They landed in Bellingham and Joey taxied to a dock. “I’ll text you when I’m heading back, but I don’t expect more than two hours, tops.”
“Thanks, Joey!” Adelaide stepped onto the dock.
Rick followed with a thud. A man brushed past them, carrying a fishing rod over his shoulder. Another walked past with a crab trap.
Adelaide put a hand to her forehead to block the sun. “Mia sent a text that she’s here. She has a blue sedan.”
He’d made note of the car as they were landing. Mia stepped out of the driver’s seat and waved.
Sometimes he noticed too many things. He knew it was Mia, but he still had to pretend. “Is that her?”
“Oh yes, there she is!”
Adelaide raised an arm and waved. Two men encircled Mia, blocking her from view. She pushed one off, but he pressed back in, looping his arm around her shoulders as the other filmed with his phone.
Rick’s stomach tightened. Flipped. Sparks ran up his arms, and numbness filled his fingertips. He forced himself to take a breath.
No, not now. He couldn’t fall apart at the first sign of trouble.
He shut his eyes. Deep breaths. He could see these guys were a threat. Everyone could. He had to react.
The churn in his gut fizzled to a quiver. He opened his eyes. Mia was still ensnarled.
Rick broke into a sprint.
Seven
It was like something out of a movie. If Addy hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have believed it.
By the time Rick reached Mia, one of the guys had lifted her into the air.
“Look!” he yelled. “I caught the woman who single-handedly ruined the Apex Universe!”
She squirmed away and fell to the ground. In one swift motion, Rick grabbed both men by their shirts, picked them up, and tossed them to either side like paper dolls. They hit the pavement with a skid, groaning.
Addy rushed to Mia and squatted down next to her. “Are you okay?”
She stood, swiping at her knees and smoothing her hair. Her cheeks glowed. “Yes, I’m fine. It’s okay.”
One of the guys scrambled backward on his hands and knees. “Dude, what is your problem?”
Still laying on the ground, hands up, the other said, “Yeah, what the –”
“Do you want to try that again?” Rick said, his voice slow and steady. “Or do you want to leave?”
“We were just –”
Rick took a step toward him. He flinched.
“You were just leaving.” Rick knelt and picked up the dropped cell phone, never breaking his stare. “Right?”
The guy stood, joining his friend. “That’s my phone.”
“Not anymore,” Rick said. “Get out of here.”
Both men hesitated before quickly turning and walking off, casting looks over their shoulders once they were across the street.
Addy stood next to Mia, gripping Mia’s hand. She let go.
