Page 43 of Whispers and Warriors
The question echoed in his mind as he struggled to reconcile his wariness with the desperate hope that this stranger might prove to be an ally since she was a woman. Liam’s hand hovered near his weapon, a testament to his readiness to defend Emma at a moment’s notice.
The woman strode past him and the other men, her focus solely on Emma, setting Liam’s fingers gripped around the gun in wait. In a swift, unexpected motion, she enveloped Emma in a tight embrace, the gesture both startling and perplexing. Emma’s initial surprise melted into a tentative acceptance, her body relaxing into the woman’s arms.
The atmosphere shifted and the tension that had coiled in Liam’s muscles dissipated just a hair. The woman’s appreciation of Emma was evident, a connection that ran deeper than mere acquaintances. Likely some bond that all women experienced due to their interactions being so far and few between.
Unfortunately, all the hug did was shoot of more questions swirling, but the relief that washed over him was undeniable.Perhaps, against all odds, this was exactly what the old man promised them.
As the embrace ended, the woman’s gaze swept over the group, her eyes glinting with a mixture of curiosity and purpose. “I know why you’re here,” she said, her voice steady and assured. “And I can help you.” The other woman’s voice was rich and commanding and not even remotely disguised to be deeper. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Emma stepped forward, her hand slipping from Liam’s grasp. “Who are you?” she asked, her voice steady despite the uncertainty that hung in the air.
The woman’s lips curved into an enigmatic smile. “Someone who shares your purpose,” she replied cryptically.
Liam’s heart skipped a beat, the promise of assistance both thrilling and daunting. He glanced at Emma, needing to make sure she was okay. She met his gaze, a flicker of hope dancing in her hazel eyes.
The woman continued, her words measured and deliberate. “I can guide you to the ship, to the safety you seek. Follow me, I assure you, there is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect women. I run this area, and while I’ve seen government workers come and try to catch what we’re doing, I assume if you are here you are not undercover for them. They would never risk letting a woman go. Too many uses for us.”
From just a few sentences the woman had given them numerous risks and benefits of trusting her. Every fiber of his being screamed caution, urging him to question her motives and intentions. Yet, the promise of safety, of a respite from the constant danger that dogged their steps, was a temptation he wasn’t certain any of them could ignore.
“We’ll go where I deem worthy,” Chris spoke up.
Liam’s gaze flicked between Emma and the woman and then to Chris.
“I presume once upon a time you were military? Woken up when you decided you were hurting more than helping?”
Chris’s cheeks flamed red, something Liam didn’t think he’d ever seen. “I like to say we were that altruistic, but it never got that far. We left when we were threatened, before we had knowledge of everything going on—still really don’t know other than the few lies we uncovered. We left to protect our own, but did not try to take any others with us.” There was no sign of guilt in Chris’s tone.
“Then your group should come with me. I played a very important role in establishing the safe haven. A role men didn’t like since I had female parts they deemed theirs.” Her voice took on a deadly toll. “Now, I pose this question to the only person I would trust in a group like yours.” Her gaze moved to Emma. “Will you come? Your life is more important.”
Liam almost balked, but the woman was right. Even if he weren’t in love with Emma, those who would continue humanity were the most important humans.
Emma turned to Liam first, her hazel eyes shimmering with a mix of hope and determination as she switched her gaze to each of them, stopping on Chris.
“Chris,” she whispered, her voice a gentle caress against his troubled thoughts. “We have to take a chance. We can’t keep running forever. Especially not if where we were running to led us to a woman already. You were more than ready to take it three days ago.”
Liam’s heart stopped, the depth of his love for Emma surging through him like a tidal wave while drowning him with the fear Chris could be upset she spoke up. Liam knew she was right, knew that they couldn’t continue to wander aimlessly in this hostile world. If there was even a sliver of a chance that this woman could lead them to safety, he had to seize it.
He held his breath, waiting to see what Chris would do, though it seemed this woman might take Emma if Emma wanted to go even if Chris didn’t want the unit to join. Not that he’d ever let Emma go alone.
“Alright,” he said, his voice steady and resolute. “We’ll follow you.”
The woman nodded, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Good.” She turned to Emma. “Young lady, I know you’ve been through hell, but I promise you, this is the right path. The island was made for this purpose and that alone. There are still rules and regulations, but living there, you are a person, not an object.”
Liam couldn’t miss the way Emma’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, the weight of her experiences etched into the lines of her face. “I trust you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible above the whisper of the wind.
The woman clapped her hands together, breaking the moment of intimacy. “Wise choice,” she replied, her tone laced with an undercurrent of something Liam couldn’t quite decipher. “Alright, let’s get moving. The ship won’t wait forever, had I not had a few spare rooms you would have missed us already.”
Liam waited for Chris to silently assign their order, nodding for Liam to fall in Bash.
Liam’s kept his eyes scanning the dock, his senses heightened, alert for any signs of danger. The urgency of their situation propelled him forward, each step a calculated risk, a leap of faith in the promise of safety that lay ahead. He didn’t like that Emma walked slightly ahead of him. She was still behind Chris and Bash, but he wasn’t thrilled if shit hit the fan she was closer to this stranger than one of them.
As they walked, Liam’s mind drifted to the woman who led them, her confident stride and calm demeanor a stark contrastto the chaos that had defined their lives for so long. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she knew more than she let on, that her arrival had been no mere coincidence. She’d clearly been watching for signs of people showing up.
Noise from the docks grew, but if anyone cared about the group, they didn’t show it. None so much as looked up from their task.
“They all work for the cause. If they can tell your poorly disguised friend is a woman, they wouldn’t care. They’ll all be onboard. You can see for yourself later.”
The distant cries of seagulls echoed across the vast expanse of water, mingling with the chatter and orders on the dock. None of these people seemed worried scavengers could arrive at any minute, which meant they all packed plenty of weapons.
