Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 104729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
“How do you know that?”
“Because I know everything about the ocean.”
I wonder how much of that is true. Does he really know everything? It would appear so, since he lives on this boat, spending his time going from port to port. I imagine it’s so he can transport guns under the radar—a small private yacht under the guise of being some sort of rich playboy. I wonder if he pays off the government at each location.
“So now that you’ve told me where we are and where we’re going, why don’t you just tell me what your actual plan is?”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“I think it’s only fair for you to tell me if I am to be used as bait.”
“Here’s the thing you need to learn: life is not fair. You’ll be granted life, but unfortunately, to do so, I must take your father’s. He wronged me. There is always a price to pay. Now, it’s his turn, and no, I won’t give you leverage to try to stop that.”
His words feel like tiny shards of glass cutting me. Even though I knew this was the case, it still hurts to know he wants to use me to kill my father, and there is nothing I can do to stop it. Maybe I can try to convince him that my father played no part in his brother’s death. I’ve been working to try to stop his plan, but maybe I just need to talk to him.
“Talk to me. Maybe I can help mend this—”
“That is between him and me.”
I slam my hands down on the table. “That’s horseshit, and you know it. You want to kill him because you think he murdered your brother. He didn’t.”
“You don’t know shit. You think this is your war, but this started when you were still ignorant, nestled in your private school. Let the adults handle matters. This is no game for a little girl.”
“Little girl? I’m twenty-two.”
He moves closer to me, his hand reaching out to brush a loose strand of hair from my forehead.
“Still just a little dove. Not strong enough to fly.”
“And how old are you?” I sneer.
“Thirty-four.”
With that, he stands and walks out the door, leaving me with the map and nothing more.
This afternoon was a complete waste of time.
I found out nothing.
He took my father’s shipment. Not once but twice. The men who paid my father still don’t have the guns, and Alaric did something with the money, making it impossible for my father to even pay them back. This shipment, the one Alaric has intercepted, was a shipment of goodwill, coming out of my father’s pocket. Yet again, it was taken.
Nothing I can say will change the fact that there are two prices on my father’s head. The question is which one is worse.
Will my father come willingly to the slaughter in order to save me? Maybe there is still hope. Maybe the guns are on the boat, and maybe my father’s men can take the boat, kill my captor, and everything will be okay.
Tonight, we call him. Tonight, Alaric will tell him of the proposed swap. I’ll tell him our location. I’ll make sure he knows where we are. And I’ll trust my father to do what is needed to survive, even if I’m a casualty.
My days have been numbered for a long time. The sand in the hourglass should have run out when I was ten, but I was given another chance. So maybe it’s time.
16
Alaric
She is unusually quiet today. I’m not sure what I expected. More pushback, I guess. Which is why I’m sure she will do something to sabotage the call to her father.
We’re sitting on the deck when I pull out my phone. Phoenix’s eyes go wide at my movement. Her skin, which normally sports a healthy tan, seems to whiten in fear.
“Yes?” I ask in a teasing tone. Its only purpose is to play up her fear.
“I thought … I thought phones don’t work here?” She’s wondering if this whole time she could have done more to escape. More to warn him.
“They don’t usually.” I smile wickedly. “Not unless I allow them to.”
Her mouth opens and shuts at my admission. “I thought you would be using the radio thing?”
“Were you hoping you could call for help?”
She scowls at me. All traces of fear are now gone, replaced by the anger I have grown to like in her.
“Unfortunately for you, calling the Coast Guard is not an option. Now come over here,” I pat the seat beside me, “and speak to your father.”
She shakes her head.
“No. Interesting. And I assumed you would want to warn him of my trap.” I smirk as her eyes narrow at me. “No need. I’ll tell him point-blank that it is a trap.”
I grab my phone from the table and then dial. It rings one time before he picks up.