“Leave it,” Ethan barked. “They’ll see you moving. You’ll just make us look more desperate.” “I am desperate!” Liam snapped back, his voice cracking. He shoved another case toward the galley hatch, trying to wedge it inside, out of sight. Sweat slicked his forehead. From the water came the faintest sound—shouts carried by the wind.
Harsh, guttural. Liam froze, staring toward the horizon. The boats weren’t far enough away anymore. He could hear them. “Ethan,” he whispered, his voice thin and frightened. “They’re yelling at us.” Ethan didn’t look back. His eyes stayed locked ahead, knuckles white on the throttle. “Don’t listen. Don’t look. Just keep your head down.”