CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Desmond
Once I get Lorelei back, I intend to devote all my time to her. Hell, there is no way I will be letting her out of my sight, even if it means she has to go everywhere with me. Every time I let her out of my sight, someone snatches her away, and this would be the last time.
The very last time anyone would come between us.
Dean is pretty much certain that the island we are heading to is where Lorelei is being kept.
He had been a bit reluctant at first, insisting that if Lorelei didn’t want to be with me, I’d have to let her go.
Of course, I had agreed with him, but I had considered employing someone else to get her back if my uncle wouldn’t finish the job.
While Dean’s firm is the best when it comes to stuff like this, he isn’t the only person in the market.
I don’t mind the cost; all I want is to have my woman beside me.
My woman and child!
Finding out that she is pregnant was a bittersweet experience.
A part of me leaps with joy and excitement at the prospect of creating life with Lorelei, another part is worried.
The Sinclair men aren’t exactly a role model of a strong male figure.
My grandfather’s relationship with his sons is almost non-existent.
My father loathes him, and Uncle Dean doesn’t really care for him much either.
Heck, he avoids my grandfather like the plague, just as I do with my father.
The Sinclair curse.
I am not superstitious, but there’s clearly a pattern, and I intend to break it once I get Lorelei back with me.
I take a deep breath, knowing that in a matter of hours, we will be storming the island where Alexander is keeping Lorelei hostage.
Tracking this particular island wasn’t that easy.
He had gone to immense steps to hide her.
Private charters, several aircraft, I know Alexander can be meticulous, but I never expected him to be this meticulous.
In fact, it feels like he is determined to deny me the chance to be happy.
Dean had mentioned that a wire transfer had been the final piece of the puzzle, and while I sense there might be more to the story, the only thing I care about is getting Lorelei back.
I keep dreaming of her, and I wonder if she hates me for this whole ordeal.
The man who sired me had held her a prisoner for two months, and I had to tell Grandma Lillian, not wanting to lie to the poor woman.
“Are you ready, Desmond?” Slade asks as the boat approaches.
“Yeah. I’m ready,” I answer, licking my lips as I try to steel my resolve.
Despite Dean’s objections, I had insisted that I would be going with them.
He tried to explain that rescuing Lorelei the previous time doesn’t exactly make me an expert in situations like this; besides, the stakes are different.
The men guarding Lorelei are professionals and not redneck like Logan, who is currently in jail and would never get to see the outside world again.
I join Slade and his men on the boat, and soon, we’re sailing under the cover of the moonless night towards the island where Lorelei is being held captive.
Once we get Lorelei out, we’ll head straight to one of the harbors where a seaplane would be waiting to take us to the next airfield, where one of Dean’s jets would be waiting to take us out.
“Approaching the island. The house is spotted.”
There are two buildings on this side of the island, and Lorelei is being kept in the biggest one, a mansion according to the locals’ standards. I listen half-heartedly as Slade goes over the details of the operation with his men. Just three of them since it is meant to be clean, easy, and fast.
I’ll be staying on the boat since Slade has insisted that coming onshore would limit their capability to do their job. I really don’t like it, but since Lorelei has met Slade before, I’m sure she would have no problem going along.
Just a little more time, Lorelei. Just a little more.
*****
It has been thirty minutes since they went onto the island, and while I know it would take a while for them to locate her, I am a bit worried. I look at the building where Lorelei should be, and I can’t shake the dreadful feeling that something has gone wrong.
I’m getting off.
I jump off without a second thought, the local on the boat asking where I’m going. I barely answer him as I skulk towards the building. Before I get close, I hear what seems like shouting from the building. I freeze almost immediately, wondering if I made a mistake getting off the boat.
“You’ll pay for this. The boss might have instructed us not to hurt you, but trust me, you’ll pay for this.”
Something in my head goes off. I know it has to be Lorelei, and I run towards the direction of the voice. As I come around the bend, I spot four figures, one holding a woman of petite height, and right behind them, two other figures, one of them Lorelei.
I am not sure exactly what they are doing out here, but this is where Slade should be, not inside the building.
“Let me go, you worm,” Lorelei yells, trying to attack the man who is holding her.
“If you don’t stop fighting, I’ll punch you in the face!” He warns her.
