37. Finn
THIRTY-SEVEN
FINN
We’d all passed out for a while, but at some point, Travis woke us up and made us all drink a bottle of water, checking we were all okay. Jasper looked utterly fucked, the smile on his face the widest I’d ever seen. We’d cleaned up, put some clothes on as the boat was chilly, and climbed back into bed, snuggling up and falling back asleep quickly.
Something woke me while it was still dark outside. Given we were nowhere near another living person, I presumed it had been a giant whale trying to sink us or a Kraken wrapping its sucker-covered tentacle around the boat. As I lay there, waiting to hear something else, my bladder screamed, forcing me out of the warmth of the man-cocoon I was in.
I climbed over Travis and shivered, pulling one of their hoodies on, knowing instantly from the scent of sandalwood it was Jasper’s. Wrapping my arms around myself and burying my nose in the neck, I breathed him in while I walked through the boat to the bathroom, relieving myself and washing my hands before going to the kitchen… no, I wasn’t allowed to call it that… the galley . I smiled to myself, impressed with my boating lingo, as I reached up to take a glass from the cupboard.
Before I could pick it up, another noise that sounded like a footstep had me spinning on the spot, my heart in my mouth, despite knowing deep down it would be Jasper or Travis, but the giant man dressed head to toe in black was neither.
I went to scream, but he was too quick, slamming his gloved hand over my mouth and wrapping his arm around me so I was unable to move.
“You idiot. We’re not ready, and now we’ll have to start before they get here,” the man hissed as another man appeared out of the shadows.
“Just get on with it. Having him is a bonus. We can use him as collateral. Make them give us the good stuff.” Their masks made it impossible to see their faces, and I couldn’t place their strong accents, but I wasn’t sure if the hammering of my pulse in my ears was affecting my hearing.
I wriggled in his hold, trying to shout for Jasper and Travis not to help me, but to get out of here. I had no idea what these people wanted, but given how much equipment was on this boat and how much it was worth, I knew they weren’t here for me, and I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to the men I cared so much about.
“Take him out,” the one holding me instructed.
Without pausing, the other man reached around to his side, pulling out a gun and pointing it at me. I let out a muffled scream, fighting harder to break free, not knowing where I’d run or how we could escape these men, but needing to try.
There was a loud crack, and the world went black.