Page 11 of Roman

11

Pria

Snuggling further into the blanket I borrowed from Stan’s living room couch, I stare out into the darkness of the ocean. The moon holds me captive as I wait for any sign of them to return. It’s been hours and I’m starting to get worried. They never told me a timeline or even their plan to get her back. “Please be okay,” I whisper into the night and hold my breath when the humming of a distant engine fills the calm of the night. Slowly a light drifts along the water but it doesn’t come toward the dock. Instead, it keeps on going until it’s completely out of sight and the humming disappears altogether. I suck in a deep breath of the salty air and hold it in until I can’t anymore. In a whoosh, it comes out and I sigh.

It's when the first rays of morning start to rise up from the other side of the world that I catch movement from out on the ocean. The boat Steven callsThe Killerslowly comes closer and closer to the small marina. I can hardly contain myself when the boat bumps along the dock. Out from the shadows, Steven hops off and secures the ropes, tying the boat into place.

“Did you get her? Is she here?” I try to go past him and onto the boat but he wraps his hands around my shoulders. Stopping me from going any further.

“Slow down momma. She is shaken up and going right at her might spook her. Take a breath and let it out for me.” He takes in a deep breath and lets it out, trying to get me to mimic his action. It takes a couple of times before I listen and take the deep breath he wants me to take. “Good. Now, she is still in one piece physically but mentally might be a whole new ballgame. Take it slow.” Steven’s hands disappear from my shoulders. When I hear two sets of footsteps hit the wood of the dock, one heavy and one soft, I take one last breath before I bring my gaze to them.

Roman is walking toward me with Rhylee tucked into his side. “Rhy,” I gasp and cover my mouth with my hand as if it will stop me from crying out.

“Mom. I’m so sorry.” Rhylee sobs and darts my way, hands out ready for me to accept her into my embrace. It’s seconds but seems like an eternity before we reach each other and she is safely in my arms again. My little girl. My entire world. I stroke her hair with my hand as she tucks her face into the crook of my shoulder.

“You have nothing to be sorry for baby. Nothing at all.” I squeeze her tight in my arms and swear I will never let her go. Never again.

“I need to get the boat out of here.” I hear Steven say but don’t listen as him and Roman start talking and walk away from Rhylee and me.

Rhylee’s body starts trembling in my arms. When I pull back, I notice she is shivering. “Here.” I take my blanket off and cover her up, tucking it around her tightly. “Let’s go inside.” She nods and I guide her back to Stan’s small home. He isn’t anywhere in sight, having left before I went to wait by the dock. “Are you hungry? Can I get you anything?” I don’t know what the man has in his kitchen but if she wants something I will get it for her.

“A shower.” With the light on now I can see her fully. Her sweet face is dirt smattered and tear stained. The rest of her is shielded by the blanket but I’m sure if she were to take it off it would only break my heart further.

“Yes. I um… I thinking the bathroom is over here.” I point toward a door and check it before stepping inside. It’s small. The little shower in the corner is stained orange on the bottom but there is a new unwrapped bar of soap sitting on the small sink. I turn around to find some towels stacked up on a lone shelf. “Towels.” I point and move enough for her to step inside. “Do you need any help?” she looks down at herself then back up to me.

“No. But clothes would be nice.”

“I will see what I can do.” I wait there for probably far too long because she shakes her head at me.

“It’s just a shower mom. I will be okay.” She tries to reassure me with a smile but it’s completely forced.

“I know. I just don’t know if I can leave you.” I step aside and move past her. “I will be right on the other side of this door. I won’t go anywhere else.” She nods and I force myself out of the room. I don’t get the door all the way closed before she speaks again.

“I recognized him.” Turning back, I look her face over, realizing who she is talking about.

“We can talk when you get out.”

“Okay mom.” I close the door and force in a deep breath in attempt to calm myself.

“She okay?” quickly I spin around to Roman’s voice.

“She wanted a shower.” I want so bad to wrap my arms around him and squeeze him tight. Tell him how thankful I am. I’m also completely terrified of speaking any words to the man. “I need to find some clothes for her.” I go to move from the door but he stops me.

“Here.” He extends his hand. “I knew you didn’t have any clothes either. There is some in there for you too.” Cautiously I take the bag and peek inside. “Steven had some stuff on his boat he tossed to me before he took off.”

“He left?”

“Yeah. We just hit a ship that was used for human trafficking. Leading them back here would just be stupid. He knows what he’s doing. They’ll be off his trail by morning.” He waves his hand as if it’s no big deal. “We are going to stay here tonight then get the both of you back to your place.”

12

Roman

Rhylee stayed in the bathroom for over an hour until Pria went inside to get her out. I hate to think of what was happening in there as I left the house and stepped outside. The small girl clung to me after I reached the boat. She never let go for a second until we were standing in front of her mother. The heat from her body leaving mine turned me to ice when she pulled away. She never spoke a word either. Just stayed quiet. Like she knew me. There is no way she would have clung to me like a spider monkey if she didn’t.

My fist connects with the splintering wood of the house. Damn Pria for keeping shit from me. Keepingherfrom me. “She’s sleeping.” Pria steps outside, arms crossed over her chest. She has on a fresh tee shirt and jeans now, her hair slightly damp.

“Good.” I look away from her not trusting myself to speak.

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