Loving You Too Long

They walked with firm steps that made the ship’s floor creak under the weight of their large bodies. One of the big men grabbed Nathan’s arm from behind and made him stand up, causing Nathan to groan in pain. Haisley tried to hold onto Nathan, but her arm was also held by another man whose body was just as large as the one holding Nathan.

Nathan appeared to walk with a limp, occasionally hissing in pain. Something was wrong with his leg, and Haisley could sense it even though she didn’t know why.

“What have you done to Nathan?!” Haisley shouted at Loretta, who stood between her and Nathan. The woman turned, tilting her head and then looking in Nathan’s direction.

“Nothing,” she replied flatly, shaking her head. Then her mouth opened wide, and she looked at Haisley with a guilty expression. “Maybe I’ve made a few of his ribs move. A little crack in the rib bones, and his leg won’t kill him, right?” she asked cheerfully, continuing her steps.

Nathan was now at the front of the deck, right in front of the captain’s cabin. He was made to sit on his knees again. Meanwhile, Haisley was taken further to the edge of the deck, the man carrying her still keeping her standing.

Haisley glanced at Loretta; the woman seemed to stand casually, leaning her hips against the railing, with both hands folded in front of her chest.

“I once heard a story,” the woman began with a dramatic tone. “There was a little girl who used to be so good at swimming, but due to a tragedy, she became afraid of water.” She continued with a horrifying grin, her sharp eyes fixed on Haisley.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Haisley was startled instantly, looking at the woman with a horrified expression. In her mind, she had already guessed where this conversation was heading. She shook her head, silently praying that what was in her mind wouldn’t come true.

Haisley looked at Nathan, and he also gazed in her direction with an expression that conveyed fear.

“Don’t be insane, Loretta. Your issue is with me; why bring Haisley into this? She never hurt you from the start,” Nathan whispered. His voice was barely audible, seemingly having an issue with his jaw that caused Nathan to speak like that.

Loretta nodded, walking closer to Haisley. “She has never been a problem for me. Haven’t I told you that, for me, she’s a good girl?” Loretta asked. She was now standing beside Haisley, gently touching her cheek with her index finger. “She could even be a good friend if I wanted to be friends with her,” she said with a grin in front of Haisley. Her hands then cupped Haisley’s face. “You’re a beautiful and kind girl. Even when I said all those things about the man you love, you turned around and gave me good advice instead of scowling at me and saying bad things about Nathan to make me hate him.

“Yes, you’re a good girl, Haisley,” she said, kissing Haisley’s cheek softly. “But your presence is Nathan’s happiness.” She added, raising her head and looking at Haisley with a melancholic gaze. “And Nathan’s happiness is the thing I hate the most,” she said as she stepped back.

She tilted her head at the man standing behind Haisley. Haisley then felt something tightening around her hands. “W-what are you doing?” Haisley asked, frightened.

“Playing,” Loretta said with a smile on her face.

The woman walked away again, leaning her hips against the railing, folding her hands in front of her chest, and looking at Nathan for quite a while before redirecting her gaze to Haisley.

“Let’s consider that we’re acting in a kidnapping drama,” she continued casually. “I’m kidnapping both of you.” She pointed her index finger at Nathan. “You will be the superhero, and she,” she pointed to Haisley, “will be the damsel in distress.” She said, still smiling. “Then, when I say ‘Action!'” she shouted loudly. “He will go into the water, and you, somehow, will save him.”

Loretta then smiled at Haisley, just as the same man tied something to Nathan’s leg. Haisley looked down, staring in shock at the large hook attached to a heavy dumbbell, perhaps weighing ten kilos or more.

“Don’t mess around, Loretta!” Nathan barked roughly.

“Tsk tsk tsk…” Loretta sneered, looking at Nathan with a mocking face. “I’m not messing around, Nath. Just one kind.” She said with her wicked grin. “If you manage to save him, I’ll let both of you go. But if not…” She shrugged with a scornful lip.

Haisley could only stare blankly at Nathan. Her heart pounded painfully fast. She felt suffocated even before her worst fears became a reality. Her tears couldn’t be held back anymore. She was terrified, and even if she couldn’t endure, she felt her legs no longer capable of supporting her body.

“Action!” Loretta exclaimed loudly, and that was the last thing she heard before feeling her body pushed backward, crashing into the water and slowly sinking.

Haisley didn’t resist; she didn’t try to pull herself out of the water as she did when she fell from the yacht rented by Nathan. Deliberately, she allowed the dumbbell to pull her deeper into the dark waters.

Nathan widened his eyes as he watched Haisley fall below. The loud sound of the dumbbell hitting the water, followed by Haisley’s body, made Nathan roar, calling his wife’s name. With difficulty-and the pain in his right leg-Nathan tried to stand. However, the grip on his shoulder forced him to kneel again. Loretta laughed, mocking him with a scornful gaze.

“Not yet, Darling. Wait a moment. At least until your wife runs out of breath, then you can go into the water and save her. Giving her artificial breath will be in vain anyway,” Loretta said again, her laughter echoing in the midst of the strong sea breeze.

“Bastard!” Nathan shouted loudly. “You whore!” He yelled again, triggering Loretta’s anger instantly.

Quickly, she half ran towards Nathan and then kicked his face with her leather-clad foot. Unfortunately for Loretta, before she could carry out her action, Nathan’s free hand-unnoticed by both her and her guards-held her back until she fell to the floor with a loud thud. Using his other elbow, Nathan struck the sensitive area of the man standing behind him-about to attack, but slower-so forcefully that the man groaned and hopped around.

Nathan swung the knife he held at another man approaching, ready to attack. He managed to wound the man’s abdomen, hearing a loud tearing sound as the blade ripped through fabric and skin. The man staggered back, reflexively clutching his stomach, and with an unknown strength, Nathan twirled the blood-stained knife in his hand, stabbing it into Loretta’s calf that he held so tightly. Loretta cried out in pain, and her scream echoed in the air.

Nathan pulled the knife back, his hand once again covered in Loretta’s blood. Before he could stab it again into her leg, he was attacked by two large men. They seemed to be putting in a lot of effort to endure the pain Nathan caused. He knew he was going to lose. The two men were much larger and stronger than him, and he had been tortured for hours.

A gunshot rang out, freezing all four of them in place. Loretta, who had already lost a significant amount of blood, now sat weakly, leaning against the railing while holding her injured leg. Apparently, when Nathan was attacked, she had scooted away, afraid of being hit. The two men who were assaulting Nathan also stopped, searching for the source of the gunshot. Nathan, exhausted and beaten, could only lie helpless.

Six men, dressed in all black, stood surrounding them, each holding a weapon.

“Don’t move!” ordered one of them, causing the two large men to raise their hands reflexively.