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Chapter 18
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2024-10-29 19:42:56“CHASE!” Christine shook his limp shoulders. His head lolled to the side. “Oh, please, please wake up,” she cried. The rain lashed down on her bowed back, driven by the howling wind. But she was impervious to it, her focus on the unconscious man.
He was unresponsive and Christine feared the worst. Her breath became erratic and her heart threatened to jump out of her throat. She grabbed onto Chase to try and steady herself. The world was slowly spinning.
No, no, no! I can’t get a panic attack now.
She willed herself to breathe, in and out, steadily. Gradually her heartrate slowed and she exhaled deeply. Chase let out a pained groan. His eyes fluttered open. He tried to sit up, but fell back with a muted cry. The debris from the fallen trees pinned him securely.
“Christine…” he moaned, “Get out of here. Go to higher ground.” He tried to move his legs, but they wouldn’t budge.
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They walked towards the pool, Chase leaning on Christine’s shoulders. The ground being soft and muddy with rain made the going arduous and Christine slipped a few times, making Chase grunt.Finally, they made it. Dawn broke over the rocky outcrop just as they fell down next to each other. The waterfall cascading down the rock face reflected the rising sun’s rays in hues of crimson. Christine thought how it made the water seem bloody.Christine worried over his swollen knee. It had already turned a dark, angry purple. Her fears seem to be validated. If his kneecap had shattered, he would need surgery.Could things get any worse? Why aren’t they looking for us, damn it? Chase lay with closed eyes, his chest heaving. Christine gently wiped his hair away from his face. She placed her jacket under his head for a make-shift pillow. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back. She needed to be strong now, for Chase, for both o
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Big Jack cut through the cold waters of the Atlantic, it’s twin 350 horsepower Cummins engines at full speed. Jack Nolan was at the helm, studying his charts and the latest results from the cyclone moving to the west coast of Africa. He felt confident that the worst weather had passed and hoped for smooth sailing.This was a gamble, but Ward paid him handsomely. God knows he needed the money. Maintaining an expedition yacht, however small in comparison to others and its five crew members were expensive, to say the least. Business had been slow lately. He just hoped the money would be worth it.There’s no knowing what they would find once they’ve reached the last known co-ordinates of the private jet’s black box. If there’s anything to be found. There were too many variables at play, but Alexander Ward was a stubborn man. Jack shrugged; it was his money to waste after all. Maybe he would have done the same thing if he had children.T
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“Move it! Move it!” a voice lashed over the frightened passengers and crew of the luxury yacht. “Everybody down!”Five armed men stood over the terrified group, their automatic rifles threatening.“Please… Don’t shoot.” The captain of the vessel put his hands up, facing the leader on his knees. “There’s some money in the safe. You can take all of it. Just please, don’t kill us.”The leader, a tall redheaded man, pulled the captain to his feet. He held a gun to his head.“Take us to the safe, Cap’n.” he had a British accent. A mask hid his features, except his blue eyes that were cold as ice. “Diric, if anyone of these fuckers move, shoot them.” He addressed one of the armed men, a tall, waif-like man.The man grinned broadly. “Effendi.” He glared at the group, making threatening moves with his rifle.The Brit pushed the captain
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“Hey, I got one! I got it!” Christine shouted, jumping up and down, holding the stick up with a fish wiggling at one end. Chase smiled at her exuberance. She stood in the shallow stream looking for all the world like a cavewoman waving her catch about.“Looks like we’re having a decent breakfast for once.” Chase said. He sharpened sticks using an edge of one of the metal containers. It was laborious work, but it paid off. His knee hurt less, but it was still swollen and stiff. Using the piece of palm log as a crutch he moved about better.“Yeah, pity we don’t have lemon butter to go with it.” Christine sighed. “And decent plates to eat out of.”Chase laughed, “Look on the bright side, no dishes to wash. Palm leaves are completely disposable.”Chase stoked the fire and Christine proceeded to gut the fish with the piece of broken bottle she had stepped on and cleaned. She grimaced in di
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First mate Daniel Stephens watched the image sent back from the side scan sonar. He blinked twice, wondering if he had imagined seeing the object. But no, there it was again. He called down to the chief engineer to stop the yacht.Captain Nolan called to Stephens on his two-way radio. “Why are we stopping. Have you found something?”At his words, the four passengers seated in the Captain’s lounge stared at him, stress and expectation written on their faces. Erica held Alexander’s hand in a bone-crunching grip. The Morrisons sat rigid on the edge of their seats, waiting.“You’d better come see for yourself, Cap.” Stephen’s voice crackled over the radio.Jack motioned for the four to follow him. Together they went to the bridge where Stephens pointed at the grainy image from the sonar.“See there, doesn’t that look like a piece of an airplane to you, or is my name mud?” Stephens beamed
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“Chase, wake up. WAKE UP!” Christine shook the man hard. He slept like the dead.“What…” He rubbed his eyes, trying to focus.Christine bent over him, shaking him.“Stop it. I’m awake. What?” He sat up, brushing leaves and grit out of his hair. The night sky had only just started turning to a purple haze.“Listen.” She pointed towards the ocean.Chase cocked his head to the side. He heard it. The unmistakable sound of a motorboat. The sound seemed to be getting closer fast.Christine sprang up. “Could this be them?” She looked up at the outcrop of rocks, contemplating to climb up to get a view.Chase stopped her. “Don’t even think about it. There’s no time.” He was breathing fast, adrenaline pumping through his veins. “We have to get to our hiding spot.”Christine helped him up. She prayed they would not be spotted and t
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The aroma of meat roasting over the fire reached Chase and Christine in the cave, making their bellies rumble in response. They had been left alone for some time, hearing the men talking outside. Red was nowhere in sight. Chase wondered if he would contact Alexander. Chase doubted it. He might decide to take both himself and Christine with them to wherever they were off to.Christine had her back to Chase. He watched her busy with something in her pocket. What was she up to?“Chrissie?”“Just watch the entrance and alert me if someone’s coming.” She hissed back.He tried to see, craning his neck, but the gloom in the cave made it impossible. A mixture of fear and adrenaline made his heart beat like a freight train. His mouth went dry. Whatever Christine did, he prayed it wouldn’t blow up in her face.A tall, dark man came into the cave, bending down at the entrance.“Please, I need some water.”
