Chapter 1

The cold Caribbean water filled my lungs.

Above, the luxury yacht, the *Serenity*, was a distant, burning star.

My father, David, had tied the anchor chain to my ankles himself.

"It's for Chloe, Sarah," he'd said, his voice flat, his eyes empty of everything but a chilling resolve. "She deserves a good next life. You took her first one."

Chloe. My adopted sister. The sweet, innocent girl who'd charmed everyone.

The girl who'd died because the speedboat she was in, driven recklessly by my father to get back to me after I blew up the yacht to stop the pirates, had capsized.

He blamed me.

He'd held her memorial at sea, then, on her one-year death anniversary, brought me back to this exact spot.

A sacrifice. For Chloe.

The weight pulled me down, into the crushing black.

My last thought wasn't of anger, but a strange, hollow ache.

He'd never loved me. Not like he loved her.

Then, light. Blinding.

I gasped, choking on air, not water.

Sunlight beat down on my face. The familiar scent of salt and diesel.

The gentle rocking of a boat.

I sat bolt upright.

The deck of the *Serenity*. Uncharred. Whole.

My hands flew to my throat, my chest. No ropes. No crushing weight.

My brother, Mike, lounged on a deck chair, sunglasses on, headphones in, oblivious.

Mom, Emily, was applying sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat shading her face.

My heart hammered.

A dream? A nightmare?

No.

Far off, on the horizon, a small, fast-moving boat. Too small to be Coast Guard. Too purposeful to be fishermen.

Pirates.

It was happening again.

This time, I wouldn't call Dad. He was out there somewhere with Chloe, chasing dolphins for her birthday, just like before.

He wouldn't come. Not for us.

I scrambled to my feet.

"Mike! Mom!" My voice was raw.

Mike pulled off his headphones, annoyed. "What's up, Sarah? Chill."

"We need to hide. Now."

Mom looked up, a frown creasing her brow. "Sarah, honey, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Worse," I said, my gaze fixed on the approaching boat. "Pirates. They're coming."

Mike snorted. "Pirates? In this day and age? You've been watching too many movies."

He followed my gaze. His smile faltered.

"Okay, maybe not fishermen. But Dad's got a dozen crew and security. They'll handle it."

My blood ran cold. "No. They're all with Dad and Chloe. On the tender. Looking for dolphins."

Just like last time.

He'd taken every single able-bodied man. Leaving us defenseless.

Mike's face paled. He was reckless, but not stupid.

"The tool room," I said, grabbing his arm, then Mom's. "Under the main deck. It's small, hidden."

Mom still looked confused. "But David..."

"He won't answer, Mom. He's busy. We have to save ourselves."

This time, I wouldn't wait for a rescue that would never come in time.

I pulled them towards the hatch.