Page 13 of Whispers and Warriors (After #2)

THIRTEEN

Rushing through the ship, Alex gripped the medical bag tightly, calculating what type of injury could have occurred that required his attention. No one on board knew he was a medic, which meant Chris bursting in demanding he get going was a terrible sign.

The urgency of the summons echoed in his mind, pushing him forward faster. These men didn’t have their own medic, which led him to believe they usually died.

Bursting onto the deck, Alex’s gaze immediately fell upon the injured man writhing on the ground, groans of pain escaping his bloodied lips. The metallic scent of blood mingled with the salty sea air, assaulting Alex’s senses. He moved swiftly to the man’s side, dropping to his knees beside him, trying to ignore the way memories of the days just after the bombs threatened to return to him.

“I’m here, I’ve got you,” Alex assured, his voice calm and steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. His trained eyes quickly assessed the situation, taking in the deep gash on the man’s forehead, the blood flowing freely down his ashen face. “What happened?”

“He tripped when the ship lurched, smashed his head face first into that column,” a man Alex knew as Steven pointed to a pole near the mast. “Fucking box of haul slipped off the top deck someone and landed on his chest. We got that off while you were called. Never seen a head bleed that much from a simple strike.”

With a nod, Alex wondered if the story was true as he stole a moment to ensure the man’s chest rose and fell with ease. Thankfully, the man’s breathing was fine which meant the fallen box didn’t puncture a lung—but it may have broken some ribs.

He couldn’t help but feel there were too many pairs of eyes on him, but he wasn’t going to stop and count right now. Not when head wounds could take time to staunch the bleeding when there was this much coming out.

Alex’s hands moved with practiced efficiency as he rummaged through his medical bag, retrieving saline solution, gauze, and a bandage. Twisting the lid on the solution, he thanked god he had that instead of just alcohol because this would hurt a hell of a lot less on an unconscious person. Grabbing the gauze strips, he tore the package and set it on the man’s head, pressing to stop the bleeding, knowing it would make him up.

The man’s eyes fluttered open as soon as Alex put pressure on the injury. He appeared glazed over with pain and confusion. “Wh-what happened?” he croaked, his words slurred.

He snapped gloves on each hand, noting that they would need to find more soon. “You took a nasty hit to the head," Alex explained, his fingers gently probing the wound. “But don’t worry, I’m going to patch you up.” He flashed a reassuring smile, his cocky smirk not suited for this situation.

Alex worked with focused determination, meticulously cleaning and dressing the wound. His fingers expertly maneuvered through medical supplies, his mind racing with questions and concerns for the patient’s well-being. His brow furrowed in concentration as he carefully tended to the wounded area, his thoughts consumed by the task at hand.

The injured man hissed in pain as Alex applied more pressure to the wound, but gradually relaxed under his skilled touch. “You’re going to be okay,” Alex reassured him, his voice soothing. “Just rest now.” Swapping gauze, Alex blew out a sign of relief that the wound was smaller than it appeared, not that he could do stitches right now. It was more like a chunk out than a split open.

As he finished securing the bandage, Alex pulled the gloves off. “Can you tell me your name?”

A small groan. “George. Hated that name since I was a kid.” His lips twisted into a smirk that quickly became a grimace.

“I’m going to check your eyes now.” He didn’t have a light, but he went about lifting George’s eyelids and watching as the pupils thankfully dilated just a bit. It wasn’t a perfect check, but it was better than not checking it. “You should be okay, without an x-ray there’s no real way to know about your ribs. Lift your shirt?”

George’s fingers tugged the hem of his shirt perfectly, further confirming he was okay.

Alex didn’t see any immediate signs of internal bleeding, and at the very least if he’d broken ribs, they weren’t open breaks and no more care was needed.

“I can’t tell if anything is broken, so get back to your cabin and wrap your chest—really all we can do for broken ribs any way. Take a day or two off, and then I want to check you over again. Any tiredness or vomiting, come get me right away. Out here on the ocean my supplies are limited, but I will do everything in my power if something is worse than it appears.”

If George understood how dangerous this could be, the man said nothing, only gave a nod.

“Good, then if you don’t mind, I’m going to go wash some blood off.” Standing, he let his eyes roam the deck and his stomach fell out from under him.

There were only supposed to be a handful of crew. There were ten people on the deck with him, and none of them were his unit.

We’ve been lied to.

While it was possible Carnie took on more passengers after they boarded, the way they hadn’t seen anyone else during the meal last night didn’t sit right with Alex. Something was wrong, beyond that they were trusting a criminal to help them.

