21. Levi

Chapter twenty-one

Levi

T he engine hums beneath us as we cut through the dark water, the two poachers flanking me like silent shadows. The night air is cool, filled with the salty tang of the ocean. I glance at the men beside me, their faces hard and expressionless. They haven't said much since we left the dock, but their presence is a constant reminder of the stakes.

We approach the private dock, and I steer closer to start loading. The outline of the crates comes into view. The man I call "Slim" starts untying ropes that have the crates secure while "Scar" keeps a watchful eye on me. I thought my nicknames were quite fitting .

"Remember," Scar says, his voice low and menacing, "one wrong move, and your little girlfriend pays the price."

I nod, keeping my expression neutral. "I got it."

We secure the boat, and Slim begins loading the crates. They're heavier than I expected, and I notice how Slim handles each one very carefully. Scar watches me closely, his hand resting on a concealed weapon.

As we finish loading, Scar's phone buzzes. He answers it, his face darkening. "Change of plans," he says after hanging up. "Rick wants us to deliver to new coordinates, just to be safe."

He leans in and tells me the new coordinates. I repeat them aloud as I punch them into the GPS, "24.737, -80.951." I hope the tiny microphone hidden in my watch picks up every word.

We set off again, the tension palpable. The new location is a good distance out to sea. The minutes stretch into an eternity, each second filled with tension. Scar and Slim are on edge, their eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of trouble. I keep my breathing steady, my focus on the route.

About twenty minutes later, "We're almost there," I say, my voice steady. "You two got a plan for unloading?"

"We handle that," Scar replies. "You just do your part and keep quiet."

I nod, feeling the weight of their suspicion. We approach the designated spot, a secluded area in the open sea. As we get closer, the shadowy outline of a freighter looms ahead. This must be the meeting point.

Scar and Slim signal with a flashlight, and a response flashes back from the freighter. We tie off and they start unloading the crates onto the deck. The freighter's guards, armed and stern-faced, watch us closely.

As we transfer the last crate, the sound of engines cuts through the night. Bright lights flash, illuminating the scene. Scar curses, reaching for his weapon, but it's too late. The Coast Guard and authorities are on us, their boats surrounding us in a tight formation.

"Freeze! Hands where we can see them!" a voice booms over a loudspeaker.

I raise my hands, relief flooding through me. Scar and Slim exchange panicked glances but have no choice but to comply. The freighter's guards, not realizing they're outnumbered, draw their weapons, and chaos erupts. Gunfire breaks the stillness of the night, and I duck just in time.

The authorities return fire, their tactical team storming the freighter. I peek out, seeing Scar and Slim being tackled to the deck. The freighter's guards are overwhelmed, some throwing down their weapons in surrender while others are taken down.

Detective Goodwin steps onto my boat, his expression grim but relieved. "Good job, Levi. We've got them."

I nod, lowering my hands. "Is Maya safe?"

Goodwin's expression softens. "She's safe. She's with Sarah, under protection."

I exhale, the tension finally releases from my body. Tonight's ordeal is over. The poachers are caught, and Maya is safe. But as I stand here, surrounded by the flashing lights and the sounds of arrests, I know this isn't over yet. There's still so much to sort out, so many questions to answer about who is at the head of this operation.

"We've won this battle," I mutter to myself as I watch the authorities securing the freighter. The realization sinks in, and the adrenaline begins to fade, leaving me with a single focus: getting to Maya. I need to know she's safe, to reassure her that this nightmare is over.

The coast guard escorts Island Dreamer and me back to shore, and I'm quickly surrounded by a flurry of activity. Detective Goodwin is waiting for me, his stern expression softening as he sees me. "Levi, we need to debrief you while everything is still fresh in your mind."

I nod, knowing this is a necessary step. As I'm ushered into a makeshift command center, I glance around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Maya. My heart pounds at the thought of seeing her, of holding her close and telling her everything.

The debriefing is thorough. Goodwin and his team run through every detail of the operation, ensuring all loose ends are tied up. I answer their questions mechanically, my mind partially elsewhere. When they finally wrap up, Goodwin puts a hand on my shoulder. "You did good, Levi. We couldn't have done this without you."

"Thanks, but I need to see Maya," I say, my voice a bit more urgent than I intended.

He nods understandingly. "She's at Sarah's. We've kept her safe, just like you asked."

***

The debriefing ends, and I waste no time. My thoughts are consumed by Maya as I head toward Sarah's place. I can't get there fast enough. Every step feels like an eternity, my mind racing with thoughts of what she must be feeling, how she must be questioning everything.

The sun is starting to come up as I hurry along the familiar streets, my pulse quickening with each step. I think about what I'll say to her, how I'll explain. How can I make her understand that everything I did was to protect her? The fear of her being hurt, of losing her again, has been a constant weight on my chest.

As I approach Sarah's door, I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I knock, and it feels like a lifetime before the door swings open. Sarah stands there, giving me a knowing look before stepping aside to let me in.

"Maya's in the living room," she says quietly.

I nod and make my way through the house. I see her sitting on the couch, her eyes red from crying. She looks up, and the moment our eyes meet, everything else fades away.

"Maya," I say, my voice cracking.

She stands up slowly, uncertainty in her eyes. "Levi…"

I cross the room in a few strides, taking her hands in mine. "I'm so sorry, Maya. I never wanted to keep you in the dark, but they threatened you. I couldn't risk them hurting you."

Her grip tightens on my hands, tears welling up again. "I was so scared, Levi. I didn't understand why you couldn't trust me."

"It wasn't about trust," I say, my voice earnest. "I was terrified they'd hurt you if I didn't do exactly what they said. Telling you would have put you in more danger."

She looks into my eyes, searching for the truth. After a long moment, she nods, her expression softening. "I get it. I just wish... I wish you didn't have to go through this alone."

"I wasn't alone," I say, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I had you in my heart the whole time. And I had Sarah and Detective Goodwin helping from the shadows."

She leans into me, her head resting against my chest. "I'm just glad it's over."

"Me too," I whisper, pressing a kiss to her hair. "We're safe now, and that's all that matters."

We stand there, holding each other, letting the relief wash over us. The nightmare is over, and we're together. For the first time in days, I feel a sense of peace.