Page 134 of Beloved Sacrifice

“Let me take care of her,” Elroy breathed.

“You’re never laying a hand on me again.” Rose knew it was true. She turned to Victoria. “Why didn’t you tell someone?”

“Tell them what? My mother was adopted by Robert Prosser. She remembered the ship. Remembered that they were all below decks, and the water came into the compartment where they were. She was closest to the hatch, and when someone opened it, she was the only one they could get out.”

“How could you be with them?” She motioned to Barton and Elroy. “These people kidnapped your mother, killed your aunt and uncle.”

“My life is here,” she said simply. “And if the Masters’ Admiralty ever came calling, I could protect us all.”

Barton turned in his chair, frowning. A moment later, Rose heard them too. Footsteps.

Weston reached the dock three steps behind Marek even though he’d had a head start.

“Rose!” Weston yelled. He was relieved when she appeared a moment later, his parents standing behind her.

He didn’t miss the horror on their faces when they saw him.

“Wes,” his mother mouthed, though he couldn’t hear her. “My son.”

Weston shook his head. She was no mother to him.

“You’re alive.” For a moment, Weston thought he saw a calculating look of pleasure on Elroy’s face. No doubt he was already trying to figure out how he could manipulate the black sheep son into returning to the fold.

“We’re leaving,” he said to his fathers. “You’re never going to hurt Rose again.”

Weston gestured for Rose to come with him. Mercifully, she saw the fear on his face and she moved toward him. Once she reached the dock, she matched his hasty pace as they walked away from the yacht. The warning from the man on the phone was still ringing in his ears. They had to get out of there. Now.

“You can’t run forever,” Elroy yelled at their retreating backs. “We will find you!”

Marek took Rose’s hand, encouraging her to move even faster. Weston limping behind them as quickly as possible. “We have to leave.”

“But…” Rose started to ask why, but Marek and Weston didn’t bother to explain. They raced along the dock, just reaching the edge of the pier when a bright flash of light blinded them, then scorching hot air and a crashing boom sent the three of them to their knees. Weston and Marek fell over Rose, covering her body with theirs.

Weston turned around, knowing what he was going to see before his eyes found it. Or didn’t find it. The yacht they’d all been standing on, just moments before, had exploded.

His parents were dead.

And the stranger on the phone had saved them.

“Oh my God,” Rose said, as she looked at the flames floating on the remains of the ship. For a moment, it looked as if the water was on fire. They sat there for a minute or two, each of them trying to come to grips with their near-death experience.

“They’re dead,” Rose whispered.

Sirens sounded in the distance.

Marek, as always, recovered quickly. “We need to get out of here.” He reached down to help Rose to her feet, then offered the same strong grip to Weston.

“I don’t understand,” Rose murmured as she looked at the destruction. “Who would…”

Weston shook his head. He could actually name too many people who would want the Andersons dead, but he didn’t bother making her a list.

For the first time in twelve years, Weston’s world felt…right.

His parents were gone, Rose was his. Marek was there, with them.

The sirens grew louder and a crowd was forming.

“Wes,” Marek said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Weston looked at Marek, and then at Rose. “It’s done. Let’s go home.”

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