

Sophia stared at the horizon, remembering Kyle Grant's parting smile before boarding.

3 a.m. The wind cut like knives.

Ethan's phone vibrated.

Sophia's head snapped up.

"Keep searching." He hung up and met her gaze. "Nothing yet."

Her legs buckled. Ethan caught her against his chest.

His body heat seeped through his shirt. His heartbeat thudded against her ear.

"You're worried about him too," she whispered.

Ethan's jaw tightened. "I just hate seeing you like this."

At dawn, they returned to the hotel.

Sophia curled into a ball in the bathtub.

As water rose past her chin, she remembered childhood summers when Kyle taught her to hold her breath.

A splash.

Ethan hauled her out and swaddled her in a towel.

"Sleep," he ordered.

She lay awake until morning.

At noon, Iris Evans brought news: A male body had been found.

The dock erupted into chaos.

Sophia shoved past bodyguards.

The corpse on the stretcher was bloated beyond recognition—except for the scar on his left pinky.

A burn from saving her years ago.

Sophia collapsed to her knees.

Ethan wrapped around her from behind, covering her eyes with his palm.

"Don't look." His voice shook for the first time.