“My Heath did a number on you, didn’t he, kitten?” She squeezes my face, but when the panic starts, I give it to the One who can keep me calm.
“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
“Poor guy. Don’t worry, soon it’ll be my turn, and I’ll make sure you feel no pain.” Tori leans in. “Well, not a lot, anyway.”
“Get your hands off of him,” Emma growls.
She turns to Emma as the women unshackle her and pull her up to her feet. A hand cracks out, and Emma falls backward.
I lunge forward against my chains. “Keep your hands off of her,” I warn.
“Or what?” she asks. “Tell me, cowboy, what will you do to me if I don’t?”
Because I sense a fight is just what she’s looking for, I don’t respond. Instead, I continue glaring at her, letting her believe she has the upper hand—for now.
“That’s what I thought.” She turns back to Emma. “As I said, you will learn your place. Now, get her ready,” she snaps at the women. “Get him upstairs, and make sure you keep a tight leash on him, m’kay? Good. Master is waiting.”
“Dylan?” Emma whispers.
“Have faith, Emma,” I tell her, clinging to mine with all that I have. God, be with us.
By the time the guards get me upstairs, I’ve already planned our escape.
If I can get to Delta.
Otherwise, I’ll get Emma out, then follow suit as soon as I’ve rescued my dog. I will not leave him here.
There’s a single life raft on the starboard side of the yacht. All I need is a gun from one of these guards, and I can get us there.
Hopefully.
We reach the bow of the ship, where an archway of flowers has been set up. The captain is standing beneath it, while Heath and Mattheus stand beside a table, talking. There’s a stack of documents in front of them, a pen right beside.
Marriage license? Or something else?
“So nice of you to join us,” Heath tells me as he glances over.
“Where’s my dog?”
“A lot to handle, but he’s fine. Didn’t really find it appropriate to make him watch you die. He is just an innocent bystander in all this, isn’t he?”
My gaze scans the rest of the bow. A large safe sits off to one side, its door open. A strap is wrapped along the bottom and connected to a crane that they likely used to move it. I assume they are planning to use it when they dump it in the water—with me inside.
If I’m reading the situation right, anyway.
Emma will be forced to watch me slowly sink into the ocean as I drown.
“Can’t stomach watching me die?” I click my tongue. “I knew you cared,” I add dryly.
“Hardly. I just want to watch her watch you die, and I imagine you’re a strong swimmer.” He turns to Mattheus. “Are we ready now?”
“Once my sister is married to you, I’ll sign it.”
The fact that I haven’t seen Gio isn’t lost on me. “You decide to cut your dad out of this and make a deal to save yourself?”
“My father was weak. Just as my mother was. He needed to go.”
“Matricide and patricide, huh? You’re just checking all the boxes.”
