21. Reese #2
Bone crunches beneath the impact, and he falls limp.
Weston throws him to the ground, then uses the blade on the second man.
The third starts to yell for help, but Weston is faster.
He sends the knife flying. It sinks into his throat.
His gun clatters to the ground as he grabs at his neck, collapsing to the metal floor.
The flashlight beam rolls and illuminates Weston.
He’s standing in the center of the container, blood dripping down from his injury. A single warrior surrounded by enemies. Beaten. Bloodied. But not defeated. His strength gives me hope, but I know he’s not standing on his own.
No other man would still be on their feet.
Lord, please stay with us. Please don’t let him die.
With his movements labored, Weston steps forward and turns off the flashlight.
The rustling of fabric and random clinking of something against metal is all I can hear for a few moments.
I remain where I am, not wanting to move until he’s ready for me to.
“Okay, come on, Reese. We have to move fast.”
On legs with the structural integrity of jelly, I somehow manage to get to my feet. A hand brushes mine, so I cling to it as I take cautious steps in the dark, unsure where the bodies are.
Bodies. How is this happening? Why is this my life?
My bare feet hit the ground outside the storage container, and Weston releases my hand to close and lock the door behind us.
As soon as he has, he offers me the first-aid kit, and I shoulder it as he begins moving, one hand pressed to his side, the other holding a pistol.
He has a rifle strapped to his back and another pistol tucked into the waistband of his jeans.
Containers taller than I can even count climb up on both sides of us, making it nearly impossible to see the sky.
Soft yellow lights on the sides give us enough visibility to move through the maze, but not much more than that.
All while Weston holds the gun in front of us, clearing every corner like he’s the star in an action movie.
Which, I suppose, right now he is.
Except it’s not a movie. There are no special effects here. No retakes. If we die—that’s it. Lights out.
We take a pause a few containers over, and he hisses through clenched teeth as he looks down at his open wound. “Apparently, being opened a second time means additional pain.”
“That’s because your body was trying to heal, and you stopped the process again.” I open the first aid kit and reach inside, retrieving some gauze and tape. After stuffing some gauze into his wound, I press a fresh piece over the top, then add a few pieces of tape. “That won’t hold long.”
I zip up the bag and put it back over my shoulder, then study his complexion in the dim light. He’s far too pale, his skin slick with sweat and hot to the touch. If we don’t get him a real doctor and some antibiotics soon, Brenda will be the least of our problems.
“We don’t need it to hold long.” He withdraws a small cell phone from his pocket that he must have lifted from one of the guards and dials a number, then presses it to his ear.
“Cap.” He’s quiet for a moment. His shoulders sag slightly, relief evident in his expression.
“It’s good to hear your voice, too. We’re on a container ship.
Not sure where. Brenda grabbed us outside Maverick’s place. ”
Cap. I run back over the nicknames Tessa told me about and realize he’s talking to Zane. Hope floods my system, beating back the fear.
Please, God, let them find us.
“I’ll leave this call open. Trace it. Hopefully, we won’t be on board, but we’ll be close enough.
Yeah, brother. I’ll see you soon.” He shoves the phone into one of the holes on the outside railing of the nearest container.
“Okay, this way.” Weston guides me off to the side where a lifeboat is waiting, connected to a pulley system that lowers it down into the water. “Climb in, and I’ll lower you down.”
I start to listen, then stop. “Me?”
“Yes. I’ll be right behind you, but I have to make sure they can’t follow us.”
“Weston, I’m not leaving without you.” I frantically shake my head. If he thinks I’ll get into that boat without him, he’s crazy.
“Reese, you’re not leaving without me, but I need to know you’re safe. I promise, I will be right behind you.”
“You’re injured. Badly. You can’t do this alone.”
“Reese, I can’t function if I know you’re in danger.” He reaches into the other pocket of his sweats and offers me a second phone. “Here. If I’m not out in thirty minutes, call the Stormwatch Landing PD and speak to Captain Leopold. Only him, okay? He will get Zane.”
“Weston—” My tears are so thick I can’t see anything but a blurry shape in front of me.
He cups my cheek and pulls me in to press his lips to my forehead. “I’m coming, Reese. But I have to make sure we stand a chance of getting away. Please get into the boat.”
The idea of leaving him makes me sick, especially with how injured he is. He looks one gust of wind from falling over. But I also know, the longer we stand here, the riskier it is, so I get in the boat.
God is with him. And with God on our side, how can we fail?
Weston smiles at me, then starts lowering the boat toward the water. With each passing moment, my heart breaks a bit more.
Piece by piece.
I leave it standing right up there on the deck of this container ship.
God, save him. Save us. Please be with us. Please.