Fight the Tide Read Online Free PDF

to look out for each other, huh? Some scary shit going down.”
    “Yeah.” Parker tasted bile, the numbness from his toes spreading up his legs. He wanted to glance back at shore to see if Adam had appeared, but he kept his gaze on Shorty. Maybe they’re not bad. Maybe they’re just being neighborly. Maybe—
    “We’re going to have to go ahead and come aboard.” Shorty managed to actually sound regretful. “Getting low on food, so we need to borrow yours. You don’t mind, do you?”
    The other man, paunchy and tall and built like a brick house, was idly chewing something that was probably tobacco. He leaned over and spat into the water. They all watched Parker, apparently waiting for another response. Parker could only shake his head.
    Shorty launched himself over both railings and onto Bella ’s deck in two efficient movements. “Thanks, son. This is real good of ya. Just to be sure, you ain’t lying to us, are you? There’s no one down below? Because we really don’t want to hurt anyone. We just need a little help. You understand.”
    “It’s just me.” Parker was proud that his voice didn’t tremble the way his knees did. “Go ahead. Take whatever you need.”
    The redhead and other man clambered on board without Shorty’s finesse. The redhead said, “Thanks, sugar.”
    Parker inched toward the bench. If he could just get the gun, maybe—
    “Now let’s not do anything stupid.” Shorty strode over and scooped up the weapon.
    Parker inhaled a wave of BO. None of them looked as though they’d cleaned themselves in days. He supposed it was apt considering they were basically pirates. They just needed eye patches and peg legs. And maybe a parrot.
    “What’s funny?” Shorty demanded.
    “Nothing,” Parker answered, his voice too high, hysterical laughter bubbling up in his throat, his pulse wild. He was going to piss himself.
    Adam, where are you?
    The pirates’ boat rubbed up against the Bella Luna roughly as the wind whipped. They stared at him. Parker had no idea what they were waiting for. The woman asked, “You packin’ anything else?”
    He shook his head. It was the truth, at least.
    “Clothes off,” Shorty ordered.
    “I… What?” Parker’s heart jumped all around, and his voice was practically a squeak.
    “Take your clothes off so we know you ain’t lyin’ about what else you got on you.” Shorty shook his head sadly. “Sorry to be suspicious, but we can’t be too careful these days.”
    Willing his hands not to shake, Parker stripped off his hoodie and T-shirt. Humiliation burned his cheeks as he unzipped his shorts and kicked them free. He crossed his arms over his bare chest.
    “Undies too,” Shorty said regretfully. “Sorry. We want to trust you, but, well.” He held up Parker’s gun. “If you’d just been honest from the get-go…”
    Choking down the urge to scream out the fear and fury ballooning in his chest, Parker tugged at his boxers. He kicked them free and stood there naked, their eyes crawling over his body like a thousand spiders. He kept his hands fisted at his sides, resisting the powerful urge to pathetically cover his privates.
    “Don’t worry, kid,” the old woman called. “It’s real cold out, so we won’t judge too harsh.” She guffawed, a hoarse wheeze that was likely the product of a pack a day.
    As they all laughed, fresh shame flooded Parker from his head all the way to his toes. “What the fuck do you want? Just take the food and go!”
    Shorty was suddenly in front of him with the gun raised, and pain exploded in the side of Parker’s head. He cracked his knees on the deck, his vision fading from white bursts to black, then the worn wood swimming into focus again as he held himself up on his hands.
    “Why’d you have to go and be so rude?” Shorty spat. “Here we are trying to be as nice as can be. Don’t ruin it for everyone. You hear?”
    On his shaking hands and knees, the pain in his head too much, Parker nodded. Something