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The group of hostages spent a restless night in the lounge. The armed men took turns watching them while they tried to sleep. Chase stayed awake most of the time, only nodding off on occasion. The throbbing pain from his knee injury kept him from sleeping, as well as trying to think of ways to get out of their situation. Christine lay curled up on the couch next to him. The De Santis family sprawled over the rest of the couches, the young Stefano lay on the carpet, watching the guard. Chase watched him, hoping he wouldn’t try anything foolish. He wondered why Red hadn’t contacted his father. He couldn’t wait to hear Alexander’s voice one more time. Never in a million years would he have thought that he could miss his father so much. It was like a physical pain, the longing. There were no more feelings of resentment or betrayal in his heart, only the need to hear his father’s voice. “Can’t you sleep?” Christine whispered to him. “Not really.” He whispe
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Paramedics were rushed forward to assist the wounded. Christine left the rest of the Ward family and stumbled right up to the tape barrier to get a better view. They could do nothing but wait as gurneys pushed past them. Waiting for a sign that Chase was still alive. To Christine it felt as if everything was sharper, sounds, colors, the smells, even her own breathing seemed harsher to her ears. But the people seemed to move in slow motion when she spotted him over the heads of the crowd. She wanted to scream out his name, but there was no sound coming through. Christine managed to hold up her hand. He turned his head and then he saw her, started making his way through the crowd. The first thing she noticed was the blood spatter on his face and all over his white shirt. But he was alive! And pushing through the crowd until… “Chrissie!” He was right there in front of her. “Sir, sir! You need to see a doctor.” A police officer tried to detain him, but he ignored the man. He only had
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To say it was a media circus would have been an understatement. Chase was beset with reporters from all sides as he stepped out of his car to get into the court building.“Mr. Ward, are you associating yourself with the Mafia now?” One reporter screamed at him.“How does it feel to be back in court after your time in jail, Mr. Ward?”Then there were the protesters waving placards and screaming protest slogans in support of the families that suffered at the hands of the crime boss.Chase muttered curses under his breath. So much for wanting to keep a low profile. He expected there to be some media presence, but this was outrageous. He ran up the steps of the court building, narrowly missed being hit in the face by a camera wielding television reporter.The security officers at the door ushered him through and kept the hounds at bay. He walked briskly down the broad corridor to where Carlucci’s bail hearing was to be held.***He spent the next two hours arguing Carlucci’s case before t
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“I would advise against it.” Alexander told Chase over the phone. Not that there was anything he could do to stop Chase from getting his hands on the footage if he was on a mission to do so. “Dad, I need to see it. It’s affecting my relationship with Christine.” He paused, “Please.” Alexander ruffled a hand through his hair. Does it ever stop? “Alright. I have it here.” “I’ll be right over.” Chase ended the call. For a long time, Alexander sat staring out at the window, watching the snow fall, swirling specks blown about by the ice wind. Just like us, Alexander thought, were all just specks being blown in all directions by an ill wind. He heard Erica and the twins come back, but he stayed in his office, not having the courage to face Erica and ask, no, beg her forgiveness for accusing her of seeing Justin Hunter. He should have known better. Erica wasn’t that kind of woman. After all these years he still felt inferior to Hunter. He, Alexander didn’t deserve a woman like Erica, but
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“Hey, Bro! I brought the painting I promised.” Raven was the first to react, acting as if he just didn’t kiss Christine.“Fuck! Chase is going to kill me,” Raven thought to himself.Christine froze. How long has he been standing there, watching them. She didn’t mean to kiss Raven back; it was a spontaneous reaction. It’s not like it meant anything. But Chase wouldn’t see it that way.Chase stalked towards them his face expressionless. “Did I interrupt something?” His eyes flitted to the painting of Christine. Raven captured her beautifully. The likeness was so striking it seemed as if she could just walk out of that canvas.“No, of course not.” Christine found her voice. She went to Chase and kissed him. His lips were cold.Chase looked at her flushed face and then at Raven who couldn’t look him in the eyes.“I kissed Christine.” Raven blurted out. He’d rather have Chase smash his face in than look at them the way he was now, as if they’d betrayed him. “Just a peck. It wasn’t her faul
