Page 17 of Rescued by the Captain

“I woke up in the middle of the woods, not knowing a single thing about what landed me there or who I was. I was luckyto be found by one of the kindest men I’ve ever met, but even now I know so little about who’s pursuing me. The pieces are that I was let go from my job because they suspected I was embezzling, and I compiled proof that was going to absolve me of blame, I remember that. But the rest is blurry to me…”

Izzy stares at me, and it’s as if laying out the events to her triggers a spark in my memory. “That sure is a unique necklace.” Her fingers float over the owl that I forgot was even there.

I lift it up and the cracks start to fill in. “It’s a thumb drive!” I spring up from the couch. “It’s the thumb drive with all the evidence! They didn’t get it, and that’s why they’re still coming after me!”

My heart swells.

All this time, I’ve had a USB drive that’d exonerate me and give evidence to what management really did.

12

BRIA

The attackers are relentless.They’ve reached our doorstep, and I dread that we’ll need to confront them with violence.

Mr. Winchester is already on guard with the dog. “Worst comes to worst, we’ll put up a fight for our life,” he says.

I swallow thickly. I think the front door latch has been shot to the floor, when sirens start blaring from afar.

“Fuck! Retreat! Retreat! Scatter!” One of the attackers yells. They can be heard shuffling, clearly not having expected to be met with more reinforcements.

Luckily for us, the officers show up in the nick of time. The town sheriff jumps out from the vehicle, and orders for the attackers to put their hands up. Gunfire is exchanged with bullets striking metals and pinging through the air. Overcome with a mixture of curiosity and dread, I crawl to the entrance windows to glance outside. The battle goes silent. I watch with sheer joy when the officers haul the masked attackers into their cruisers, their wrists clasped in heavy metal restraints.

I dash outside. The sheriff is waiting on the porch for me.

Handing him the drive, I say, “I know you’re Sheriff Colt. Donte trusts you, and so, I believe I can place my faith in youtoo. This little USB holds the evidence that’ll prove my boss has been misusing funds and embezzling from investors in a Ponzi scheme to enrich himself.”

Colt nods. “Got it. You’re Bria, correct? We’ll get you into an ambulance to check that you haven’t been seriously injured. You’ve gone through a lot.”

Out of instinct, I chuckle because I have gone through a lot. The concussion, the falls, the exertion. I’ll need stitches, and a whole lot of therapy to recover from this. but more than anything, I’m grateful to have survived.

And I hope he did, too.

13

DONTE

The last threadof my stitches is secured into place. I hold my arm still on the gurney as directed. Waking up in the hospital after collapsing from blood loss in the woods, I’ve been slowly coming to. I blinked in and out of consciousness as they started treating me. I’m still a little weak, but the news that I’m about to receive will surge me to full energy.

Colt enters the room. He’s got his hands shoved in his pockets, and for the first time ever, the shadow of a smile on his face.

“I’m glad you’re up, Rogers,” he says and I return his smile. Hopefully it’s time to smile.

My thoughts instantly jump to Bria. “How’s Bria? Is she okay?”

“Oh, she’s in the waiting room right now. She was going to see you when you woke up —”

I’ve heard all I need to hear. Attempting to rip the IVs from my arms, I struggle against the nurses as I say, “I have to see her, now.”

They eventually give me space to go as I please and I don’t waste a second bolting out the door, down the hall until I spotthe glass reception. Opposite of it, I see Bria in one of the waiting chairs. She stands up when she meets my gaze.

“Bria!” I call out her name. One step, two steps, three close the gap between us. I pull her into a tight embrace, hugging her like I’m about to lose her.

“I love you,” I say.

She replies, “I love you too.”

The sight and the feel of her is overwhelming. I’m relieved that she is okay. As I part from our hug to stare into her rich, hazel eyes, I realize that I don’t have to save anyone, and it’s okay to be the one that is saved.

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