Page 44 of Whispers and Warriors
The walk seemed to stretch on forever, each minute feeling like an eternity. But as they rounded a bend in the path, the ship’s hulking form was impossible to ignore as it rose from the water like a beacon of hope. A surge of anticipation coursed through his veins, his heart pounding in his chest.
“There it is,” he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper.
Emma’s eyes widened, her lips parting in a soft gasp. “We made it,” she murmured, her voice trembling with emotion.
Liam nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “We did,” he agreed, his gaze sweeping over the faces of his comrades. “Together.”
As they approached the gangplank, Liam slipped by Bash and reached out to take Emma’s hand, gently getting her to fall back closer to him.
The woman turned to face them, her confident stance unwavering as she gestured toward the ship. “This is where your journey begins,” she declared, her voice carrying over the gentle lapping of the waves. “Board the vessel and prepare to set sail toward a future of your own making. There will be informationonce we cast off.” She lifted a brow. “I might not believe you’re spies, but better to have you far from shore before I start sharing our secrets in case I’m wrong. You’ll have nowhere to go but overboard to your death with any information if you’re spies.”
Liam snickered. Whoever she was, she was smart. He liked that.
Stealing another glance at Emma he smiled, finding solace in the determined set of her jaw and the fire burning in her hazel eyes. She met his gaze, a silent understanding passing between them, a shared resolve to embrace the unknown.
Liam’s grip on Emma’s hand tightened, a wordless reassurance that he would be by her side every step of the way.
“Together,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the distant cries of the seagulls.
Emma nodded, a small smile gracing her lips. “Together,” she echoed, her voice a shaking but not filled with the fear he’d heard far too often.
With a deep breath, Liam took the first step onto the gangplank, the weathered wood creaking beneath his weight. Each stride brought him closer to the ship, to the promise of safety and a new beginning. As his feet touched the deck, a wave of relief washed over him, his shoulders sagging as the tension he had carried for so long finally began to dissipate.
He turned, his eyes seeking out Emma’s, a silent invitation to join him. She stepped forward, her movements graceful and assured, a stark contrast to the timid woman he had first met in the depths of her basement. Pride swelled in his chest as he watched her ascend the gangplank, her head held high and her eyes shining with determination.
As Emma reached the deck, Liam’s arms encircled her, pulling her close. He breathed in her scent, a heady mixture of sweat and determination, and felt a sense of peace settle over him. For the first time in months, he allowed himself to hope, tobelieve that they could carve out a future together in this broken world.
“We made it,” he murmured into her hair, his voice thick with emotion.
Emma pulled back, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “We did,” she whispered, her hand cupping his cheek.
“Now, one of you will take the woman to the stern. The First Mate will get you sorted. Portly man with a thick accent, you can’t miss him. The rest of you come with me to learn what’s what. We’ll push off in an hour and while I won’t tell you our secrets, you’ll get your orders for while you’re onboard.”
“Alex, with Emma.” Chris barked the command, surprising Liam.
“Whatever you say, Bossman.” Alex mock-saluted and took Emma’s hand.
Liam let his fingers slip of out Emma’s, watching as she and Alex started walking.
“What about what you said?” Liam asked as he fell in line with Chris.
“If shit goes sideways on the ship, I still mean them. But Alex makes people too comfortable. You’re a better judge of character. I need you with me.”
“So, we trust them?” Bash asked beside them.
“We trust them,” Chris echoed.
Alex hadto blink against the bright sunlight as he took Emma’s hand, carefully urging her to walk more onto the ship. The first thing that struck him as they moved toward the back to meet the First Mate was the noise. It went beyond the calls and shouts of the men working the ship—a cacophony of voices, laughter, and the occasional shriek from a child.
His eyes were wide, seemingly frozen open with disbelief as he saw just why the ship was so noisy back here. Women and children milled about, their faces bright with smiles and animated chatter. A mother with two children in her arms squeezed past them with a small “excuse me.” A teenager with bright blue eyes and a crooked smile rushed across the back deck to hug another teen, a girl with long brown hair. No less than eight young voices came screaming up from below deck where Alex assumed the rooms were located.
It was insane how many people were here, and a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he watched them all enjoying their day in the sun.
They didn’t seem to have a care in the world. No one was hiding. No one was crying.
The stark contrast to the quiet, empty streets they lived in made Alex’s heart swell with an unexpected surge of joy.
Holy fuck. It’s real. Maybe even more real than the safe haven. There are kids fucking everywhere.
