Chapter 1
We were deep-sea diving when both my son's oxygen tank and mine crapped out without warning. The rescue team could only pull one person to safety at a time.
My husband looked at me, eyes wild with panic.
"Honey, I'll get our boy to shore first, then I'll hightail it right back with the rescue team to get you, I swear!"
Last time around, I didn't even think twice. I handed that shot at survival straight to my son.
But I hung onto that life preserver for twenty-four long, freezing hours, bobbing in the open ocean, and not a single rescue boat ever showed up.
Until finally, I couldn't hold my breath any longer. Seawater rushed down my throat, and I drowned slowly, my lungs burning the whole time.
The same day they lowered my casket onto the ground, my husband was grinning from ear to ear, walking down the wedding aisle with that fake rich girl he'd been hiding.
And the son I'd doted on for years? He held her hand, grinning from ear to ear as he gave them his blessing.
"Aunt Abby, that b***h is finally gone! Now you can be my real mom! You and Dad are gonna have the perfect life together, I just know it!"
The next thing I knew, my eyes snapped open. I was right back in the deep ocean, my son treading water right next to me, our oxygen tanks dead.
Hot tears stung my eyes, but I just nodded at the rescue crew and told them to get my son out first.
I was going to find out who ended up on the winning side this time.
Let the game begin.
……
My husband, Roldan Woods, tossed me a life ring, a flicker of hesitation flashed across his face when he glanced over at me.
But he didn't utter a single word before the lifeboat pulled away.
Bobbing in the water held up by the life ring, I fumbled to work my shaking fingers into the inner lining of my wetsuit, my hand closing around the marine walkie-talkie.
It was a gift from my childhood sweetheart, Warren Taylor. I'd teased him relentlessly about how useless it was, more times than I could count.
Who would've thought it would end up being my only lifeline today?
Beep…
The second the line connected, Warren's lazy, teasing voice drifted through the speaker. “Whoa, look who's calling... little Miss Trina! Didn't you swear this walkie-talkie was just a dumb toy? What made you finally dig it out and use it?”
I froze for a split second.
Warren and I had grown up joined at the hip, but we were both stubborn hotheads who refused to back down to each other. We'd barely spoken at all after I got married.
I never expected him to not only carry the walkie-talkie on him at all times, but pick up the second I called.
“Warren, I was diving today and my oxygen tank malfunctioned. Can you come get me? Just use the built-in location tracker on this walkie-talkie to come find me, okay?”
In my past life, I was stuck treading water in the ocean for a full day before things went south for good last time around. By that point, the walkie-talkie had been waterlogged beyond repair.
But this time, I still had time. Everything was still salvageable.
The line went dead quiet all of a sudden.
A few seconds later, I heard the sharp crash of a shattering mug, followed by Warren's roaring, furious voice. “What the f**k! Trina, you're in this deep trouble. Where the hell is your useless husband?”
"He got our son out safely first," I explained calmly. “He told me to stay here and wait for the rescue team.”
Warren cursed again on the other line. “Trina, the deep diving group sent out a warning two hours ago! A storm's coming, and the whole sea will be closed off in two hours. No lifeboats will be allowed out, and even helicopters won't be able to get through! That useless husband of yours managed to get to your son in time to save him, which means he knew about this warning. He straight up lied to you to wait for rescuers. He's trying to f*****g kill you on purpose!”
His words didn't make me sad, not even a little.
Every last scrap of hope I'd ever held for Roldan had already shattered completely back in my past life, when I waited for rescue that never showed up.
And after I found out the whole truth? All that was left was sweltering, unstoppable rage and resentment.
“I know. But I've got you, don't I?”
Warren huffed a low, amused laugh, clearly pleased with my answer. “Lucky you still have some sense, and know I'd never leave you hanging. Don't you dare pass out on me, alright? I'm gonna go steal my old man's submarine right now, and I'll haul my ass straight to you. You hear me? Just hold on for me!”
I called back a quiet "okay" in response.
I lifted my head to glance in the direction Roldan had left. His yacht was already long gone, vanished over the horizon.
I leaned back against the cold rubber of the life ring and closed my eyes, conserving my strength.
As I waited, the steady crash of the waves dragged my thoughts back to my past life.
