32. Eliza
Eliza
"You guys, are you—"
No one let me finish my doubt with how they physically shoved me toward the yacht. "Go." Maria practically begged me with sad eyes as she continued to nudge me closer and closer to the yacht. "Trust us, we're only doing this because it needs to be done."
Well, I didn't like the sound of that, particularly her heavy tone.
Sighing heavily, Antonio shook his head and hugged me tightly.
"My son is a very stubborn man, and sometimes, he needs to have his hand forced.
" He sounded apologetic, and that made my stomach sink.
"I know your relationship is none of our business, but you deserve to know who my son really is.
It's clear to his mother and I that he won't tell you on his own, so this is for both of your sakes.
" Stepping back, Antonio smiled at me sadly.
"I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us for making you take this trip with him. "
Before I could respond, Hailee tackled me in a hug. "Get on that yacht, but remember, don't let him find you or anything until you guys are far out," she reminded me in a muffled voice before letting go of me and shoving me firmly at the yacht just a few feet away from me.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I gripped the bag in my hands tightly, looking at everyone one last time before I let my feet move. "Asher, Mama loves you." I blew him a quick kiss and waved at him, smiling warmly when he returned the air kiss and wave.
"We'll take good care of him. Just worry about you and Adam," Maria assured me with a secure smile.
The closer I got to the ship, the wobblier things became, and it wasn't because of the soft waves rocking everything. I was so afraid that my legs would give out under me when I stepped up onto the ship and didn't feel my leg.
This whole thing was probably a bad idea, sneaking onto the yacht to see what Adam was up to.
I wasn't for the idea, but everyone else was.
Something snapped at them when I left the room to leave Adam to finish his packing, and they all got this tired look to their faces.
Honestly, the way they looked at me earlier was akin to a parent being done with their child's antics.
So, the next thing I knew, they threw together go bag for me and dragged me down to the docks.
No one wanted to tell me what was up Adam's sleeve; they kept telling me it was something I needed to hear from Adam.
Apparently, this was the only way, according to his parents and sister.
So, on a whim, I agreed to their plan, which is why I was on the stupid ship, hidden away in the closet of the master room like some child.
Vibrations tingled my body from the engine turning over, and my body swayed a little bit when the boat started to move.
Then, an unknown amount of time passed. Seriously, I had no idea how much time passed because when I decided to sit down to keep myself from throwing up, I passed out into a nap.
By the time I woke up and crawled out of the closet, the moon was out high in the sky from what I could see through the window.
Slowly, on very shaky legs, I approached the window, placing my hands against the sill to steady myself.
I couldn't help but marvel at the open ocean.
Moonlight hitting the subtle waves gave it this eerie and mesmerizing shimmer, like glitter under the sunlight.
It was a clear night out, but the stars were shy tonight, it would seem.
If it weren't for the ruckus outside, I would've stayed at the window until someone came in and tore me away.
"Walk." I didn't recognize that voice.
Unfortunately, the next one I did. "What? Going to make me walk the plank? Thought you were mafia not pirates." That was James.
"Man, can I cut his tongue out?" It was that first voice again.
The next person to speak up made all the feelings drain out of my freezing body. "Can a person scream without a tongue?"
Adam… Why is he asking such a question?
"Yeah," the first man answered him.
"Then there's your answer." I didn't know if it was the walls or if Adam really did sound cruel and blunted. "But not here. Wait until we get above deck. Blood's easier to clean off up there than down here."
The faint footsteps faded over the next few seconds, along with the sounds of something heavy dragging and thumping against the floor.
I waited until nothing but the waves filled my ears before peeping my head out of the room, doing a quick sweep to make sure the coast was clear before stalking my way through the hallways to the upper deck.
Hesitation stopped me cold in my tracks when I reached the door leading out.
The knob felt so slippery in my clammy hands.
I couldn't get a grip on it for my life.
Unless the thing was locked, but why would it be locked from the other side?
Then again, why was James here on this ship with Adam? Why did Adam lie to me?
