The storm tonight was loud and angry. It wasn’t the usual type of storm that passed through mildly without leaving chaos. This one, Darcy could tell, would leave a trail of destruction in its path. Yet again, lightning flashed, and he watched the island and sea under the bright light for a flick of a second. He thought at that moment that it was both beautiful and frightening.
“That was a nasty one,” Sebastian said.
Darcy agreed, wondering how much cleaning up they’d have to do tomorrow morning when all this raging wind and lightning disappeared, providing them another calm, beautiful day here on St. Thomas Island.
Once the noise of the thunder had died down, the room was once again rowdy with chatter and laughter. At the moment, the Princeton brothers and their friends were gathered in the living area, scattered around, sitting on the sofas and armchairs, having a fine time talking and drinking coffee. Meanwhile, the brothers’ parents, James and Brenda, were enjoying their coffee and conversation with Haruka and Beth in another room away from the loud chatter and laughter.
The start to their two-week vacation had gone well so far, with the delicious evening feast along with the wonderful company. Then tomorrow, the fun would begin—snorkeling, jet skiing, swimming, and just doing whatever they wanted. Of course, they could even explore the forest in search for wildlife if anyone so desired. Then when evening came, Darcy and Sebastian would be confessing their love to Sakura, and then…
Darcy smiled at the thought of what would happen after.
Sakura, she had been lovely this evening, and of course, that kiss in the middle of Alice’s garden earlier had been passionate and beautiful. If Michael and Akira hadn’t turned up and interrupted them, Darcy knew they wouldn’t have gone further. God, it was getting harder for him to control himself where she was concerned.
“I wonder how the girls are doing,” Sebastian said, which drew Darcy’s attention.
Conrad said, “I heard Michael say he and the girls are gathering in Akira’s room for scary stories.”
Tristan raised a brow at this. “How come we’re not invited?”
Sosuke said, “Akira telling ghost stories? That’ll be interesting.” He chuckled with amusement.
Nicolas asked, “Why is that?”
“Because she’s very good at it. She knows a lot of the Japanese ones, too, ones that’ll make your spine crawl.”
Conrad shook his head. “No thanks. I hate ghost stories. I mean, they’re not real, the ghosts, but…” He shuddered at the very thought of having to listen to the tales.
Everyone chuckled with amusement at Conrad’s reaction.
Hayden said, “The girls are sorted with their entertainment for the evening. It looks like we men will have to come up with our own diversion. Any suggestions?”
Tristan put his hand up enthusiastically and was about to propose an outrageous drinking game, which would make everyone, especially Darcy, fall sick with a hangover the next morning, when the door crashed open with a bang!The loud, unexpected noise abruptly silenced the merry chatter and drew everyone’s attention to where little Michael—completely soaking wet from head to toe—stood, heaving and shivering.
Jim, Michael’s father, uttered, “What the…?” He immediately got up from his seat and rushed over to his son.
The brothers eyed one another, concerned, especially when they saw the pale horror on Michael’s young face. They, too, rushed over, along with Sosuke and Peter, wondering what the hell had happened.
At the entrance, Jim took Michael into his arms and asked, “What happened? Have you been out in the storm?”
Michael nodded. His lips were blue now and his whole body was shivering from the cold as his father frowned and said, “I thought you were with Katherine.”
Michael shook his head. He found it hard to talk, especially with his teeth clattering.
Sebastian said, “It’s dangerous outside in the storm, Michael. Why did you go out?”
Michael took a deep breath to calm himself. Once he managed to control his clattering teeth and shivering lips, he said, “I went to get Sakura.”
At this, Sebastian and Darcy instantly looked at each other, their stomachs fluttering sickly. They knew in their gut something wasn’t right, and it involved their beloved woman.
“And…?” Darcy said, his voice dark with dread.
Tears brewed in Michael’s eyes. “I saw a woman and a man take her. Sakura looked like she was asleep or something. She was unconscious maybe? I don’t know, but they took her out into the storm.”
Darcy felt sick to his stomach at the news. He swore under his breath. “Shit!”
Instantly, he turned on his heel and headed toward the door as he whispered Sakura’s name, praying she’d be all right and that he’d get there to save her on time.
Rushing along with him, Sebastian said, “She’ll be fine. She hasto be fine.”
Darcy turned his gaze to his brother, dread and fear exuding from within the depths of the mauve-gray eyes. He nodded, though he wasn’t confident that everything was going to be all right by the time they got to her. Ifthey got to her at all. Fuck! That thought made his head spin in fear, and he had to control the terror that surged within his chest.
Sebastian felt his heart racing and his stomach flipping sickly. Fuck, he should have been more vigilant. He should have stayed by her side whenever she was alone, but… Shit! He had thought because they were in a private retreat with tight security that he could relax, that nothing was going to happen to her. But, of course, he was wrong.
