Get the boat ready.

Cops coming here? I ran upstairs to check for my family.

I saw that April's room had her things spread on her bed and the shower smelled recently used.

Walking down to the master, I passed January's room. The bed was askew. Something was definitely off.

I ran to my room and kicked the door open, half expecting my wife in bed with my enemy.

The room was pristine.

Picking up the phone in there, I tried to call her cell. The line was dead.

Now the hairs on the back of my head stood up. Somethings not right here.

I smelled him before I turned around. He had a certain smell that came from sweating hard.

Working with him on my boat all those years, ya learn a guy's stink.

" Where are they?" I turned to face Parsons.

" Nice to see you too boss." He seemed to sneer that last word.

" Stop f*****g around, did you kill Adam, cops are on their way here right now, better spill it nut case." I took a step towards him.

" Oh, yer best be stopping right there old man." He held up a big swath of long blond hair.

April

" What are you doing?" I could see his eyes turn pure black. My heart raced.

" I am taking what's owed me, but who I really want is Janu. You're going to take me to yer baby girly.

April told me you took her to that little precious island you used to go to as a family, isn't that so cute." He spat out.

" f**k you and never gonna happen, you'll need to kill me prick. And I ain't easy to kill." I growled back.

He took a step back out of the room and when he returned my daughter was unconscious at his feet, her hair cut off and her face swollen from a bad beating.

I lunged at him.

" Stop! She ain't the only one. I got Andrea and the big fucker too. Just come a bit closer and they are both dead. I say one word and my accomplice ends them."

He had a phone in his other hand.

He's bluffing.

" Let April go. She's got nothing to do with this." I took another step forward.

He spoke into the phone.

" Pour the gasoline." He said.

I heard voices, Andrea and Adam? They were groaning and trying to shout, but it sounded like they were muffled.

" I'm warning you Ronald, I will kill you for this, I should have threw you of my boat long ago you prick!" I took another step, seeing April's eyes flutter.

" Light them up!" He cried.

" No wait! Stop it!" I cried out.

" Let's go, cops are on the way here. Let's take my truck, you and me. I'll tell Michaels to prep the Eastern May. But we gotta go right now! Let my family go.

I'll take you to Janu."

He threw April down and grabbed my collar.

" Daddy...boat house..." I heard April say something.

Ronald kicked her in the side.

" Shut up dear daughter, shut yer f*****g ugly mouth!" He said as he pushed me towards the stairs.

His daughter....Oh Andy what have you done?

" April, I love you." I cried as I was being forced down the stairs.

Ronald looked around anxiously as we got into my truck.

I held the key in my hand.

"Call your goon off! Let Andrea and Adam go. Do it now!" I ordered.

" What? call who off?" Ronald said in confusion, then it seemed to dawn on him, his threats to burn them up.

" Oh yeah my guy, yeah well, not till we are out to sea." He seemed to be fumbling now.

His eyes darting to the hill that led to the boat house and then back up to the road.

I started my truck with a roar and took out my phone.

Ronald slapped it out of my hand. " No phones!" He shouted.

" How the f**k do I let Michaels know to prep the boat i***t!" I put the truck in gear and backed out of the driveway.

" I'll dial, you talk." He said, picking up my phone and calling my best mate.

" Hey, finally. I been calling you Cal, where you been hiding?" Captain Michaels answered.

" Ya, I don't like phones, but listen I gotta take my boat out. I need her fueled up.

I'm taking a quick trip. No crew needed. So have it ready in 20 minutes, got it? I'm on my way. No crew got it?"

"Hmph...what are you up to old man?" he sounded suspicious. I never take the boat out without crew. It's not safe.

" You work for me, I'm the boss, now shut up and do as yer told!" I yelled in my captains voice.

"Yes sir, good news for you cap, she's already all fueled up. Come and take her out.

But I'm not sure that I'll be here when you get here, I gotta family to catch up with, asshole." He hung up on me angrily.

I never speak to him that way, we've been friends too long. Probably pissed him off real good.

" You are the one who did this to her didn't you?" Ronald asked as he nervoudly fiddled with a scab on his arm. He was twitching, eyes blinking as if in conversation with himself. He mumbled. " She's a good girl."

" What the f**k are you talking about?" He seemed totally unhinged.

" Janu, you pitted her against me. I was going to give her a good life, take her to my home. We are soulmates.

I loved her. No one even paid attention to her. Not Andrea, not you. I was the only one she could count on, it was always me."

I yanked the wheel pulling the truck over and slammed my fist into his foul f*****g mouth.

" That's my kid you are talking about, she was an innocent child!" I screamed, as I punch him in a flurry of fists and jabs.

Somehow, somewhere he pulled a long knife out and stabbed me.

" Uhhggg! Hold up, s**t!" I pushed myself away from him.

Shooting pain burned through my shoulder as blood oozed out and down my sleeve.

Ronald came at me again, slashing down towards my chest.

I was able to raise my arm to block him, but the knife continued it's forward motion and sliced into my arm, hitting bone.

He was livid as he unleashed all his pent up prison anger on me now. I underestimated his strength.

I could see the muscles bulging from his biceps as he attacked me. He obviously worked out while locked up all these years.

I slumped down, unable to fight him off.

He only stopped seeing the red and blue lights flashing up ahead of us as several police cruisers rushed up towards us.

I sighed.

Yes, come get this crazy bastard.

But to my dismay, they kept going, right on past us. There were at least 8 of them, zooming by at a high speed.

Sirens all blaring.

Ronald slunk down, trying to hide.

" Drive Cal, put the damn car in drive and get us out of here!" He gritted out, shoving the knife under my chin.

I sat up, the pain in my shoulder excruciating. My arm bleeding all over my truck.

My only hope was that they were heading to my house to help dear April.

I could handle Ronald. Once we get on my boat, he's a dead man.

I drove away looking into the review mirror. I may never see my family again.

I will not be taking Ronald to January. Over my dead body. And he's not skilled enough to run the Eastern May. He's a dead fucker.