The storm broke an hour later.
It came in fast, the way storms do on the coast. First the wind, shaking the shutters. Then the rain, so hard it sounded like gravel thrown at the glass. Then the lightning, white and sudden, lighting the whole villa for one second at a time.
Silveria stood at the big window with her arms around herself and watched the sea turn black and angry. She had changed into soft pajamas, a pale gray set Rosa had packed without asking. Damien was on the terrace door, checking that the latch was shut.
"The staff said this one's supposed to pass by midnight," he said.
"It doesn't look like it's going to pass."
"No." He came back in and ran a hand through his damp hair. He'd taken off his jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves, and she was trying very hard to look at anything but his forearms. "The road down to the hotel will be flooded. We're staying here whatever happens."
"I figured."
The lights flickered. Both of them looked up.
