Page 107 of Ripple Effect
Alessio takes no mind as he stomps on my bare feet as he races past me to get to the door. I don’t even cry out as it’s just another ache in my overly abused body. For just a moment, I tip my head back and close my eyes against the bright sun that’s blinding me. Or maybe it’s guiding me?
Inside the Titan Bar, all sounds have ceased. The quiet of yesterday has become more deadly—as if that’s even possible. I can hear the electric humming of the air-conditioning, but it still doesn’t prevent the sweat dampening my skin or dry the tears from my eyes. Hazarding a glance at Linc—who managed to land near me after his last run with Diego—I see his breathing is shallow. Risking another round with the sadist myself, I barely breathe the word, “Ribs?”
Without acknowledging he heard me, his head bobs up and down. Then he risks more by saying, “Escape if you can.”
“What?” I’m so dehydrated I must be borderline delirious.
“Help…” He coughs before turning his head to the side and spitting. God, I hope it’s not blood. Linc goes on. “GPS not moving. They’ll come.”
With dawning hope and horror, I realize that must be why Alessio was called to the bridge. And I whisper, “We’ll both make it.”
Linc shakes his head. “Cam…”
And I get it. I just haven’t said it aloud. Without Cal, without his baby that I’m certain is gone, what do I have to go back to that’s worth fighting for?
“Promise me, Libby,” Linc coughs again.
And I do, because I can’t imagine we’ll have the chance where escape will be a possibility. Besides, I’m too weak. “I will.”
With a sigh, his body rests against mine for just a moment before we hear thunderous footsteps approaching. “I will too.”
Alessio bursts back into the room, a wild look on his face.
“I hope you all can walk. Everyone will be moving down to the pool bar on deck two in less than an hour. And you’d better smile pretty; your lives depend upon it.” Alessio stands in front of me and Linc. “Especially both of you. Libby, dear, for shame.” My head is turned sideways with the casual crack of his hand against my cheek. “You didn’t mention all of the money your family would be willing to pay to get you back.” The bastard chuckles as he moves away. “One hour! Diego, begin to untie their legs. Get them on their feet.” Then he tacks on, “Shoot them if they run.”
“Of course.” Diego fires a shot into the ceiling just for fun. We all cower. “Now, who wants to be next?”
Unsurprisingly, no one volunteers. Diego just laughs.
It’s then I realize it’s either Alessio or me who’s leaving theSea Forcealive, but it isn’t going to be both of us. There’s no way that could happen.
It’s almost a calming thought to know it will all be over soon—one way or another.
* * *
An hour later,we’re frog-marched down four flights of stairs. At one point, I have to slam my body back to prevent Linc from tumbling headfirst. Alessio frowns darkly but doesn’t reprimand me with word or fist.
I guess we’re both too valuable.
From the stairwell, we’re led out into the sunlight. I blink repeatedly to try to adjust my eyes, but it’s next to impossible. Even though I’ve been staring at the light for days, I didn’t realize the bar windows were tinted until just now.
I’m so delirious between the blood loss, the lack of food, and the bright light I wonder if the shape in front of me is really a ship in the distance or just my desperate imagination. As I walk past Diego, he shoots his gun off at nothing, for no reason. I can’t take the chance.
I promised Linc, and this may be my only opportunity.
They line us up in a straight line. It could be because of the gray blur I see in the distance or because they finally plan on picking us off one by one. I have to go on the assumption the gunshots were a precursor to what’s to be my fate. After all, if someone was coming to rescue us, why haven’t they done anything by now?
It has to be a ruse.
While there’s frantic screaming in a language I don’t understand, I run. A shot whizzes by my head before I roll my body over the rail. And for the first time since this nightmare began, for a small immeasurable moment between the boat and the water with the air racing over my skin, I’m free.
Maybe not my body, but my soul is.
There’s no more pain of remembering as I smash against the high waves causing the water caps to ripple out. There’s nothing aching in my body as my body is sucked beneath the cold.
Death doesn’t frighten me because I’ve realized I won’t hurt anymore. And if I die, at least I did so because I made the decision to try to save myself, not because people on a boat somewhere were listening to our hell and needed to plot and plan. If I die, it will be by choking on the water I tried to use to escape from the loss of love.
Being in love is like the waves of the ocean against a boat adrift at sea. It can be peaceful, lulling you into a sense of tranquility. Other times it’s like a tidal wave—a force of destruction so powerful, you’re going under no matter how you try to protect yourself.
