Page 34 of Wayward
“You’re back!” Haley jumps up from the port window as the door to the corridor slams shut.
“Yes.” I wrap my arms around her neck and kiss her cheek before she buries her head in my chest.
“The yacht’s slowing. We’re docking. I’m thinking we need fuel,” she says into my shirt.
“Yes, they’re taking on fuel. We’re somewhere in Taiwan.” I let her go, and we join Easton at the porthole.
“How long will this take?” Easton asks. “The fueling, I mean.”
If he’d ever come on a trip with his dad for more than a day, he’d know fueling takes forever. “At least eight hours.”
Haley nods and raises her eyebrow at Easton.
“I didn’t doubt you.” Easton pulls Haley to him. “Honestly.”
“What did they make you do?” Haley asks.
“Nice one, Swimmer Boy. Don’t ever doubt Haley.” I laugh and grab Haley’s waist. I press my nose into the crook of her neck and try not to think about what might have happened if I hadn’t detected the acid of the batteries. They would have noticed soon enough. Right? Of course they would have. “Cat boxes. Dante’s the newRosewoodchef, and Sam was in the galley too.”
“And Zane?” Haley sinks to the bed.
“He was in the galley when I left. Holloway took me down below, but he said he was coming back for him.”
She nods and moves over to the window again. We slowly approach the dock. We’re on auxiliary power and are inching along. I can almost see the port, if I squint. This has got to be frustrating to them too. The crew of theRosewood. Because they’re not going to fix the batteries and take on fuel at the same time. Though now that they know there’s an issue, it’s not a hard problem to fix. Fuck them. I don’t give a damn about them.
Even when Haley moves to the bed, I can’t pull myself away from watching the approaching port. And that’s the problem.The closer it gets, the more I realize that this isn’t going to be a place where we can blend into the landscape. The fueling station is a concrete building a long way down a pier and nowhere near land. It’s discreet. Just the type of place a yacht like this would want to fuel. Our porthole is below the dock. Above us, I can see the legs of the crew moving along. They’re taking on supplies too. It’s hard to tell from this angle. I keep waiting for one of the other guys to appear. But then, if they’re taking on food, that will keep Dante busy for a while. There are long shadows of what I’m assuming are guards along the edge of the dock.
Fuck.
After a few hours, the yacht rocks while being tied up. And Easton and Haley appear back at my sides.
“Do you think?” Haley looks up at me. And I know what she means. Do I think we can escape here? I want to tell her about theRosewood’scaptain. But there’s no way. I’m not writing it, or even spelling it on her stomach. If Hawk’s dad is going to help us out, it could mean his life.
“No,” Easton and I say together.
“But we could?”
The door opens, and Z’s standing there with his hands on his hips. Several guards are behind him, but it’s the scowl on his face that worries me more.
Chapter 15
Waylaying
Haley
“Thayer,” I say, holding my head high. There are dark circles under his eyes, and his hair is standing up on end. He’s not wearing his normal button-down linen shirt but a polo instead. There’s no logo on it?custom, no doubt. I’m not sure if it’s seeing him in our cabin or the change of clothing, but he’s disarmed. Like he’s a normal guy. A normal, worried guy.
“Come along now. Move.” There’s an edge of fear in his usually calm voice.
I step forward, but Calvin and Easton haven’t moved.
“Now.” Thayer grabs my upper arm and jostles me into the corridor. But I catch the look in Thayer’s brown-flecked hazel eyes. He’s pleading with me.
It’s Calvin’s plan to go along with what they want, but right now there’s empathy rolling off the man who had us lined up on the deck for death just a few days ago. “Easton, Calvin. Just do as he says.” I twist my neck. Calvin and Easton stand with twoguards, arms crossed and faces stoic, far from willing to go along with it.
Thayer takes my arm and leads me up the stairs. Easton and Calvin are right behind us. And my heart sinks. This is the way to the back deck. I hold my breath, but I want to scream.
I must have taken a gulp of air, because Thayer glares down at me. “I need you to be quiet. Do you understand me? Your life depends on it. Do as I say, Hal.”
