Page 102 of Ripple Effect
Then there’s only the muted sounds of her sobbing while the bastards talk animatedly.
“Iris, what the fuck are they saying?” I shout.
She holds up a finger. I’m just grateful it’s not the middle one. “They’re arguing with each other, Cal.” A pause. “One keeps saying the only reason he kept her alive is because she’s so beautiful.” She swallows hard. “But now she’s unclean. He’s cursing at her, saying she ruined his plans. Oh, God. She’s screaming! There’s a gun on her!” Iris shrieks.
I turn my focus back to praying while I listen for either the sound that’s going to make me reach for my own weapon or her precious voice. “Come on, baby. Come on!”
And then my life is given another reprieve—I hear her faint voice amid the men. “I have money.” Libby’s slurred voice is giving me a moment of grace from the yawning jaws of hell just waiting to accept me.
Iris slams her fist repeatedly on the console. “Broadcast this!” she yells.
The room is silent as we all listen to my wife barter for her life. “How much, Libby?” the same voice that my wife identified as Alessio questions. “Enough to stop my men from putting a bullet through the front of your dirty little face?” He slaps her again.
God, I wish I could be the one to personally put a bullet in that motherfucker. Then I hear Libby’s voice rasp, “Does twenty million work?”
“Ah, sweet Libby, how do I know you have that kind of money?” Alessio taunts her.
She coughs and then spits. Likely blood, I think grimly. “Because I’m one of the heirs to Akin Timbers. That’s what’s available today at my present age if I can convince the board of trustees to release the amount one lump sum.” She wheezes, then coughs again before continuing. “Somehow, I don’t think they’ll have a problem, though they’ll want to know I’m alive.”
“For twenty million US dollars, I think we can keep you alive a little longer. That doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy some more of our hospitality until we’re ready for you.” Alessio slaps her so hard, we all hear her head clunk to the floor.
“Find out if she’s telling the truth. If she is, then keep her alive,” Alessio orders. “Diego, go. Validate her identity with the members of the crew on the bridge. Find out from Lorenzo if she lies.”
Iris is translating as fast as the asshole is talking. Everyone on theLassenis scrambling. Phones are being picked up. Thorn stands stock-still waiting for confirmation this is a valid play before he passes it down to his team.
I begin shouting, “I’ll call the Akins! Libby’s parents can contact the lawyers on the board of directors. They can demand a proof of life for the release of funds. They’ll need to make this look good!” I’m running out of the room already dialing Josh’s number.
He answers on the first ring. “Is she safe?”
And it guts me to have to answer, “Not by a long shot. Here’s what’s going down.” I begin to tell Josh what happened. And when he starts crying, I understand why. “It will be okay. We’ll get her back,” I vow.
“But will she be the same?” he chokes out hoarsely. Then he tells me something that no one knows but him—not even Libby’s parents.
But by the end of the call, I’m the one who’s curled up against a wall rocking silently. Iris and Sam find me there with my head resting against my secure SAT phone. “Cal, what’s wrong? What did my family say?” Sam leans down, bracing an arm above me.
I shudder. “They’re in. Tell Thorn to make contact with the Akins.” I can’t say the rest—not to them, not to anyone. Even though the fault lies with me, Libby would never want them to know what I just learned. “I need to see the ship’s doctor immediately.” Shoving to my feet, I shove past them and stalk down the passageway.
“Cal?” Iris calls out. I freeze and turn around. “We’ll get her through this. We’re going to get her out of this alive.”
I nod without saying a word but immediately turn away in order to locate the doctor. Because if what Josh told me is accurate, then I’m more concerned about rescuing Libby alive more than ever since the beating the terrorists just inflicted upon her may have caused her to abort our child.
A child she conceived on the day she believes I betrayed our marriage.
A child, who if it did die, may have just saved its mother’s soul by giving up its own.
As I cross over the bulkhead into the sick bay, I can’t stop the hot tears streaming down my face.Please, God, forgive me.If I could go back and tell Libby everything, I would. But since I can’t, help her realize how much I love her.
And I always will. Because if she dies, I won’t live much longer than she does.
73
Present Day
Calhoun
“You couldn’t have prevented what happened, Cal,” Libby reassures me. She turns to Dr. Powell. “It wasn’t his fault. If there’s any blame to be had, it’s…”
“If you say yours, I swear to God, Libby, I’m cutting off your chocolate supply,” I threaten.
