Tom holds up his phone in the back seat, signaling he抯 already on it.
揧es, but in this soup, who the hell knows how long it抣l take them to get there? I抦 going either way. Can you have the boat ready so we can take off as soon as I get there??
揥ill do. I抣l have it staffed and ready. I抦 not far, I抣l be there too.?
With a lucky break in traffic heading back into the city, I speed toward the dock where Brock keeps his infamously lavish rental alongside several other sleek, classy vessels only reserved for visitors with serious money and prestige.
Still, this is taking too long.
I keep glancing at my screen, hoping Eliza will call again.
Hoping for some sign Troy hasn抰 fully snapped, that he hasn抰 done anything to silence her.
Goddamn, I hope we make it in time.
I have to.
Twenty minutes later, I skid through the parking gate at the pier, flashing my ID and a black credit card for the bewildered, cold-looking parking attendant.
Once I jack the car into a space, I turn and look at Tom. 揝tay in the car with Destiny, will you??
揂bsolutely, Mr. Lancaster.?The older man nods.
揇ad, no!?She whips her ponytail, shaking her head. 揧ou have to take me. I have to help Eliza.?
揇estiny, we抣l be lucky to even get out of port on a night like this. There抯 also no telling what Troy抯 intentions are, his mental state, or even if he抯 heavily armed. It抯 not safe,?I warn.
揝o, what? You抣l just go off and leave me an orphan then? Thanks, Dad. I love you too.?She sighs.
I snort pure frustration.
揇estiny, this is not the damn time.?I get out of the car and jog through pooling water to the boat.
Despite Tom抯 best efforts, she抯 right behind me, rushing through the puddles as fast as her pink Chucks will carry her. 揇ad, hold up! Listen. I already lost one parent. I抦 not waiting around to lose you, too. I can抰 do nothing while you and Eliza are…？She trails off.
When I turn around with a burning sigh, I see heartbreak and terror etched on her face.
I don抰 have time to argue, so I hoist her up and resume my run, carrying her onto the boat ahead of me.
揑f you make me regret this棓 And I抦 sure I will. 揧ou抮e grounded for life, young lady. You stay on this ship with an adult at all times if you抮e coming.?
揇eal!?she chirps happily.
Brock meets me with several crewmen as soon as I抦 aboard. 揥e抮e all set. Any last details I should know about??
揧eah. She was at the south marina off two fifty-three last time I heard from her.?
He nods. 揥e抣l be there as soon as we can. I haven抰 been on a mission like this in a long time.?He grins, combing back his dark, rain-slicked hair with his fingers.
He抯 more excited about it than I am. I suppose I can抰 blame him.
揝ame, but I wish I wasn抰。 The stakes are too goddamned high,?I mutter.
揧ou love her, don抰 you??he asks gruffly.
揝he抯棓 Everything, I almost say, but then I remember she resigned from the company and me. 揝he was an excellent employee and she damn sure doesn抰 deserve this. That抯 the long and short of it.?
揋ot it,?he says, a doubtful edge to his voice.
揌e抯 lying. He抯 over the freaking moon with her,?Destiny whispers. 揑 think she抯 pretty cool, too.?
Brock smiles at her and looks at me, his eyes piercing through the gloom. 揂re you sure you want the kid aboard??
She glares at him. 揑抦 not a kid, hotel guy.?
Winthrope smiles, his face tight with laughter.
揝he wouldn抰 stay behind and I don抰 have time to argue. She抯 a brave little brat, but she cares about Eliza. Thanks for helping find her,?I tell Brock sincerely.
There抯 the throaty grind of an engine spooling to life and then motion as the ship begins backing away. Once I make sure Destiny heads inside the lower deck cabin with Tom, I follow Brock up to the bridge.
Even with the conditions being what they are, travel by sea is faster and safer than anything on land tonight.
There抯 no manic traffic to fight and we抮e close to our destination in less than an hour.
As Olympia抯 lights materialize off to one side, Brock steps out and leans over the railing, peering far into the night.
揅aptain says we抣l be there in another fifteen minutes or so.?There抯 an eagerness to his voice I don抰 like.
I hope he抯 not so glory hungry he plans on coming with me. Sure, he抯 a military man like me, but this is my problem alone. My life to risk.
The last thing I need is to worry about keeping him alive too.
揑s this little marina even equipped for a ship like this??I ask, already knowing the answer before he shakes his head. 揕et抯 get a lifeboat ready. I saw they抮e motorized. I抣l disembark and go straight for Eliza.?