My stomach churns at the idea of this beast laying a hand on Lorelei.
I contemplate jumping in, but I won’t be able to take the two men on, not alone.
I look back at the building, wondering if Captain and his men have already finished searching the building.
My heart thumps with anticipation as they all get closer.
I know that I’ll have to fight them before they come up on me, but against two men who might be heavily armed, I am not sure if I stand much of a chance.
“Keep walking,” the burly one says as Lorelei almost stumbles.
My jaw tightens as I realize that I’ll make him pay for that.
My entire body tenses up as the first man gets close to where I am hiding.
I lunge immediately, my fist connecting with the man in front, my sudden appearance and speed catching them all by surprise.
His head snaps back, and I fear that I might have killed him, but I don’t have time to focus on my downed enemy as Lorelei is still being held by the real target.
“What the-” the man holding Lorelei begins.
My gaze briefly drifts to Lorelei, and my body seems to cry out.
The past few weeks have been nothing but tough, and something kicks in that moment as she tries to break free from the man holding her.
He shoves her aside as he reaches for his waist, though I move quickly before he pulls out what seems to be his gun.
A kick to the hand knocks away the gun, disappearing somewhere into the night.
“I don’t know who the hell you are, but you’ll regret this. Get up, Charles,” the man says, holding up his fists.
From the way his fists and legs are positioned, I can tell that he is a boxer, and while I don’t have much experience in boxing, I’m sure I should be able to take him down.
He reaches for me, and I duck as his blow snaps through the air.
I try to aim for his chest, but his right fist lands right into my ribs, his knee reaching for my stomach.
Both hits connect, and it almost knocks me off, but I ignore the pain.
“Still standing,” the man smiles menacingly.
The second man on the ground begins to groan, and the second lady, whose identity I don’t know, tries to punch him.
“Stepping on this island was a mistake, friend.”
I ignore his taunting, determined to end this fight once and for all.
My ribs hurt, and I watch as the man starts to throw his right fist. Once again, I dodge around it, and I slam my elbows into his ribs as he slams into me.
We both tumble to the ground, struggle ensuing as he tries to pin me down.
I poke my hands into his eyes, shifting my weight as I bring my forearm right across his throat.
Getting him into a deadlock is the best way forward, and a few seconds later, his entire body goes limp.
I push his body away as I get onto my feet, Lorelei hugging me almost immediately.
“You came for me,” her voice cracks.
“Yes, you forgot your locket,” I say as I draw her closer.
We remain like that for a few seconds before I break the hug, telling her we need to get away from here and join Captain.
“This is Daisy. She was going to help me get out of here,” Lorelei explains.
I look at the petite lady who is eyeing the first man I had attacked, who is still on the ground.
I introduce myself and ask if she’ll come with us.
She nods eagerly, and we head towards the house.
I notice three figures move in our direction, and almost immediately, I can tell that it is Slade and his guys.
“We should tell them about the men,” I begin as I turn to point to the bodies on the ground.
That is when I notice that the second man is no longer lying unconscious, and he seems to be pulling something out from his waist. My mind clicks immediately as I step quickly, putting myself between Lorelei and him just as two gunshots ring out.
We all duck for cover. Slade and his men are firing back at the shooter. “Are you okay?” I ask Lorelei, desperately searching to see if she is fine.
“I’m fine,” she mutters, then she looks down at me. “Desmond!”
I hear the despair in her voice, and I look at my abdomen, a spot in my clothes is drenched with blood. My blood.
I’ve been shot!
“Are you okay?” Slade asks as he rushes towards me.
“He’s been shot!” Lorelei wails as she holds me tightly.
Slade tries to apply first aid, telling me to fight the drowsiness and endure until we get to the hospital. I know that there isn’t a hospital close by, and I wonder if this is where my journey ends.
At least I can go knowing that Lorelei and the baby are safe!
It’s sad as I looked forward to having a life with Lorelei, but then, it is a good thing to sacrifice my life for her. If only I had appreciated the time we had together more, then I wouldn’t be leaving with regrets.
“Thank you, Lorelei. My beautiful Lorelei,” I say, placing my hands against her soft cheeks, wiping away the tears falling down her face.
My consciousness slowly starts to slip away, and I close my eyes, knowing that the woman I love and my child will be safe.