Glaring holes into the door, I gripped the knob tightly with a deep breath. I had to remind myself why I snuck on in the first place. It wasn't so I could hide away for seven days like some wimp. I was here for answers, and I'd damn well get them before I set foot back on land.
Every inhale and exhale sent a surge of invigorating energy through my system until my heart pounded at my eardrums. Running away wasn't an option this time.
Adam was it, and I wanted things to work out with him.
Well, scratch that; I wanted to see if things could work out with him.
I couldn't make an informed decision until I knew what this secret of his was.
No turning back, Eliza. You have to do it. Rip the bandage off. You can do it.
Psyching myself up until I was sure I'd go mad, I threw the door open and trudged up the stairs with my head held high. I had no idea what to expect up on the deck, and I thought I braced myself enough to take whatever shit I'd see… But nope.
My last meal churned in my stomach and up to my throat, clogging it up and threatening to spew out when I saw the gruesome sight before me.
I couldn't feel anything but the chill of the ocean air as it wafted against me.
Every inch of my body refused to budge despite my nerves aching with a need to run.
But hell, where could I run? Back down below where he could corner me?
Off the yacht and swim away until my limbs gave out for the ocean's depths to swallow me?
"Eliza." At least I wasn't the only one who was stunned stupid. "What are you…" Adam's face twisted with frustration, and his hand raked down his face then through his hair. "Why are you here? You're supposed to be back home." He was pissed, upset, and rightfully so.
Yet… his voice…
Why isn't he yelling at me?
The burning anger in his eyes was like looking at a picture of a furnace, but there was something off about his glassy orbs. His eyes were locked right onto me, but the storm in his eyes wasn't directed at me.
Who was he angry at?
A glint under the harsh lights flickered in my field of vision before I caught a glimpse of the knife in his hand slipping and falling to the ground with a loud clatter.
Neither of us twitched a finger in the other's direction, let alone move an inch. It might've stayed that way if I weren't an easy startle.
The yacht suddenly lurched, causing everyone to balance themselves. Now, that wasn't what got me. No, it was the bloody stump of a finger rolling across the deck and hitting my foot that got me jumping and screaming.
My actions caused Adam to spur into action. In the blink of an eye, he ran over to me and held me tight. "It's okay. It's okay. It's just a finger," he shushed and soothed me.
In a slight panic, I shoved at him to put some space between us.
"Just a finger!?" I looked up at him in shock and horror.
"Just a finger? As opposed to what? A head?
" Adam reached out for me, but I backstepped and held my hands out for him to stop.
"You have any idea how insane you sound?
Actually, how the hell can you sound so calm and casual about it? "
Okay, maybe I really would hurl. The staunch scent of iron didn't fully permeate my senses until now, and now my stomach felt like it was in the spin cycle of a washing machine. And, of course, I made the horrible decision of peering past Adam and saw the carnage of my ex.
Unable to stomach it, quite literally, I ran over to the railing and bent myself over the side of the boat. It'd been so long since I felt the burn of acid and digested food burn my throat and mouth. God, and the horrid stench and taste of it.
But the sight of James on the floor with his hands being bloody stumps because his fingers were cut off bit by bit was too much for me to handle.
A hand on my back caused me to reel back and swat at the limb.
"Don't touch me!" The look of hurt across Adam's face felt like a stab to my heart.
"Don't touch me with the same hand you…" There was no churning tummy this time; everything came straight up.
"Oh God…" Leaning back over the railing, I puked… again.
"I fucking told you… bitch…" James's raspy voice cut clearly through the chaos around me, along with his mocking laughter.
The sound of his laughter triggered a rush of anger, causing me to snap.
"Shut up!" Whirling around, I glared at James so hard that my eyes strained in my skull.
"You shut the fuck up." Something took over my body, and my feet moved over to James until I stood over him menacingly.
"I don't want to hear any more shit from your mouth!
I've listened to you and your stupid voice and words for ten fucking years too many. "