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)
“Then don’t pack. This is our last night together. Join me for dinner.”
“No.”
I shrug. “Very well.”
Turning from her, I stroll out of the room, ready to make the final provisions for the exchange.
By this time tomorrow, vengeance will finally be mine.
17
Phoenix
Time is running out, and there is absolutely no way out of this situation.
It’s late. Probably around midnight, maybe later. I still don’t have a clock, but seeing as the boat is quiet, I have to imagine the time to be after everyone has fallen asleep.
With so much nervous energy jumping in my veins, I decide to go for a walk.
I’m too cooped up in this stateroom. I throw on a pair of yoga pants, a tank, and sneakers.
I don’t get very far before I hear a crash at the same time the boat lurches forward.
What the hell?
Screams pierce through the air.
Did we crash? How is that possible?
Then I hear footsteps running.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
The noises echoing through the boat makes my blood run cold.
Those were gunshots. Someone is shooting on the boat.
It feels as though my legs are stuck in quicksand. I can’t move. I don’t know who is firing or where to go.
The sound of steps has me shaking out of my fog as I dash for the staircase. The one place I don’t want to be is caught without a chance to escape. If I’m at the back of the boat, I can …
What?
Jump?
There is no place to go.
The extra boat.
Although I’ve never seen it, there must be something. Isn’t it mandatory to have a lifeboat, raft, something?
I’m running now, as fast as I can, but the gunshots get louder. My heart pounds in my chest as I make my way toward the back of the ship.
What if that’s where they are?
I’m not sure what’s happening, but soon I will as I swing open the door and make my way out in the warm summer air.
“Phoenix.” My movements stop, and I turn to see Alaric. He looks disheveled, like he’s been fighting. Dressed in gray sweats and a white T-shirt, he looks like he could have been working out. But I know better, and if I need any more evidence to prove he wasn’t, he has a gun in his hand.
My brow furrows. Maybe he was firing at his own men, but as he lifts his free hand to his mouth, I know that’s not the case.
He’s being hunted too.
“Follow me,” he whispers as we move toward the passage that will lead us to the back.
“What’s happening?” My voice is low enough that I don’t think he can hear me.
“Pirates.”
My feet stop short, and he turns around to look at me, imploring I move.
“Nice try, Captain Sparrow. Pirates don’t exist. This isn’t a Disney movie,” I deadpan. “Tell me the truth!”
“Not that we have the time to argue, but there are, in fact, pirates in the Caribbean, and as funny as that sounds, it’s no joke. They are ruthless, out for blood, and they are about to board this ship.”
“What are they after?” I whisper, hoping they don’t hear me.
“You.”
Before I can ask more questions, he grabs my arm and is pulling me.
Why would someone want me? Unless …
“My father?” I whisper. That’s the only thing that makes sense. But does it? They are shooting and firing—
Crash.
Our bodies fling in the air as an explosion rocks the ground.
A bomb.
“They’re trying to blow up the ship.”
“It can’t be my father.” Could it?
Why would he have bombs on a boat? Especially a boat I’m on.
“I don’t know. Maybe he decided you weren’t worth the hassle. Now, let’s go unless you want to die on this boat.”
He pulls me around, and I allow it. The air is filled with smoke. Fire engulfs the space behind us.
Panic fills my veins.
I always knew that death was a possibility, but now that I’m looking at it in the face, fire and smoke billowing from behind me, I know I don’t want it.
I need to fight. My brain becomes more alert, and I see where we are going.
“Come on. We are headed toward the Zodiac. If we get on it, we can escape,” he says, his words giving me the strength to push on.
Another series of gunshots ring out through the air. My arms pump harder.
The sound of footsteps approaching.
“They boarded,” he whispers, and I wonder if he’s worried about his men. “I can’t let them get you.” His words sting. If it really is my father behind this, wouldn’t it just be easier to give him what he wants?
It makes little sense. “It can’t be him.”
“We won’t be here long enough to find out. As much as I should fight, I can’t let anything happen to you.”
Heavy footsteps are gaining on us as we get to where the large Zodiac tender is. There’s no way we will make it out of here, though. Not without them hearing us open the back of the boat to escape. If they hear, they will just come after us.