Fifteen

Where did he come from?

He was just ten feet away from where we were. How did he sneak up on us?

I guess we were preoccupied and ignored him for a minute or two. Now we are fucked.

"Oh, do pray what you are about to do, senor?" He asked in a Colombian accent. "Now throw the gun there and slowly stand up."

Rex did what the leader was told, threw the gun far from reach, and raised his hand as he slowly got up.

"That's it," the man smirked, then laid his eyes on me, giving me the jitters in my stomach. "You, señorita, come here."

I looked at Rex and then slowly walked towards the leader. My heart is racing in fear.

"I swear if you fucking touch her, you are dead," Rex growls.

The leader chuckles. "Don't worry; we won't hurt her or the girls. They are the ones we wanted."

"What are you going to do with us?" I asked.

"It's not us who want you; the person who hired us told us to get the girls and kill the men, but he never told me how tactical you are," the leader says. "You guys are very skilled unless you have another skilled person I don't know about."

He wasn't informed that Terry is a hitman. The person who provided him with the details about us isn't very good at their job.

"It was me who took down your men, no one else," Rex confessed.

It was all Rex. He took the men down like a beast.

The leader gave a skeptical glance and then glanced his way at me. "You must be very proud of your man, señorita. But sadly, you won't be able to see him."

Fear broke out. "What do you mean?"

"As I said, we only came for six women."

Six?

But only five. Claire is back in the hotel with Don. She should be safe since they are unaware of it. Only five are on this boat.

"So, señorita, tell me, where are the others?" He points the gun at me.

My body shivered as my heart raced harder against my ribcage. "I-I don't know."

"You are lying," the leader clicks his tongue and rolls it over his teeth. He has a gold tooth on the left. "You know where they are. If you don't tell me, then I will shoot him right now."

The leader aims his gun directly at Rex.

His change of target has brought more fear to my eyes. "Please! Don't." I pinched my lips and glanced at Rex, who nodded his head and smiled, showing that everything would be okay.

I trusted him, but I couldn't help but be more scared for his life than for my own in this risky situation. I look for anything to take this guy out without harming Rex and me. I glanced at the side of the yacht and then focused on the gun Rex threw.

If I can lead him to the edge near the gun, I can body-slam the leader against the edge and kick the gun toward Rex.

It's risky but worth the shot.

The image of my son flashes through my mind. I need to get home to him. I know I must be crazy to do this, but I must. "Okay, I will tell you where they are."

"Thea, don't!" Rex cried out.

"Shut your pretty mouth," the leader says and whacks the butt of his gun at Rex as he drops to the floor.

"Rex!"

"Señorita," the gun was pointed back at me again. I glare at him. "Lead the way, or he dies."

Letting out a grunt as my eyes landed on Rex, who was on the floor. Blood gushed out from his head where the asshole had hit him.

"Okay, follow me," I say and walk forward with the leader behind me. I slow my pace a bit while eyeing the gun.

Then I began to think about this plan and ran it through my head. I may not be able to handle it.

"Why are you sauntering?" he asked.

I need a distraction and to start a new plan.

I was frantic and dropped to the ground; with the gun close to my reach, I pretended to hold my stomach as I cried out in pain. "Ow! My stomach."

"What? We barely moved, and already your stomach hurts?"

I made the act as accurate as possible. I need him to get closer to me to implement my plan. But I wasn't sure if I could take him down, and he wasn't in the correct position. I need to come up with another idea that involves someone stronger.

Then my thoughts on Rex.

The leader's back is wide open. I need Rex's help with this one.

I peek at Rex and gesture for him to do something while I distract him. He got the signal by nodding his head and rose off the ground.

I pretend to moan louder to keep the leader on me.

The leader groans in frustration. "Do you need to go?"

Referring to if I need to take a shit, but if that's the case, I nod and then look at Rex creeping behind the leader. "Yes, I need to take a shit. It must be because I ate stinky pig's brain."

The leader made a face. "You'd better hurry. I don't have all night for this shit."

As soon as I turned to face the gun, I avoided Rex hitting the leader with a paddle he took from the wall. He struck him, causing the weapon in the leader's hand to fall to the ground.

Rex and the leader went into a brawl. It was surprisingly an equal match. The leader is just as fit as Rex.

"You got skills, senor," the leader stumbled back and wiped the blood off his mouth. "Who taught you how to fight?"

Rex pulls up his fist. "My dad," then gave a hard swing at him, but the leader blocked every punch Rex had thrown at him.

"Your dad must be one hell of a fighter," the leader smirked, and when he counter-attacked, Rex blocked it with his leg. "With your skill, I want you on my crew. I can have you pampered and groomed to be my champion."

Rex threw a hard punch almost to his face as the leader caught it. "Sorry, I'm not a fighter but a lover."

The brawl continues as they exchange insults and taunts.

"Too bad, and you, my friend, will be invisible."

"I'm not your friend, and enough of this. I think it's time I end this."

I watch the leader's eyes beam and grin from ear to ear. "Now, you sound like a fighter!"

"Rex!"

I cried out, not knowing when this fight would end. They are both beat up, with blood appearing on their knuckles and their face, and exhaustion is on their faces.

I need to end this quickly.

I looked around for Rex's gun, but when I was about to reach for it, one of them kicked it and dropped it in the water.

"Shit!" I slammed my hand against the rail. I was panicking that the leader would use a dirty trick. I found his gun.

I dodged the fight and grabbed the gun, pointing it at the leader. "Stop this now, or else I'll shoot."

Both men stop and glance at me.

The leader chuckles. "You should be careful, señorita. You will hurt yourself."

"I'm well aware, but you'd better back off!"

The leader held his hands up, continuing to smile. "Guess you never fired a gun before?"

"Thea, baby, put the gun down," Rex commanded me. "You will hurt yourself."

"I'm not lowering this gun, or he will hurt you."

"I understand, but you are holding something you never handled before."

My hands were shaking, and my heart was still racing. "Babe, if I don't kill him. He will hurt you and everyone here."

I had my finger on the trigger, and when I pulled it, the gun clicked, but nothing fired.

"What?"

The leader laughed, "You think I have that gun unlocked?" His eyes gaze at me as I feel more fear.

Oh no!

"I knew you were lying about stomach pains, so I removed the magazine before the senor over there attacked me." Then he pulled out an extra gun from behind his pants and pointed it at Rex. "Better say goodbye to your man."

"No!" I dash towards Rex, using my body as cover. I wrapped my arms around him and shut my eyes.

A gunshot was fired, but nothing hit Rex or me.

I look up at him, seeing his bruised face and no bullet wound on his body. Rex scanned my body as well.

"Baby, you okay?" cupping my face.

I nodded. "I am. Are you?" Rex nodded and pulled me into his arms. I lay my head against his chest as I was relieved. "I'm so glad. I was scared of losing you."

"Thea, don't you ever do that again. My heart almost stops when you jump your body in front of me."

"I know." Burying my face. "I'm sorry, but what am I supposed to do? I didn't want to lose you. Jacob will grow up with a father."

"Also, a mother."

I hugged Rex tighter, sobbing.

The leader let out a grunt as we turned our heads. His legs were unstable as he dropped the gun and looked down at the bullet hole in his chest.

"What the" another shot fired as its aim at his forehead. He stumbles back, falling back, dropping to the water.

I see his body float as his blood leaks, changing the water red.