Page 145 of Creed

The blonde woman has a device in her hand that she clicks but then shouts, “The detonator is faulty! It’s on you, team leader.”

The staccato of gunfire continues, but its sound is fading as we race away. There’s a booming sound—almost like a cannon firing—then an explosion. I peek out through a space between Severyn’s body and her arm and see the back part of the yacht is burning.

There’s another sound of the cannon firing, followed by amassivepercussive blast. The moonlight is shining down almost like a spotlight on the yacht, which explodes, shattering it into thousands of tiny pieces.

Severyn falls heavily on me, and I’m worried she’s been hit until I realize she’s still protecting me, using her body to shield mine from the flying debris, some of which landed in our boat.

I squirm, trying to get free, and our eyes lock. “Thank you.”

She grins. “You did good, Demeanus.”

I choke a laugh, then look at the inferno spread across the water that is shrinking as we speed farther away.

No one on that yacht would’ve survived.

Good.

I shiver.

Nexin helps me to a seat as the adrenaline crash is nearly incapacitating my legs. I’m shaking from the drop in adrenaline, and the reality of what we were just rescued from. The cold rips through my shredded shirt, and Nexin places his jacket over my shoulders.

“You’re safe now, Sophie,” he reassures.

He turns his attention to Severyn when the blonde woman hunkers down before me, her cool blue eyes skating over me like she’s assessing for injury. “Your man—”

“Creed.” Intense fear makes it nearly impossible to get his name out; that he didn’t make it out alive from behind the club. I don’t think I’ll be able to survive if he didn’t.

“He’s waiting for you with Tag,” she reassures me.

She wraps a blanket around me, over Nexin’s jacket, and stays beside me. She doesn’t speak; she doesn’t tell me her name, but I suspect this is Len. She just stays close, like a sentinel, and I know I’m safe.

They saved us,me, from being delivered to a death ring.

My own father was going to sacrifice me to a life of hell, all for his own personal gain.

And these people had saved me with no hesitation, even when their own safety could have been compromised.

Creed had saved me. His family had saved me.

It was a group effort; I knew that. But if I hadn’t met Creed—if fate hadn’t intervened to give me the love of my life—I wouldn’t have stood a chance.

Trying not to break down, I focus on the life I’ve been given.

A life I deserve to live for me.

A life where I love and marry the man of my dreams even if my family can't accept my choice.

A life where I vow to help others who need help.

Maybe not the same way this team has helped me and helps others, but there’s another way I can help. With Creed’s assistance, I can make my passion project a reality and help women and children break the horrific chains that bind them into a hell of domestic violence and poverty.

That’s the mark and legacy I want to leave on this world.Hope’s legacy.

Huddled in the jacket and blanket as Rolf drives us wherever we’re going, we start to slow after what feels like hours, but seconds at the same time.

I lift my head to see a black mass approaching. I realize it’s an island, after I can make out the dark form of trees. My eyes shift, and through the dim moonlight, I see two tall, broad forms racing toward the boat, running through the shallow water. One of them I’d recognize anywhere.

Creed.

---