Page 72 of Hear Me Roar

I had to get to my girl. The situation was dire, yes, but now was not the time topanic.

“Miami Marina. I’m here already,” heanswered.

“Are they dockedor…”

“No, they’re on the water. But I called in a favor, we’ve got a way out tothem.”

A cab pulled up and I flung the door open, throwing myself in. “I’ll be there in twenty. Miami Marina, please, as fast as you can,” I said to the driver as I ended the call and shoved my phone into mypocket.

But he couldn’t drive fast enough. Palm trees and street lights blurred past me as the cabbie weaved in and out deftly through Miami traffic, and still it wasn’t enough. Every minute that ticked by was another minute Dimitri held the power over my head. He could hurt her or worse, he could kill her. What if healready…

No. No, no,no.

I pinched the bridge of my nose as a deep-rooted pain spread through my chest. There’s no way. She couldn’t be. I wouldn’t allow myself to think that way. If there were ever a time to be strong, it was now. I needed to be stronger thanever.

I was out the door, throwing a handful of bills at the driver, as soon as he pulled up the curb. Manny was posted up beside his SUV with the trunk open, chatting with a man I'd never seen before. I assumed this was his way out to whatever ship Dimitri was on. Running towards them, I tossed my bag into the trunk, and threw the door closed as I camearound.

“Are weready?”

Manny nodded and motioned to dude beside him. “This is Alex, one of my college buddies. He's got a boat outhere.”

Alex and I shook. “Nice to meet you, man, and thanks forthis.”

“I've gotta tell you, this is by the far the last thing I thought Manny would be calling me for, but I'm happy to help. She's right this way, comeon.”

Manny and I followed behind Alex as he led us through the docks to where his boat sat. We hopped on board and while he went about the motions for us to embark on our trip, Manny pulled out a firearm, passing it to me with a steadyhand.

“You're gonna need that,” was all hesaid.

The weight of it in my hand with a silencer in place sobered me. What awaited us on that ship was not going to be pretty, and the chances of actually having to take someone's life to get to the girls far exceeded any chance I'd ever hoped totake.

But I was taking it, and I'd put a bullet through anyone who tried to stopme.

Eerie wasthe only word I could use to describe the ride out to the ship. The waters were calm but it was so dark, I couldn’t see past what the small boat illuminated, which wasn’t much. The sky was full of stars too; not a cloud obstructing them or the half-moon that reflected off the distant horizon.Ironic,I thought to myself as I stared at the beautiful and seemingly tame backdrop for what was going to be anything but. Salty, humid air whipped past my face as Alex raced us toward the coordinates Manny had acquired without question. For that, I was thankful because it gave me the time to prepare myself, or at least be as prepared as anyone could be for something of thisnature.

The ocean really felt endless as we headed further and further away from the port. Open water, that’s all there was, amplifying that gnawing sense of danger in tenfold. If, for some reason, we needed backup, we’d be dead long before anyone arrived. That’s how far out wewere.

Stop thinking this shit,I berated myself, shaking my head just as Alex pulled up alongside the rusted monster, as close to the ladder as possible. It was massivelyintimidating.

“You sure you don't want me to ring for the Coast Guard?” he asked, killing theengine.

“I'm positive. If this man even senses people out here, he'll kill them both,” Iexplained.

His eyes widened all themore.

“Knox!” I heard Manny whisper loudly from aboveus.

Craning my head back, I realized he was already at the top of the ship. For a big ass man, he movedquick.

“Coast is clear, let'sgo!”

Glancing back to Alex, he regarded me with a confused expression. “Do I stay,or…”

“We’re only, what, thirty minutes out?” I asked and henodded.

“Then go back. I'll have Manny ring you when this shit is all said anddone.”

“Got it. And Knox,” he said as I started up the ladder, “goodluck.”

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