Page 100 of Angel

ANGEL

Isee them leave. I also see the gun, and I have no time to waste.

I head over to Gosia and whisper urgently, “I want you to cause a distraction.”

“How?”

Her eyes widen with fear, and I point to the table loaded with cocaine.

“Fall against that as if the boat lurched. Pretend to faint and make sure to sweep all the drugs onto the floor. It will distract the guards.”

“Please don’t do this. You won’t win against them.”

“Listen to me, Gosia.” My voice is steady.

I stare into her eyes and smile.

“I will get us out of here, but first you must play your part. Do what you can to stall the guards and, if shit happens, grab a lifebelt and jump.”

“I can’t do that.”

“You can. The lifebelt will keep you afloat and there is a backup boat on the way. All you need to do is make it overboard and I’ll do the rest.”

“I’m scared.”

Her eyes fill with fear and I whisper, “Bravery replaces fear every fucking time. If you have the former, the latter ceases to exist.”

Her lip trembles, but she nods.

“I will try.”

“I have faith in you.”

I pretend to wave to someone near the guards and as we part company, she makes her way to the table as I head to the back of the deck where Sophie was taken.

The guards see me coming, but I stop a woman who is on her own and make small talk, all the time praying that Gosia doesn’t let me down.

An almighty crash alerts me, and as everyone stares at the cause of the commotion, the two guards start moving.

Cries and yells cause chaos and I waste no time and disappear down the stairs. It’s obvious where he was taking her. There are no supply cupboards on the main sleeping deck. That larger room was obviously the master cabin and, knowing Emilio, he had that marked as his all along.

The commotion is dying out, and I know I don’t have much time and as I try the door, it won’t budge. It’s locked with no way inside.

My heart is banging inside me as I reach for my blade and as I expertly pick the lock, I congratulate myself on a skill well earned.

A gentle click reveals my success and I open it slightly, listening for conversation.

I can make out a large room through the crack and then movement, the gentle sound of a woman sobbing but nothing else.

I push it open further and stare in shock at the limp body of Emilio Martinez lying back on the bed, blood dripping down onto the carpet from the huge hole in his head.

Sophie is frantically pulling on her dress as I step inside, closing the door behind me.

“Sophie.”

My tone is measured, and she turns, the relief on her face obvious.

“Oh my God, Jason.”