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When it stopped more than an hour later, his blindfold was removed, and Mantis saw they had been brought to a different dwelling. The sun was blazing, and without having had water since the night before, Mantis felt faint from dehydration.
When one of the other captives fell on the way inside the house, the man leading him kicked him repeatedly before dragging him the rest of the way in.
Mantis did everything he could to stay on his feet, hoping that once they were inside, they’d be given something to drink, at least. If he didn’t hydrate soon, he’d likely become delirious.
“What your name?” one of the younger-looking Somalis asked him.
“Jim,” he said, reciting the name on the fake identification he had on him.
“You okay, Jim?” the kid asked.
“No. I need water.”
The Somali left, but returned moments later with two bottles.
“I unchain you, Jim, you no try to escape,” he told him.
Mantis nodded, grateful for the drink.
“You rich, Jim?”
“Not at all.”
“They asking lot of money for you.”
“They won’t get it. I have no money.”
“No lie, Jim,” the kid said, smiling an almost toothless grin and leaving him with his hands unshackled.
—:—
Dutch parked the car in the driveway of Gunner’s mother’s house and walked around to open the passenger door. Alegria got out and started walking toward the house.
“Aren’t you coming inside?” she asked when he didn’t move from where he stood.
“Just to bring your bag in.”
She walked back over to him. “Be safe,” she said, reaching up to touch his face with shaking hands, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“Is that for me or him?” Dutch asked, hearing the edge of his own voice.
“Both of you.”
He pulled her to him and held her close. “I love you so much,” he murmured, wishing she would say it back, but knowing it would be the worst possible time for her to.
Chapter 14
Zary and Gunner
As they sat in the glow of the Christmas tree, Gunner thought about how different his life was not just from the year before, but than he ever imagined it would be.
Zary was snuggled next to him, her breathing so even that he guessed she’d fallen asleep. He tightened his arm around her, loving the feel of her body against his.
“Thank you for taking Losha to the island last night,” she murmured.
“You’re welcome.” He and Zary hadn’t talked about the fact Losha wasn’t alone, as she’d predicted. Somehow he sensed it wasn’t something she was ready to discuss, and that didn’t bother him. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be ready for that conversation. The less he knew about her friend, the better.
“And thank you for today,” she murmured. “My mother wanted nothing else for Christmas. You and Razor gave her the perfect gift.”
