Chapter 29

Ledger

As the darkness envelops the docks, we arrive to find a looming cargo ship in the distance. Vin coordinates with his team via phone, confirming our destination to everyone involved.

Is Posey there? Will we reach her in time?

Vin parks the black SUV and instructs me to remain inside as he and Addison hop out.

Once they"ve distanced themselves from the vehicle, I capture the moment, slipping out of the back door and onto the dock. Stacks of imposing shipping containers provide cover, shielding me from prying eyes. With a pressing need, I move quickly toward the ship, driven by the need to find Posey before anything happens to her.

What if we're too late? What if she"s already in danger?

Refusing to entertain these possibilities, I push forward, determined to reach her before the dawn breaks, revealing our presence and jeopardizing our mission.

More SUVs, their flashing blue and red lights slicing through the darkness, converge on the scene, swiftly surrounding the area. Despite the ensuing chaos and distant shouts of men, I forge ahead, undeterred by the growing commotion.

I need to find her.

I need her.

My heart maintains a steady rhythm as I keep moving closer, heading onto the ship through a back door that leads to a lower level. I have no idea where they'd keep her on this stupid thing, but I need to keep looking.

I won't give up.

Normally, I"d be armed with my own gun, but the chaos of what happened earlier left me feeling naked.

I spot Bane up ahead, speaking to a man who's back is to me. I can sort of make out his profile, and recognize him as Mayor Thornberg.

You asshole.

Drawing closer, I strain to catch any snippet of their conversation, but their words remain muffled at this distance. I pull my phone from my pocket, capturing a series of discreet photographs and activating the recording function.

Like a ninja, I edge closer. Uncertain of what I hope to uncover from this, I press on.

"Do you have the money?" Bane asks Mayor Thornberg.

He chuckles, the sound sinister and unnerving. "You owe me," Thornberg sneers. "Consider this payment."

Bane appears not too happy by his words, and steps closer. "I promised you a virgin, and that's what I'm delivering to you."

Mayor Thornberg shakes his head. "It's still not enough to pay half of what you owe me."

"I told you I'd get you the father as well."

This makes Mayor Thornberg burst out in laughter. "What am I supposed to do with an old man?"

Bane shrugs, like it's not his problem. "I'm sure people you deal with would love to have a body around that they could do whatever type of torture they see fit."

I cringe at the words, hoping we're able to stop this madman before he ever goes through with any of this. I'm frozen in place when a smoke bomb goes off around the two men, and the next thing I know I hear gunfire popping into the night air.

Bane takes off, and I follow him down a narrow hallway. I don't know where he's going. I don't know what I'm going to do when I catch him, all I know is he can't get away.

He moves through the ship like he built it, and I follow closely behind.

"Stop," I yell after him, wanting to hurt him for what he's done to Posey.

He keeps moving like the wind, and soon he stops at a dead end. Guess he doesn't know the ship as well as I thought he did.

With a sharp pivot, he fixes me with his cold, unyielding gaze. "You may think you've won, but you've lost," he declares with a chilling smirk.

"There's no way out of this one, Bane," I say to him.

His smirk widens. "There"s always a way out. You don"t think I can wriggle free from another court case?" he taunts.

I bow my head momentarily, acknowledging the truth in his words. Bane is known for his ability to evade charges, to have them dismissed with ease. Yet, still I have to believe. "Not this time. Not even you could escape trafficking charges. You're out of money," I say, remembering what Posey told me about him being broke. "Nobody's going to want to help a washed up has-been like you."

He lunges at me, aiming to wrap his hands around my neck, but I react swiftly, delivering a powerful punch directly to his jaw. The force of the blow sends him staggering backwards.

Closing the distance between us, I take the advantage, driving my other hand down with controlled force, aiming to incapacitate him further. It works, and before long I've got the upper hand, holding him down as I bring his bloodied face to mine.

"You will forget Posey ever existed. She's mine," I seethe, spitting the words into his face.

"Freeze," an agent shouts behind me, and without hesitation, I release my grip on Bane, letting his body slump to the floor.

I raise my arms above my head, rising to my full stance, and step out of the way for them to move in and apprehend Bane. "Where's Posey?" I ask the agent as he brushes past me to get to Bane.

He remains silent, and something fierce compels me to run from the scene in search of her.

"Where is she?" I demand, my voice tight with desperation.

His gaze meets mine briefly as he kneels to assess Bane"s condition. "She"s safe," he assures me, but I don"t wait for further explanation. I bolt.

His voice trails after me, lost amidst my determination. All that matters now is finding her, being with her.

I sprint through the ship's corridors until I burst out onto the deck, drawn like a moth to the pulsating lights. Approaching agents shout commands at me, ordering me to freeze and raise my hands. I do as they say until Vin intervenes, vouching for me.

And then, I catch sight of her—standing by the back of an ambulance, a blanket draped around her shoulders. Relief floods through me when her eyes collide with mine.

I gravitate toward her, not even feeling myself taking the actual steps. "Posey," I say once she's in my arms. "I thought I'd never see you again."

She gazes up at me. "Close your eyes," she tells me, and I comply. She kisses my cheek. "Even if you can't see me, I'm always with you. I'll forever be with you, Ledger. You're my home."

I open my eyes, squeezing her tighter into a hug. "I'm never letting you out of my sight again."

She laughs at this. "I may just hold you to that."

I kiss her gently, tenderly, not caring about the mayhem around us. Not caring about anything but having this woman safe at my side.

Where she belongs.