Read Online Wild by Jill Sorenson - Free Book Online Page A

which was located on the other side of the peninsula. It was too far away to see much, but she imagined total devastation. The earthquake had been off the charts. If the Coronado Bridge had failed, the entire city must be in shambles. Smoke clouds obscured the tall buildings in the downtown area.
    “Ya,” Mateo said, offering her his hand. “Vámanos.”
    Chloe stood, with his help. Then she picked up Emma and propped her on one hip. Mateo put his arm around her. She grasped his slippery side and leaned on him heavily as they hobbled away from the shore, toward the concrete bike path.
    Their progress was slow. They were both barefoot. Sharp pebbles dug into the soles of her feet and her thigh ached with every step. She couldn’t run to save her life. Or her child’s.
    It was hopeless.
    Mateo did his best to keep them moving. Although he was strong and well-built, he wasn’t a big man, maybe five-ten to her five-eight. She didn’t think he could carry her. There was no way he could carry them both. Emma could walk, of course, but Chloe was reluctant to let her go. In the event of an aftershock or killer waves, she wanted a firm grip on her daughter.
    The sirens continued to blare. Emma clung to Chloe’s neck and cried. Mateo’s skin was slick and clammy beneath her fingertips, his hand hot on her waist. When he paused to rest, Chloe studied his face. He was breathing hard from exertion, his mouth grim.
    It was on the tip of her tongue to beg him not to leave them. She didn’t know why he hadn’t run away already. Instead of sacrificing his life for two strangers, he could abandon them and save himself. With a sinking heart, she realized what she had to do. It was the same choice she’d made in the water. Agonizing, but necessary.
    “Take Emma,” she choked out. “Take her and get to high ground.”
    “Ay, mamita,” he said, his voice chiding. “No digas eso.”
    “Please.”
    Ignoring her plea, he dragged them about twenty more yards down the path. The only business at this end of the peninsula was a tiny, half-destroyed gift shop called Surf Diego. Shards of glass littered the ground. The windows were broken and part of the roof had caved in.
    Mateo released her near the entrance. He said something in Spanish. Goodbye, perhaps.
    “Take Emma with you,” she begged.
    Emma shrieked in protest. “No, Mommy!”
    He gestured toward the bay, which appeared calm. “No hay olas. Estamos bien.”
    She didn’t understand.
    Holding out his palm like a stop sign, he repeated what he’d said before. Then he pointed at the gift shop. She guessed that he wanted her to stay here with Emma while he went inside. He’d left her once before, in the water. And he’d come back for her. She nodded her acceptance, her pulse pounding.
    He must have lost his shoes during the swim, just as she had. He put his bare foot next to hers, as if measuring the length. Then he adjusted his shin guards to cover his feet. Strapping them on like snowshoes, he entered the ravaged building.
    While she waited, Chloe set Emma down on the sidewalk to check her over. Emma was wearing a red ladybug top with black leggings and her favorite red shoes. It was a miracle that the shoes had stayed on. They were wet and squishy, but still functional. Her diaper was saturated with seawater, however.
    Chloe removed the diaper and tugged Emma’s leggings back into place. Emma had started toilet training a few months ago. She wasn't perfect, but hopefully she wouldn't have an accident. Chloe wrapped Mateo’s jersey around Emma like a cape and lifted her up again.
    Although the bay was calm, the warning sirens hadn’t let up, and her nerves were on edge. The air was heavy with smoke and gasoline and something that reminded her of Christmas. One year her dad had tossed some bows and gift paper into the fireplace. It made an awful, burning-chemical odor.
    Mateo came out of the rubble with a beach bag. He was wearing a blue surf shirt and a pair of dockside