Page 40 of Whispers and Warriors
Liam brought up the rear, his broad shoulders hunched against the wind. As he clambered into the boat, gratitude struck him. Any other unit might have devolved into fury, they had for a bit, but they were getting Emma out and that’s what mattered.
The lifeboat rocked and swayed as they settled in, the waves crashing over the sides. Alex’s heart was in his throat as he watched the ship recede into the distance, its lights flickering like dying stars.
He knew they were taking a desperate gamble, casting themselves adrift in the midst of the storm. But as he looked around at the faces of his companions, at the determination and resilience etched into every line, he knew they would find a way to survive. They had to.
Alex turned to the others, a strained grin tugging at his lips. “Well, at least we won’t have to worry about hanging out for the last few hours,” he quipped, his voice cracking slightly.
No one laughed.
SIXTEEN
Emma staredout at the dark ocean, the salty breeze caressing her face. A strange calm washed over her, so different from the heart-pounding terror that came with the man’s hands on her, his rancid breath hot against her neck, his growing erection rubbing at her through her clothes. She shuddered at the memory, but pushed it aside. She had to be strong, there were too many more obstacles to overcome for her to fall apart.
Rape was always a possibility for any female since the population dwindled, but she’d came far too close too many times since leaving the safety of her basement. But she had made her choice when she called out for help that day. And thankfully, while they’ve tried, no man has succeeded.
She held tight to Ranger’s leash as Bash settled next to her, his solid presence both comforting and electrifying. Chris sat carefully down on her other side and wrapped a muscular arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. Emma leaned into them, drawing strength from their touch.
“Let me take him, this part won’t be fun,” Liam gestured for Ranger’s leash, rain splashing off his hand onto her leg.
Emma found her fingers wrapped around it in a death grip, but she was able to force herself to open her hand and let Liam take Ranger from her.
“Come here, Ranger,” Liam patted the space in front of him and Ranger trotted over, letting Liam tuck him safely between his legs in the cramped lifeboat.
“Everyone ready? If we fuck this timing up, the boat swings the wrong way,” William pulled a blade from his pocket. “On three?” He looked to Alex.
“On three.” Alex confirmed taking his knife from his hip.
Alex and William exchanged a meaningful look, then set to work sawing through the ropes tethering them to the ship. The tension hung heavy in the night air, broken only by the rhythmic rasp of blade against braided fibers. With each fiber severed, Emma’s heart beat faster, caught between dread and anticipation.
Without warning the ropes gave way. Emma’s heart leapt into her throat as the tiny ship plunged downward toward the unforgiving ocean below. Her eyes squeezed shut of their own accord, and her fingers bit into Bash and Chris’s arms.
Almost as quickly as gravity dropped out from under her, it returned as the boat crashed into the ocean, icy water spraying up to drench her further. The bone-chilling cold drew a sharp gasp from her, but she bit back the urge to scream. They had to be silent if they hoped to escape undetected. As one, the men grabbed the oars and began to paddle, propelling them away from the looming ship and into the unknown. Though her teeth chattered, Emma forced herself to breathe evenly, focusing on the flex and pull of the strong backs before her, rather than on the yawning abyss that threatened to swallow her whole.
There was no going back now. Only forward, into another uncertain future. This time cold, wet, and in the middle of a storm that could grow deadly at any moment.
“Everyone hold tight if you’re not paddling. The storm is going to make this a bitch and we are not flipping if I can help it,” Chris hollered, his voice carrying over the storm just enough.
Emma finally opened her eyes, looking up to assure herself that no one had come running to stop their escape. Ranger’s whine cut through the roar of the wind, but he didn’t seem interested in leaving Liam’s side.
Bash stood, essentially forcing her grip on his hand to lessen. “I’ll take lead with Alex. William, Liam we’ll be swapping in thirty.”
The small boat cut through the dark waters, each stroke of the oars propelling them further from the ship and the horrors it held. Cold ocean spray splashed against Emma’s face, the briny droplets mingling with the tears she couldn’t quite hold back. She shivered, her drenched clothing clinging to her skin, but the chill that seeped into her bones had little to do with the temperature.
Chris’s arm tightened around her, his solid presence a bulwark against the memories that threatened to drag her under. “I’m so sorry, Emma,” he murmured, his lips brushing her temple. “I should’ve been there to protect you. I won’t fail you again, I swear it.”
Emma leaned into his embrace, drawing strength from his unwavering resolve. She wanted to reassure him that it wasn’t his fault, that she didn’t blame him, but the words lodged in her throat. Instead, she focused on the rhythmic dip and pull of the oars, the soft splash of water against the hull, the distant creak of the ship’s timbers fading into the night.
Each stroke took them farther from danger, but it brought her no relief. Liam had spoken of a destination, a glimmer of hope on the horizon, but the path ahead was fraught with uncertainty. They had no way of knowing what challenges they might face just on the water alone. She’d always hated the beach—hated the squishy sand, the seaweed wrapping around her legs, and the sharks that were supposedly never far away.
And what about in open waters?
As if sensing her thoughts, Chris pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “We’re going to be okay, Emma. I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but we’re going to make it through this. We have every single time. You’re the strongest person I know, and you have all of us by your side. We won’t let anything happen to you.”
Emma nodded, swallowing past the lump in her throat. She wanted to believe him, to trust in the strength of their bond, but the events of the past hour had shaken her to her core. The world had proven once again just how cruel it could be, and a part of her feared that even the love of her men might not be enough to keep the darkness at bay.
Surely, fate wouldn’t be so cruel as to tear them apart now.
Emma’s voice trembled from fear and the cold as she asked, “Are we going back to land, or are we going to try to figure out North from here?” Her eyes searched the faces of her companions, seeking reassurance in the midst of their uncertain journey.