The thought of hidden agendas and secrets lurking beneath the surface made Alex’s skin crawl. He had always relied on his instincts, and right now, they were screaming at him to be cautious. He quickened his pace, determination etched on his handsome features.

As he rounded a corner, Alex caught a glimpse of movement in his peripheral vision. He whirled around, his muscles tensed and ready for action. But the corridor behind him was empty, the only sound the distant hum of the ship’s engines.

“Get it together, Alex,” he chided himself, shaking his head. “You’re just on edge.”

But the unease refused to dissipate, clinging to him like a second skin. Alex kept walking, uncertain if he could find Chris first or Will and Bash where he’d left them in their cabin.

The cabin. Chris could be anywhere.

Alex didn’t notice the pitch of the ship as he raced back across the deck and down the stairs to the cabins.

Throwing the door open, Alex burst in, tugging the door quickly shut as his heart pounding in his chest. William and Bash looked up, startled by his sudden entrance. Their expressions shifted from surprise to concern as they took in Alex’s agitated state.

“We’ve got a problem,” Alex declared, his voice tight with tension. He ran a hand through his spiky hair, the gesture betraying his inner turmoil. “I don’t think we’re alone on this ship aside from the crew.”

William leaned forward, his blue eyes narrowing. “What do you mean? We haven’t seen anyone else besides the crew.”

“Exactly,” Alex said, beginning to pace the small confines of the cabin. “But while I was treating that injured man, I saw far too many people on board. And there are a lot of cabins down here. We’re not alone.”

Bash’s brows furrowed, his green eyes flashing with suspicion. “Why would they keep that from us? What are they hiding?”

“I don’t know,” Alex admitted, frustration evident in his tone. “But something doesn’t feel right. Even if we’re only a day away from our destination, I’m not sure this is the best place for us to be.”

William stood up, his face set with determination. “We need to find out what’s going on. We can’t risk staying put if this is a trap.”

Alex nodded. “We need to figure out how many people are on board.”

William placed a hand on Alex’s shoulder, his touch a silent show of support. “Be careful, Alex. We don’t know what we’re dealing with here.”

Alex met William’s gaze, the intensity in his hazel eyes unwavering. “I will. But let’s check with Chris. I don’t want to rush off half-cocked now that I’m calmer. Maybe they are transporting other people and the deal is no one knows about anyone else to avoid issues.” Even as he said the words, Alex knew he sounded ridiculous.

A smirk tugged at the corner of Alex’s lips, his confidence resurfacing. “I’ll do what I do best—charm some answers out of people. Someone on this ship knows something, and I intend to find out what it is. After we find Chris, of course.”

“While I don’t mind bashing in some heads for no reason, after you,” Bash gestured toward the door. “Ladies first.”

Alex snorted, “I tell the jokes.”

“Opened yourself up for that one,” Bash tugged the door shut behind him and Alex turned to see William had walked out between them.

As he walked, the boom of his footsteps seemed even louder than when he’d run as his nerves continued to be on edge. William and Bash followed closely behind, their faces etched with a mixture of determination and apprehension. The three men moved in unison, their bond forged by the trials they had endured together.

They rounded a corner, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of Chris. Alex’s heart pounded in his chest, a sense of urgency propelling him forward. They needed answers, and they needed them now.

The sound of hushed voices drifted through the air. Alex raised a hand, signaling for William and Bash to halt. They pressed themselves against the wall, straining to hear the conversation.

“... can’t let them find out,” a deep voice muttered, the words barely audible.

Alex’s brow furrowed, his suspicions growing with each passing second. He motioned for his companions to follow as he crept closer to the source of the voices.

As they approached, the scene came into view. Chris stood with his back to them, engaged in a tense exchange with Carnie. The man’s face was obscured by shadows, but the urgency in his tone was unmistakable.

Alex cleared his throat, the sound cutting through the silence like a knife. Chris whirled around, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Alex, William, Bash,” he acknowledged, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. “What brings you here?”

Alex stepped forward, his hazel eyes locking onto Chris’s brown ones. “We need to talk, Chris. Alone.”

Chris’s jaw clenched, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. “No offense, Carnie, but when my unit wants to talk, we talk. You’ll have to excuse me.”

“As it should be. I’ll leave you to it.” Carnie gave a mock salute and had the audacity to stole off whistling.

“Inside,” Chris barked, his eyes narrowing with annoyance as he waited for them to walk in before joining them and closing the door. “What is going on? We have less than twelve hours left. Why are we making trouble?”

