Fight the Tide by Keira Andrews Page A

reached up for the girl, who shrieked as her father dangled her over the side.
    The mast creaked ominously.
    “Let go!” Parker stood and grabbed her calves, his muscles screaming as he tried to keep his balance in the roiling sea. “I’ve got her!”
    Well, he barely had her, but he managed to break her fall and stay in the dinghy, so that was a win. After thrusting her at Jacob, he said, “It’s okay. You’re okay.” He shouted up, “Throw me a rope!”
    Parker could hear Adam shouting his name, but he ignored him as he heaved himself up and clambered over the railing. “Get in the dinghy! I’ve got this.” Parker threw himself up the deck toward the winch. He glanced back to see the man still at the railing. “Go!”
    He wasn’t going to let this boat capsize completely, or worse, turtle and flip upside down. He’d just finished uncleating the sheets and releasing the boom vang when Adam appeared beside him, his golden eyes glowing and fingers digging into Parker’s shoulders, claws scraping.
    “What the hell are you doing?” Panting, Adam gave Parker a shake. Then he blinked and looked at his hands, stepping back quickly and letting his arms fall.
    “What the hell are you doing? You swam over? You left those people alone on Bella ? Jesus fucking Christ!” Blood rushed in Parker’s ears as he squinted through the rain. But the people seemed to only be waiting on the deck, watching them.
    “They’re fine, Parker. They’re just a family who needs help.”
    “No one is just anything anymore! You’d better hope you’re right.” He turned back to the sails.
    “What are you doing? This boat is sinking!”
    “Not on my fucking watch.” There wasn’t much left in the world he could fix.
    “This is no time for your stubborn routine!”
    “You want to help? Go stand on the centerboard. We’re going to lever this baby back upright.” He turned to point, but Adam was already climbing up the deck on all fours, and before Parker could do anything else, he was over the other side and pulling. With a groan of wood and fiberglass, the boat came level, Parker holding on to the rigging as it righted. “Or you could just use your freaky werewolf strength. Good call,” he muttered.
    They were close enough to land to drop anchor, and Parker rushed about, battening down as much as he could and turning on the pumps to drain any water below deck. Hopefully she would withstand the storm. He seemed to be the only one with sailing experience, so she’d have to wait it out alone.
    Adam hoisted himself back onto the deck. “What now?”
    “We get back to Bella . Use the engine and reach land. There has to be some cove or harbor nearby.”
    The man had returned in the dinghy, and they clambered on from the stern. Parker coughed as another wave drenched them. The abandoned boat rocked in the tumult, but wasn’t in any immediate danger in Parker’s estimation. If the storm got any bigger, that could change.
    When they were back on board and he was behind the wheel, Parker checked his nav instruments and adjusted course. It would burn fuel to keep the sails completely down, but they needed to get to shelter.
    “Thank you so much. We’re so grateful.” The man’s voice was suddenly close by, and Parker jumped, whirling around. The man added, “My God, it seemed to come out of nowhere!”
    “Stand back,” Parker barked, concentrating on the outline of land getting closer and closer in the gray, the gun still securely tucked into his jeans a reassuring weight. Had to get out of the wind…
    There was a commotion and several cries, and Adam was suddenly there. Parker blinked at him and then looked down at the man sprawled on the deck on his ass. It took a moment to process that Adam had apparently come to his defense and shoved the man away.
    The woman and kids clung together nearby with wide eyes. Tension rolled off Adam in waves, a growl low in his throat.
    Parker gripped Adam’s arm. “I’m fine.” Adam