Ria steadied her strides, running slow to keep from tripping on any tree root. It was a dark moonless night and they couldn't use a light to avoid getting seen by any guards roaming around. She raised her hands in front of her to keep from hitting anything. And every now and then, Migal felt for her elbow to make sure she was keeping pace.
"Wet ocean," Juli whispered a curse behind Ria. "It's too dark."
"Shut up, Juli," Gin commanded, grunting the words out. He was only a shadow in front of Ria but she could still sense him.
The pain he felt was heavy but she couldn't tell where he was injured. He favored his right leg more and tended to reach for his belly but his hand never lingered.
Ria wanted to stop and ask him what was wrong but their time was running. The bombers would be in position soon.
"Keep quiet. We're on the cliffs," Captain Zalez said, raising a hand to them and signaling to slow down as they came out into an open field.
To the far left, Ria saw the dark horizon, sparkling with tiny dots of stars, across the drop of the cliff. To the right and forward was a pineapple farm.
All of them looked around. When the coast was clear, the captain hastened his pace and the crew came after.
They reached the farm and followed the isles between rows and rows of yellow fruits and sharp grass-like leaves.
If any guards were around, they'd be an open target, running in straight lines. But fortune was with them. They made it out the farm without being seen.
They passed through another mango grove before they finally saw firelight.
Hints of a gray building became visible between the thick trunks of trees.
The captain signaled them to stop and Ria and Migal pressed themselves to a mango tree. Migal closed on her protectively. His warmth spread over her back.
She glanced sideways and found Gin and Juli behind another trunk, their backs together.
Gin looked directly at her and a surge of envy--no, jealousy--flashed in her chest.
She averted her gaze and ignored Gin's emotions. Now was not the time. She searched for the captain who was at the tree in front of theirs.
Captain Zalez peeked out to the building, watching the guards that roamed around. There were too many guards that if the distraction didn't work, they wouldn't be able to get into the mansion.
Ria wondered if the rest of the crew were alright. They hadn't heard any explosions yet and she was beginning to worry about Rodri, Mari, and even Enzo.
But then blasts came from all over the north-west side of the island. Ria expected only three explosions, but it became a series of bombs, making it seem like the island was under attack.
The guards startled, cursing and asking what was happening. They picked up their rifles and their clubs, preparing to fight.
A woman in a dark red uniform started to bark orders. "Get your men to check on what's happening!" She pointed. "You! Come with me. Get the Mistress to the bunker!"
The guards scrambled to the direction of the explosions and the woman went inside the mansion to get Mistress Evita to safety.
Few guards were left to watch the outside of the building--two at the front and another two at the back where their position was closest.
Captain Zalez waved two fingers in the air, pointing to the guards and signaling for Gin and Juli to move.
Juli came out first. With a sleeping bullet in her mechanical hand, she ran to shove it right on the mouth of one of the guards, smacking it over his teeth and letting him fall to the ground.
YOU ARE READING
Sea Gypsies: The Draga Isles
RomanceA princess in search of her past. A boy driven by money. A crew that is loyal to the end. Princess Ria is adopted, and she has lived with the acceptance that she will never know her real parents. But when she learns of the existence of her adoption...