Mrs. Clark and Ray Woods. Sebastian knew without a doubt it must be those two. But how? They’d never been on the island before, so how could they possibly know the ins and outs of the house and the estate?
“It’s Tara!” Darcy said, interrupting Sebastian’s thoughts. “It’s her. I know it in my gut.”
Sebastian nodded. Of course, it had to be Tara. The girl had been on the island countless times with the brothers since they were young. Instantly, he felt betrayed. They had trusted her. They’d treated her as a sister, a family member, and now? She went and hurt one of their loved ones.
Behind them, Nicolas shouted, “Where are you two going?”
Sebastian said over his shoulder, “To find Sakura and save her.”
Tristan shouted, “I’m coming, too.”
“Me, too,” Hayden said as he rushed after them. “I’ll get the flashlights and raincoats.”
Returning his attention to Michael, Nicolas came down to his knees. Keeping as calm as possible, he asked the boy, “Do you know who those people were?”
Michael shook his head. “I’m not sure.”
Conrad said, “This is not the time to ask who those people were, Nicolas. Sakura was taken. We have to go after her.”
Logan said, “We can’t leave our princess sister when she needs us most.”
“I know that.” Turning his attention to Jim, Nicolas requested, “Get as much detail about the abductors as possible from Michael. And tell Dad what has happened. We need all the help we can get.”
Jim nodded firmly in understanding.
Sosuke said, “I’ll help find Sakura, too.”
Peter agreed.
Nicolas shook his head. “You two don’t know the island. It’s safer if you stay here for now.”
Sosuke and Peter glanced at each other. They knew Nicolas was right, of course, since this was their first time on the island, and them joining in the search without knowing their way about, especially in the dark and in the storm, would only lead to further burden.
A moment later, Nicolas, Conrad, and Logan rushed out the door.
At the other end of the house, the moment Sebastian and Darcy sprinted out onto the balcony of the west wing, they came to face the full wrath of the storm. Wind howled angrily across the heavens and rain poured on them as they raced down the winding stairs leading toward Alice’s garden below. Behind them, Hayden and Tristan came down the slippery stairs.
Upon landing, Hayden shouted, “Raincoats and flashlights!”
The brothers hurriedly put the waterproof coats on and each took a flashlight. Then they went about searching, the light of the flashlights fluttering about here and there within the darkness.
“Which way do you think they took her?” Darcy shouted, his voice fighting to stay above the thunderous noise echoing across the sky.
Sebastian shook his head. “I don’t know. We should split up.”
It was then Nicolas, Logan, and Conrad—all wearing raincoats and holding flashlights—joined them.
Nicolas asked, “What happened? Which way did they go?”
Sebastian shook his head. “We have to split up. Darcy and I will go this way.” He pointed to the pathway leading toward the beach.
“Then Conrad and I will go this way,” Nicolas said, pointing to the pathway leading to the forest.
“And we three that one,” Tristan said, indicating that he, Logan, and Hayden would take the pathway leading to the front of the house and then the beach house below.
Sebastian said, “We’ll meet up at the house in two hours if we can’t find Sakura.”
The brothers nodded in understanding, and a moment later, they headed toward their designated pathways.
Sebastian and Darcy hurriedly headed toward the route that led them to the beach. Despite the fact that the track had been kept perfectly maintained, now, however, it was cluttered with broken tree branches due to the storm. The wind gusted past them and rain spattered on their faces as the brothers marched forward. Though they were cold and wet, the two men were determined to keep going. They needed to find and save their beloved woman, after all.
From this path, it would take them at least twenty minutes on foot to get to the beach. That timeframe could usually be accomplished on a beautiful sunny day that was typical of St. Thomas Island. Now, however, it might be longer because of the bad weather.
“Sakura!” the two men shouted in vain against the howling wind. “Sakura!”
Darcy felt his heart aching and his mind racing. Fear overwhelmed him as he desperately shouted Sakura’s name repeatedly. God, he felt like he was dying, so frightened he was of losing her.
Beside him, Sebastian, too, shouted Sakura’s name, his voice lost in the noise of the thunder above them. He felt his stomach flipping in dread as he continued to search frantically.
It was some half an hour later when they finally came to the clearing and reached the beach below the hill. The sand was thick and wet against their shoes as they raced across the length of the place, the light of their flashlights shining about the area, searching for signs of human tracks.
“Anything?” Sebastian shouted at Darcy.
“No!” Darcy yelled back, shaking his head.
Huge waves crashed into the shore and flooded against the brothers’ legs as they directed the light of their flashlights toward the tumultuous sea. They were searching for any signs at all that could give them clues. But so far, none.
The two brothers continued to search the length of the west side of the beach and then headed to the south, where they then met up with Tristan, Logan, and Hayden. After the five did a very thorough search of the area, to no avail, they reluctantly decided to head back to the great house for the meeting.