The transition from the salt-sprayed deck of the speedboat to the solid concrete of the mainland felt like a shift in reality.
As soon as the hull scraped against the dock, the frantic energy of the rescue mission took on a new, desperate form.
Caleb moved with a grim, focused efficiency that left no room for hesitation. He quickly dismissed the two guards who had provided their escort from the island, ordering them to find their own way home and to maintain absolute radio silence.
He didn't want any more witnesses than necessary to the state of the President.
Within minutes, they were inside a discreet black sedan, speeding away from the coast and toward the secluded sanctuary of the Wyatt Estate.
The interior of the car was thick with the smell of copper and salt. Adam was sprawled across the backseat, his head resting heavily in Noah's lap.
