chapter986

Lydia's sudden move sent a ripple of tension through Ghost's crew. They all

snapped to attention, weapons raised and safeties off, every barrel pointed straight at her. If she so much as twitched her finger on the trigger, they looked ready to fill her with bullets.

Ansel's soldiers responded instantly, guns up and trained on Ghost's men. No one was getting out of here alive if things went sideways. The air crackled with danger, everyone caught in a standoff that could explode at any second.

The cold muzzle of the gun pressed to his head actually made Ghost laugh, a low sound with no real bite. "No need to get so worked up, miss. The kid's on the Aqua Dreamliner. We'll keep him safe, I promise."

"Call them. Right now. I want to see him myself," Lydia shot back, her voice tight

with worry.

She needed proof that Luke was okay.

Ghost hesitated, trying to buy time. "Why don't we wait a bit? As soon as the Aqua Dreamliner comes back, he'll be with it. I'll get in touch, make sure they're taking care of your brother."

"My patience is running out," Lydia said, her tone icy.

Ghost couldn't believe this young woman had so much control over the situation. She had a gun pressed to his head, and Ansel didn't even flinch. Who was she, really? She didn't check in with Connor, either, and he just let her take charge. It was crazy.

"Alright, alright, I'll try to reach them," Ghost relented, pulling out his phone and moving a few steps away.

Connor came up beside Lydia. His voice was gentle, trying to reassure her. "Don't worry. Luke's going to be okay."

Lydia frowned, her worry plain on her face. "I'm afraid he might not be able to handle it physically."

The security footage had shown just how badly Luke was hurt.

"If Luke is really on the Aqua Dreamliner, we'll get to him right away," Connor promised.

Lydia nodded. "Okay."

Ghost took his sweet time, nearly eight minutes, before coming back. He held out

his phone for Lydia and Connor to see.

"Look. Is this him?"

Lydia's eyes flew to the screen.

There, on the floor, covered in blood,

lay a motionless body. He looked

lifeless. His hair was sticky with blood strands glued to his pale face. The white shirt he'd worn was how soaked through, heavy and dark with blood, clinging to his battered body like a second skin.

His hands were limp at his sides, fingers scraped and bloody, with dirt and gore wedged under his nails, like he'd struggled until the very end. His legs twisted in a way legs weren't supposed to, his pants ripped open to expose torn, raw wounds Fresh blood slowly seeped out, gathering in a pool beneath him.

Lydia had braced herself for the worst, but seeing Luke like this was beyond anything she'd imagined.

"You... you did this to him?" There was ice in her voice, cold and sharp.

Ghost backed up instinctively,

raising his hands a little. "We didn't mean for this to happen. My guys said he wouldn't listen to anything. we said, wouldn't cooperate, so... but it's just surface wounds, I swear. His life isn't in danger."

Connor stared, shock and anger written all over his face.

Lydia's words were quiet, but they cut through the room. "Give me the ship's location. Now."

Ghost wasn't about to argue.

"I'll give you the location, but you have to promise you're only coming for the boy. Don't mess with our business on that cruise ship. Otherwise, I'll be in serious trouble with my boss."