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I would confess that there’s never been another person in my life that has challenged me the way she has. She’s driven me to the brink of madness with her smart mouth and horrible listening skills. And she has stolen my heart with her gentleness and passion. And for the first time in my life, I’m scared of the unknown.
I start to slow. The dot indicates she’s in front of me. A purple container with Valouro stamped across the side. I swallow down the thick ball of emotion clogging my throat. If I don’t pull it together, neither of us will leave this ship. And I owe her that much.
I pull on the padlock, rattling the door. Locked. “Fuck,” I hiss, reaching for my phone. I fire off a text.
Me: On the barge. Need backup NOW.
Jake: On site. Sit tight.
I can’t wait any longer. Using the butt of my gun, I slam it into the padlock. It takes three hard hits until it finally unlatches. Ripping the lock off, I pull the heavy door open. It’s too dark and my eyes can’t adjust fast enough. The interior is a dark canvas, and I can’t see her. I take a step inside, the overwhelming stench of sweetness tainting my nostrils. The minimal light pouring in from the outside illuminates faint shadows and I take another step inside. Thump. Thump. Thump. My heart slams against my ribcage. I don’t see her. I don’t hear her. Thump. Thump. Thump. What if I’m truly too late? The faintest shadow catches my eye. There’s a small silhouette curled in the middle of the tight space.
“Addy.” My throat locks, and I drop down to her side, afraid to touch her. My hand grazes down her back. “Addy, fuck.” My fingers slip under her back to scoop her into my arms, her wet shirt soaking through mine. A weak moan escapes her, and I freeze. “Addy?” I hold my breath, maneuvering her onto her back. Her eyes are closed, blood smeared across her pale face. I press two fingers against the pulse at her neck, and an exhale falls from my lips at her faint pulse. “Jesus, Addy. Stay with me, okay? I’m going to get you outta here.”
Her eyelids flutter open, and I could fucking cry. “L—Logan?”
I swallow down another ball of emotion. “Yeah, baby. It’s me. I got you.” I try to lift her, but she howls out in pain.
“My arm. He shot me in the arm,” she cries out. My eyes fall to her arm that’s been wrapped in a strip from the bottom of her shirt. “Logan, you have to stop them. I was right about the mayor. The girls. They’re in barrels. A cop—he’s a cop. He’s the one who’s—”
“Addy, slow down.”
“I can’t! They’re going to get away…”
She falls limp in my arms, and I panic, shaking her. “Addy! You gotta stay with me.”
Footsteps echo from just outside the container, and I press my finger over her mouth. “Shhh…” I use my body as a shield to block her and reach for my gun.
“Chino, where you at?” A voice sounds in the distance. Addy becomes restless behind me, grabbing at my shirt. She pulls on my arm.
“Logan…” her voice is weak. I turn back to her, needing her to stay quiet, but her eyes roll back, and she slumps against the ground.
“Chino! That you?”
I grab for her. “Addy, stay with me.”
“He’s…a…bad guy.”
“Addy.” I gently smack her cheek. “Don’t close your eyes. You hear me?”
“Chino?” Just as I move to look through the doorway, a guy sticks his head into the container. I pivot and aim my gun at him. “Shit, Broderick? Good thing you’re here. I was just coming to—”
“What are you doing here, Garcia? How did you find us?”
“Bad…bad…bad…” Addy mumbles, her voice barely audible.
The officer’s eyes bounce between us, his nervous energy giving him away.
“You can put the gun down, man. I’m here to help. She okay? Why don’t you head out? I’ve got her…” he trails off, starting to realize he’s been made. He draws his gun, but I get out the first shot. His neck explodes as a bullet slices through his jugular. He drops his gun and cups his neck, but it’s useless. His body drops like a rag doll at my feet.
“Addy, we gotta move.” She’s barely conscious. I scoop her in my arms, and she lets out a pained cry. “Baby, I’m sorry, but if we don’t go, someone else is going to come looking. Do you think you can stand at all?”
She makes an attempt but clutches her ribs, and I grab her before she falls forward. “Fuck, okay.” Ignoring her cries of agony, I lift her in my arms. “Help is on the way, but I’m not sure we have enough time. We gotta search the outer barge for a possible emergency raft.” She doesn’t respond, and I worry she’s passed out on me. I slide out of the container, careful not to jar her, and trek back the way I came. Weaving through the rows of containers, I follow the sound of the waves, until I get to the stern of the barge. A strong gust of wind threatens to push me forward, but I lock my feet to not lose my balance. Something hanging off the side, but I can’t get close enough to see. It’s too windy.