“Wait,” Alex glanced around, his pulse ticking up again. “Where are Liam and Earl?”

“Getting food. I didn’t like the idea, but Earl was stir crazy and promised they’d be careful.”

Alex nodded, a breath he held releasing that they were safe.

William moved to stand beside Alex, his presence a comforting reassurance. “Chris, we’ve been through too much to start keeping secrets from each other. If there’s something we need to know, you have to tell us.”

Chris faced his companions, his expression somber. “You’re right. There’s more to this situation than meets the eye.”

Alex’s heart raced, a mix of anticipation and dread coursing through his veins. “What do you mean, Chris? What aren’t you telling us?”

Chris ran a hand through his short black hair, his eyes filled with a weariness that seemed to age him beyond his years. “It’s not that simple, Alex. There are things at play here that even I don’t fully understand.”

Bash stepped forward, his voice low and urgent. “Chris, we’ve fought together, bled together. We deserve the truth, no matter how difficult it may be.”

Chris met their gazes, the weight of his responsibility as their leader evident in his eyes. “I know.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “There are others on the ship. People who need shelter or safe passage same as us. No women from what I’ve gathered, but I found out last night and swore I’d keep it to myself unless it became an issue.”

“Well, I think it became an issue.” Alex’s arms crossed over his chest. “I just treated a man whose injuries didn’t match the story I was told. Someone pissed someone off and tried to cover it up.”

Chris’s expression remained stoic, but a flicker of concern danced in his brown eyes. He leaned in closer, his voice low and controlled. “I understand your concerns, Alex. I’ve noticed it too.” His gaze shifted to William and Bash, acknowledging their presence. “But we can’t jump to conclusions. We need to lie low. It’s only a few more hours.”

Alex’s jaw clenched, frustration simmering beneath the surface. He understood Chris’s caution, but every instinct in his body screamed that time was of the essence. “We don’t have the luxury of waiting, Chris. If there’s something sinister going on, we need to act now.” His fingers twitched, itching to take action.

Chris placed a firm hand on Alex’s shoulder, his touch a gentle reminder of their bond. “I know you’re worried, Alex. We all are. But we can’t afford to make any rash decisions.” His eyes softened, a glimmer of empathy shining through. “Trust me, I want answers just as much as you do. But we need to be smart about this.”

Alex inhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling with the weight of his emotions. He knew Chris was right, but the unease that had settled in his gut refused to dissipate. “Fine,” he conceded, his voice tight. “Every minute we spend in the dark puts us at greater risk. It won’t matter that we’re leaving soon if we don’t make it to soon.”

“Don’t overstep,” Chris’s voice took a low growl, his expression resolute. “Keep your eyes and ears open. If you notice anything unusual, report back immediately. We’re almost to the next step and Carnie runs a fairly legit business despite what it is. Go back and relax. We’ll be at the dock we need in the middle of the night. Get rest now, we’ll be out in the dark and will need to be rested and ready to protect each other.”

“You got it, Boss.” Bash nodded and moved to pull the door open again, this time without a joke. Alex and William filed out after him, Chris stayed in his room.

Alex’s hazel eyes darted between William and Bash, a silent conversation passing between them in the span of a heartbeat. The unspoken doubts that hung in the air were as tangible as the sweat beading on his brow. William’s piercing blue gaze held a glimmer of uncertainty, while Bash’s green eyes flickered with a barely contained restlessness.

“I don’t like this,” Bash muttered, his fingers twitching near the holster of his gun. “We’re sitting ducks here, waiting for whatever’s out there to make the first move.”

William ran a hand through his blond hair, his brow furrowed in thought. “But what choice do we have? We can’t just go off half-cocked without a plan.”

Alex’s jaw clenched, his mind racing with possibilities. The absence of women on the ship, the secrecy surrounding their journey, the injured man’s presence—it all pointed to something sinister lurking beneath the surface. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, their every move scrutinized by unseen eyes.

“We need to stay sharp,” Alex said, his voice low and urgent. “Keep your eyes open for anything out of the ordinary. If there’s something going on here, we need to be ready to act. But if Chris knows and isn’t concerned, maybe we chill?”

Alex’s mind churned with unease as they walked back to their cabin. He trusted his instincts, and right now, they were screaming at him that something was terribly wrong. The sacrifices they had made to get this far, the love that bound them together—it all seemed fragile in the face of the unknown dangers that lurked in the shadows.