Page 29 of Whispers and Warriors
Chris nodded, drawing strength from her words even if he wanted to chastise her for them. Technically what she thought she would do wouldn’t matter. Liam would pull her wherever he needed to.
With a deep breath, he signaled to keep pressing forward, his senses heightened, his every nerve on high alert. Chris couldn’t shake the sense of foreboding that crept up his spine, the whisper of fate that warned of trials yet to come. In a world where love was the only thing worth fighting for, he knew that the greatest battles still lay ahead.
Chris turned to face his team, his gaze sweeping over each of their faces. He sucked at pep talks, but maybe they needed one. “Listen up,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “We stick to the plan, no matter what. Stay close, watch each other’s backs. We’re not leaving anyone behind.” The lie burned in his mouth but Liam didn’t call him out on it.
Bash and Liam nodded, their expressions grim with determination. Alex’s hand tightened on the hilt of his knife, his eyes glinting with a fierce protectiveness. William shifted his weight from foot to foot, a coiled spring ready to unleash his strength at a moment’s notice.
And Emma... Chris’s heart clenched as he looked at her, at the woman who had become his entire world. Even disguised as a boy, her beauty shone through, a light in the darkness that threatened to engulf them all.
“Remember,” he said, his eyes locking with hers, “we’re a team. We’re family. And we’re going to make it through this the same damn way we always have, even if there end up being scrapes and bruises.”
Emma’s lips curved in a small smile, a silent promise that she would fight with every fiber of her being to keep them all safe. Chris felt a surge of pride, of love so fierce it stole his breath. She was a warrior, his Emma, a force to be reckoned with.
With a final nod, Chris turned back to the path ahead, his senses on high alert. The smuggler’s hideout loomed before them, a ramshackle building that seemed to blend into the surrounding ruins. Chris’s heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins.
“Let’s do this,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of his heart.
Chris nodded, his jaw clenched with resolve.
“Ah, so you did come,” the familiar voice from before seemed to ooze around them as the smuggler stepped out from behindsome boxes. “Then, allow me to introduce myself. I am Carnie. I’ll be your transport and my crew will help us get there.” He gestured to the rather unimpressive shift behind him. “She’s not let me down yet, so let’s board and get going.”
If this Carnie thought Emma’s appearance was off, he didn’t make a comment on it. His gaze didn’t even seem to linger on Emma.
“I’m sure you can appreciate we won’t be giving our names,” Chris said as he barely resisted the urge to grab Emma’s hand. That would give her away.
“Understood. Your info is good I don’t care who or what you are.” Carnie snickered. “All aboard.”
TWELVE
Liam’s triedto keep his breathing steady as he watched Emma adjust her cap, tucking a stray curl beneath the worn brim. Panicking would get them nowhere, and would more likely than not get them into trouble.
The docks were empty, but he couldn’t help but worry about an imaginary passing glance becoming a potential threat to their fragile lie.
He clenched his jaw, working to ignore the weight of worry bearing down upon him like the oppressive heat of the midday sun.
“Keep your head down,” Liam murmured, his voice low and urgent. “We’re almost there.”
Emma nodded, her hazel eyes flickering with the same anxiety coursing through him. The practical attire hung loosely on her petite frame, a necessary disguise that Liam knew already failed once.
Every step across the weathered planks felt like an eternity, each creak of the boards beneath their feet a thunderous echo in his ears.
As they approached the gangplank, Liam retreated into the worries he couldn’t ignore. The exposure, the vulnerability, the chance that someone might see through the façade—it all built into a knot of worry that settled heavily in his gut. Yet, the urgency to get Emma safely aboard the ship propelled him forward, his hand hovering protectively at the small of her back.
“Just a little further,” he reassured her, his words as much for his own benefit as hers. “Once we’re on board, we’ll be one step closer to safety.”
Emma’s fingers curled around the strap of her pack, her knuckles white with the force of her grip. Liam could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her breath came in shallow, measured bursts. The disguise was a necessary evil, but he feared it wouldn’t be enough, not when they were out in the open for so long.
Please, let this work,Liam silently pleaded to whatever higher power might be listening. The thought of losing Emma, of seeing their carefully laid plans unravel, sent a chill down his spine. He had to get her on that ship in Maine, no matter the cost.
Ranger gave a small bark by his side, a nudge with his nose, and a brief lick on Liam’s hand before he trotted up the gangplank like nothing at all could possibly dangerous on the other side.
Stepping on first, Liam barely resisted the urge to use his hand to gently guide Emma. He couldn’t help her, not like that. Instead, his kept his head on a swivel, nodding to Chris and Bash down below.
Emma’s steps were measured, careful, as if she were trying to minimize her presence. Liam’s heart ached at the sight, knowing the weight of her pack wasn’t one she was used to. It was one she needed though. He longed to take her hand, to offer morethan just a fleeting touch, but he knew he couldn’t risk drawing attention to their connection.
The heavy load on her back seemed to grow more cumbersome with each step. Liam watched as she adjusted her grip and saw the tense clench of her jaw. Her muscles strained beneath the shirt, a testament to her resilience and strength. Watching her struggle, seeing the toll it took on her, made every protective instinct in him roar to life.
Even in disguise, even under the weight of their supplies, Emma’s determination shone through. He’d never been more proud or more frustrated in his entire life.
