40. Jasper
FORTY
JASPER
I turned on my flashlight and tugged down my life jacket. The stairs leading to the engine room felt eerie in the darkness, the memory of finding two masked men hiding in the shadows still at the forefront of my mind.
My chest burned as I walked, and I had to rub the heel of my free hand over my breastbone to try to ease the pain.
The movement of the boat was even worse down here, the waves slamming me side to side against the narrow corridor. I pressed down on the door handle, stepping into the darkness, shining my torch around quickly so I could assess the state of the place.
I was right. We were taking on water, and if the couple of inches that splashed under my feet as I entered were anything to go by, we were in trouble.
I pinched my nose, muttering a prayer under my breath. I’d never been religious, but now seemed as good a time as any; however, as if the universe was laughing at my hope, a wave slammed into the boat, sending me staggering back and slamming into the metal wall, cracking my head on something behind me.
A whimper echoed out into the room, and I paused because I didn’t think I’d made that sound.
There it was again. Soft, filled with fear, muffled.
“Hello?” I called, shining my torch into the space. “I’ve got a gun,” I lied, making the muffle turn into more of a sob.
The boat rocked again, and I had to physically brace myself against the wall to keep myself upright.
“Hello?” I called again, starting in the nearest corner of the space and working my way around methodically.
And then, as I got to the furthest away space, something moved.
I stepped forward cautiously, nerves bubbling in my stomach, expecting someone to come out fighting… another masked man with a gun, but I was met with something very different indeed.
“Finn?” I screamed when I saw him, relief and fear hitting me simultaneously. “Jesus, Finn?”
I ran, bending down and shining the torch on him, the sounds of his whimpering only moments ago, the only proof I had that he was actually here and alive.
Lying on his side, his head twisted awkwardly up to the ceiling, he was gagged and his wrists and ankles bound and then tied together, so his body formed a weird circle. He looked in agony, and I realised his head was twisting because of the rising waterline.
“Shit, I’m here, little one. I’m right here.” I wasn’t sure he heard me, his eyes screwed shut, tears leaking from them.
I tugged at the wet rope, untying the knots with my shaking hands. As I did, his arms and legs moved slowly, but the more he unfurled, the more the tears fell, and I wondered if he was injured. My need to protect him and get him to safety roared to life inside me; nothing more important than getting him to Trav so we could take care of him together.
Not waiting another second, I removed his gag and scooped him up into my arms. I pressed his face to my chest, widening my stance to brace against the assault of the waves as I navigated my way back to the main deck, Finn falling apart as I held him together.
As I appeared in the doorway, Travis looked up, shining his torch in our direction. I lowered mine, so I didn’t blind him, shielding Finn’s eyes from the light.
“What the hell?” Travis gasped, but before any of us could say another word, the boat pitched so violently, we were all thrown backwards.