Millions (Dollar 5)

But there were no engines.

There was no rock.

We were stagnant just like I was stagnant in this goddamn bed.

My voice lowered to a dark threat. “Someone better tell me where we are and why we aren’t moving.”

Michaels shot a worried look at Selix. “Shit, I didn’t contemplate amnesia. You don’t think—”

“Goddammit, Michaels.” My temper lashed hot. “I don’t have amnesia. I’m not some asshole you have to babysit.”

Hoisting myself up against the pillows, I winced as fire and knives worked on different parts of my body. “I remember it all. I understand what happened. I hear the relay of my injuries. I see the bandages and stitches. I get it all, okay? What I don’t get is why we’re not moving. Why aren’t we enroute to find Pim? Why the fuck did you think it was wise to stay in England when Pim is obviously no longer in England?”

My brain swam as sickly sweat prickled my body. The painkillers did jack to numb what I’d endured.

Selix placed a hand on my burning shoulder, gently pushing me back against the pillows. “Because there’s no point sailing around with no destination. Besides, we don’t know if she’s not in England. They might’ve—”

“France, Selix. They were from fucking France and had a speed boat. They’ve gone across the channel.” I fought his pressure, slapping away his touch. “Even if logic didn’t give us a destination, there’s always a point because moving forward is better than doing nothing.”

He scowled. “We’ll find her. It’s only been a day. Lots of time—”

“Wait, what?” I shot upright, uncaring of the searing agony in my bones, ignoring the nausea in my skull. “A day? What do you mean a day?” Glaring at the sky, the brilliant sun didn’t blind me—the goddamn moon laughed in my face.

The moon I was named after by my romantic mother before her happiness turned to bitter sourness.

It was dark when Pim was taken.

It was dark now.

It’s only been a few hours, not twenty-four of the fuckers.

Please, let it only be a few hours.

Michaels rested his hand on my bandaged shoulder, making me hiss with another layer of discomfort. “It’s been twenty-seven hours, Prest. The operation took a while then you slept for a crap-load longer than we expected. Thought your concussion had put you in a coma at one point.”

A full day?

This just kept getting worse.

I bared my teeth, wishing I could rip someone into pieces. “Fantastic, we’ve done nothing to save Pim for a full day, and now I have a concussion. Anything else? Because now would be the time to tell me before I lose my goddamn shit.”

Michaels said matter-of-factly, “Trust me, a concussion is the least of your worries. Your vitals are fine. You’re speaking fine. You slept so long because you haven’t been sleeping the past few weeks. Something had to give and something did.” He gave me his best doctor don’t-mess-with-me-I-know-best stare. “We didn’t move from this pier because we didn’t know if I was qualified to get you through or if you’d need to be admitted to the hospital. Apologises if we put your life first rather than cast off and bob around the ocean searching for something we have no idea—”

“Pim is not something, Michaels.” Rage made me ball my hands before the splint on my broken finger and heavily bruised knuckles forced me to rethink such torture. “She’s everything. If she died while you did your damnedest to keep me alive…well—” I dropped to a whisper. “You better jump overboard before I catch you.”

Unperturbed by my threat, he tilted his chin. “You never were good at taking instruction, but believe me when I say you need to take better care of yourself.”

I wanted to gut him. “I need to be taking better care of Pimlico.”

Selix cut in, physically and verbally blocking our rapidly escalating fight. “And you will. It’s not like they’re going to get away with this. You’re awake now. We’ll go hunting.”

“It’s not about them getting away with this, Selix. It’s about how long they’ve already had her. What if she’s been touched? Raped? Hurt? What if all the progress we’ve made has unravelled all because I couldn’t keep her safe?”

Deeper, twistier pain entered my heart.

I’d let her down.

She’d never trust me again. She’d never love me again, and why the hell should she? I’d failed her and didn’t deserve another chance.

Fuck it.

Being this patient? Lying in bed being schooled by a doctor? I was done.

Soldiers at war didn’t rest.

I wasn’t about to, either.

Slinging the covers off, I didn’t care I was butt fucking naked. Hissing between my teeth, I swung my braced ankle and black and blue body to the edge of the mattress. The room spun upside down. I swallowed hard against the metallic rush of old blood and anaesthetic. “Tell Jolfer to set sail. Immediately.”