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“Hey, Bro! I brought the painting I promised.” Raven was the first to react, acting as if he just didn’t kiss Christine.“Fuck! Chase is going to kill me,” Raven thought to himself.Christine froze. How long has he been standing there, watching them. She didn’t mean to kiss Raven back; it was a spontaneous reaction. It’s not like it meant anything. But Chase wouldn’t see it that way.Chase stalked towards them his face expressionless. “Did I interrupt something?” His eyes flitted to the painting of Christine. Raven captured her beautifully. The likeness was so striking it seemed as if she could just walk out of that canvas.“No, of course not.” Christine found her voice. She went to Chase and kissed him. His lips were cold.Chase looked at her flushed face and then at Raven who couldn’t look him in the eyes.“I kissed Christine.” Raven blurted out. He’d rather have Chase smash his face in than look at them the way he was now, as if they’d betrayed him. “Just a peck. It wasn’t her faul
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Chase called Christine’s parents from the office.“I really think you should come. Christine needs you now.” Chase spoke to Lance.“We really cannot afford…” Lance began, but Chase interrupted him.“I’ve emailed you the plane tickets. Please accept them.” Chase pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn’t think Christine would appreciate him turning to her parents for help, but what other choice did he have. “I want to marry your daughter, Mr. Morrison. We need to plan our wedding and would like to have you involved.”Silence on the other end of the line.“Are you there, Mr. Morrison?”“Yes. Is that the only reason, Chase? You sound stressed.” Lance and Claire were both worried about Christine and what the effects of her kidnapping would lead to. And now Chase was asking them to come. “Is she alright?”“Depending how you look at it.” Chase sat back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling. “She’s not talking about it.”“The baby?” Lance thought about how devastated they were when they fou
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“You look very handsome today, Mr. Ward.” Christine straightened Chase’s dark grey tie. “Are you going to court so soon?”“No, I’m going to the prison. A client of mine has his parole hearing next week. I need to consult with him before we take it to the judge.” Chase replied, smiling and kissing her temple. “Wish me luck.” Chase wasn’t looking forward to it. If it were up to him, he never wanted to sit foot in that goddamn place ever again. But a promise was a promise, and his word was his bond.“Don’t you need me to assist?” Christine was reluctant to stay at home alone and she missed feeling useful. “I am your secretary, after all.”Chase stroked her belly lovingly. “Nope. I can handle this. You look after this.”A message on his cell phone alerted him to the driver waiting for him outside. He pecked a kiss on Christine’s lips and breezed out of the door before she could say another word.Christine hurriedly locked the door behind him. She leaned against the door and sighed. The ap
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“I thought we would never get out of there.” Chase lifted Christine in his arms, carrying her to the bedroom.“Your family missed you terribly.” Christine laid her head on his shoulder. “I missed you so, so much.”“I know. I missed them too and I love them. But I need you.”She looked up into his stormy grey eyes. “You just need me?” she couldn’t help but tease him.He smirked, “Of course, I just need you for sex. What did you think?” he teased her back. But then his face turned serious. He placed her onto the bed and went onto his knees before her.“What are you doing?” Christine asked alarmed.“Christine Morrison, would you take this broken man to be your husband?” he laid his hands on her knees.“Oh, Chase…” Christine looked at the handsome man before her through misty eyes. She took his face in both her hands. There were extra lines on his handsome face that weren’t there a few months ago, but that made her love him more. “You’re not broken. I love you. I wouldn’t want to be anyon
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Christmas was unlike any other the Ward family had celebrated. In fact, it was the most dismal day, they all agreed. There was no exchanging of gifts that year, no shouting Merry Christmas or kissing under the mistletoe for them.While other guests enjoyed the festivities at the hotel they were staying at, indulging in the lavish food and drink, laughing and chatting, as Christmas music played in the background, the five of them congregated in Christine’s room. Alexander and Chase were being transported back to New York.“I’m afraid the media is going to be all over this. We won’t have a moment’s peace. You’ll have to be ready for it.” Erica sighed. She held Christine’s cold hands in hers. As if they haven’t been through enough already, but the press didn’t care. It was sensation they craved, like vampires craved blood.“I’ve seen the news on the television.” Raven turned away from the window where he watched the road below. “At least they haven’t sniffed us out yet.”“Will Dad and C
