The Devil's CrownPart Two - Monica James Page 0,70
lose my balance.
Yelping, I hold the railing for dear life and find my footing. When I hear Alek cursing in Russian, the need to help him has me climbing the remaining stairs briskly, ignoring my safety. I use the railings to walk my way over to him as he desperately steers the yacht.
He turns over his shoulder to see how close the police are but sees me instead. “I told you to wait in the bedroom! Go now. It’s too dangerous up here!”
He’s angry that I disobeyed him, but as I see it, we have a better chance of working together to survive this. “No! Tell me what I can do to help.”
When he looks intent on arguing, I hold up my finger, warning him not to because this isn’t negotiable.
He must be able to read my stubbornness because he asks, “How good of an arm are you?”
“I was a pitcher for my high school softball team,” I share with a confident grin because this is something I can do.
“Excellent,” he replies, gesturing with his chin toward the chest feet away. “There is a fishing net inside. I need you to throw it into the water on my command.”
With a sharp nod, I waste no time and drop to my knees, opening the white chest. The fishing net along with some flares and life jackets are inside.
Quickly gathering the net, I hold it in my arms securely. “What now?”
Alek looks over his shoulder at me and nods. “Good girl,” he commends. “Now, keep low so those assholes can’t see you and unravel the net along the floor. It can’t be tangled when you throw it into the water.”
“Got it!”
Doing as he ordered, I duck low and run toward the back end of the yacht. I roll out the fishing net, ensuring it’s laid flat. This is a lot harder than it sounds as I have to do this on my hands and knees. But once it’s done, I turn over my shoulder and give Alek a thumbs-up.
He smirks in victory, and it titillates me.
I watch as he pulls down a level, decreasing the speed of the yacht. We’re still moving at a steady pace, but he’s done this so the speedboat can get within reach. Peering over the edge, I see they’re still too far away.
My heart is in my throat, but I’m not scared, I’m excited. Pulsating energy animates me in ways I’ve forgotten, thanks to the Macrillos robbing me of who I am. But now, knowing I can help Alek, that I can take down the “bad guys,” has my vigilante self hollering in exhilaration.
It’s time to take back my life. Step by step.
Alek’s focus switches from steering the yacht, to looking over his shoulder to see where the police are. They’re catching up to us, but I’m assuming this plan has to be executed without error. I begin to doubt myself.
What if I fail?
“Ella!” Alek cries. “Get ready. On my command.”
Oh, shit. I don’t have time for self-doubt.
Gathering one corner of the netting in my trembling hands, I duck low, my attention riveted on Alek. His astute gaze switches from the front to the back of the yacht. They’re close. I can hear the motor on their boat roaring loudly behind. I can also hear zipping through the air.
“Oh, my god!” I cry, covering my head with one arm. “Are they…shooting at us?”
“Steady!” Alek orders with a grin. He’s enjoying the chase immensely, which means he knows we’re going to win.
My clothes are soaked with sweat, and my breathing is labored. I wonder if I’m having a panic attack. But there’s no time to break down.
“Now, Ella! Do it. Now!”
Alek’s voice and his faith in me have me pushing my doubts aside as I lift the netting and toss it over the edge of the yacht. It sails high through the air, catching the breeze before the spotlight from the speedboat illuminates the net crashing into the water.
I don’t know what I’m looking for, but Alek’s plan comes to fruition in three seconds when the propeller of the motorboat gets tangled in the net and kills the engine immediately. The motorboat jars to an abrupt stop, which sends two of the three policemen careening into the water.
The remaining man aims his gun, and a spark of light has me dropping to my stomach to avoid being hit by the bullet he just fired. Alek yanks on a lever that has the yacht roaring to full speed and