Chapter 84
The first crack of thunder rolled across the sky as dark clouds gathered on the horizon, casting a shadow over the already tense atmosphere. The once-calm waters of the Adriatic Sea began to churn, the waves growing more restless with each passing moment.
Dimitri stood at the helm, gripping the wheel tightly as the boat pitched forward against the rough current. His face was set in determination, but Celestina could see the strain in his clenched jaw.
“How bad is it going to get?” Celestina asked, holding onto the railing to steady herself.
“It’s a storm,” Dimitri said curtly, his voice sharp as another gust of wind lashed against them. “It’ll get worse before it gets better.”
Celestina looked at the crew, who worked with swift, precise movements, securing ropes and adjusting the sails. Fear gripped her as the waves splashed over the deck, soaking her shoes.
“Can we make it through?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“We don’t have a choice,” Dimitri replied, his eyes scanning the horizon. “Kael’s not far behind. We need to keep moving.”
The storm felt like a cruel reflection of Celestina’s inner turmoil, each crashing wave echoing the dread she couldn’t shake.
Minutes later, the sound of distant engines roared through the storm. Dimitri stiffened, his hand tightening on the wheel.
“Kael’s men,” he muttered.
Celestina’s heart sank as she spotted the sleek, high-speed crafts cutting through the water behind them. The storm didn’t seem to slow them down—it almost seemed to fuel their determination.
“They’ve found us,” she whispered, panic creeping into her voice.
Dimitri barked orders to his crew. “Prepare for evasive maneuvers! Use the storm to our advantage. Keep them off our tail.”
The crew sprang into action, their movements quick and calculated. Celestina gripped the edge of the boat as it lurched to the side, the smaller vessel struggling to keep ahead of the pursuers.
The first craft drew closer, its engine a deafening roar as it cut through the waves. A man on board raised a weapon, aiming directly at them.
“Get down!” Dimitri shouted.
Celestina ducked, her heart pounding as the sound of gunfire rang out. The bullets splintered wood just feet away from her, the sharp cracks lost in the chaos of the storm.
“Dimitri!” she cried out.
“We’re not stopping,” he growled, steering the boat sharply to the left. The sudden maneuver caused the chasing craft to veer off course, but the reprieve was brief.
As the chase intensified, Celestina noticed one of Dimitri’s crew members acting strangely. The man, a wiry figure with a nervous energy, kept glancing over his shoulder, his hands fidgeting with something near the engine.
“Dimitri!” she called out, pointing to the man. “Something’s wrong.”
Dimitri’s eyes narrowed as he followed her gaze. “What are you doing, Luka?” he demanded, his voice cutting through the storm.
Luka froze, his hand hovering near a panel of wires.
“I… I was just—”
Before he could finish, Dimitri lunged toward him, grabbing him by the collar. “You were tampering with the engine,” Dimitri snarled. “Who are you working for?”
Luka’s eyes darted wildly. “I didn’t have a choice,” he stammered. “They said they’d kill my family if I didn’t help them.”
“You betrayed us,” Dimitri said coldly, his grip tightening.
Celestina stepped forward, her voice shaking with anger. “What did they tell you to do?”
Luka hesitated, then lowered his head. “They told me to disable the engine. To slow you down long enough for them to catch you.”
Dimitri pushed him aside and inspected the panel. The wires had been partially severed, but it wasn’t beyond repair. “This will take time to fix,” he muttered, his jaw clenched.
“We don’t have time!” Celestina cried.
Luka tried to back away, but Dimitri blocked his path. “You’re not getting off this boat,” Dimitri growled. “If you want to live, you’ll help me fix this.”
Shaking, Luka nodded and crouched beside Dimitri, his hands trembling as he worked.
The delay gave Kael’s men a dangerous advantage. One of the crafts came within striking distance, but a sudden gust of wind and a massive wave forced them to pull back.
“Come on,” Dimitri muttered under his breath as he worked.
Finally, the engine roared back to life. Dimitri didn’t waste a second, steering the boat sharply away from the pursuing crafts. The storm worked in their favor, the torrential rain and crashing waves obscuring their escape.
“Are we clear?” Celestina asked, her voice barely audible over the storm.
“For now,” Dimitri said, though his expression remained tense. “But it’s only a matter of time before they regroup.”
As the storm began to ease, Celestina retreated to the cabin, her body trembling from the cold and adrenaline. She couldn’t shake the feeling that their safety was temporary, that Kael’s shadow still loomed over them.
She sat down, her eyes scanning the room, when something caught her attention—a small, folded piece of paper sticking out of Luka’s bag.
Her fingers trembled as she pulled it out and unfolded it. The words scrawled across the page sent a chill down her spine:
“Bring her alive. Kill the rest.”
