Chapter 9 - Chapter 8: First Aid in the Dark

They burst onto the lower deck, alarms shrieking behind them. Kai didn't slow—straight for the stern ladder, Elara matching his stride. The night air hit like a slap, salt and wind whipping her face. The speedboat waited below, engines idling. Kai slid down first, then reached up—hands on her waist, steady and sure—as she descended. The touch was brief, but it lingered. They shoved off. Engines roared to life. The yacht shrank behind them, security lights sweeping the water like searchlights. Kai pushed the throttle hard, cutting a dark path through the harbor. No lights. No chatter. Just speed and silence. Ten minutes out, he eased off, letting the boat drift in the shadow of a small island. City lights glittered far in the distance—safe, for now . He killed the engine. The boat rocked gently."Clear," he said, voice low. "No pursuit."Elara exhaled, leaning against the console. Adrenaline was crashing, leaving her shaky. Kai turned to her, eyes scanning her face, then down. "You're bleeding."She looked. A thin line of red along her forearm—shallow, from the multi-tool or a stray fragment. Barely noticed in the chaos."It's nothing," she said. He didn't listen. He reached into a small compartment under the seat, pulled out a compact first-aid kit—black, tactical, well-stocked."Sit," he said. Not a request. Elara perched on the edge of the passenger seat. Kai knelt in front of her, kit open. He took her arm gently, turning it toward the faint moonlight. His fingers were warm, steady. He cleaned the cut with antiseptic wipe—slow, careful. The sting was sharp, but she barely felt it. All she felt was him—close again, cedar and musk filling the space between them. Kai's brow furrowed slightly as he worked. He finished bandaging her arm, but his hand didn't leave. His thumb traced the edge of the bandage once more—slow, deliberate—then slid up to rest against the inside of her elbow, warm and anchoring."You're not allowed to get hurt on my watch," he said, voice low, rough around the edges. His eyes lifted to hers—dark, intense, something almost territorial flickering there before he banked it. Elara's breath hitched. The words weren't a request. They carried weight—quiet possession wrapped in concern—like he'd already decided she was his to protect. Heat bloomed under his palm, a slow shiver running through her. The night air was cool, but where he touched her, everything burned. "Thanks," she managed, voice softer than she intended . Kai held her gaze a moment longer, thumb pressing just a fraction firmer against her skin—claiming, grounding—before he finally let go. He stood, breaking the spell, but the echo of his touch stayed with her."Let's get you home," he said, voice rougher now. "We've got a ledger to crack."Elara took the hand he offered, letting him pull her up. Their fingers stayed linked a second longer than needed. The engines rumbled back to life. But the memory of his words—of his hands—of the way he'd looked at her—lingered longer than the pain. And somewhere in the dark, a single red drone light blinked on the horizon—watching.