Chapter sixty-seven

Damian knew that if he lost the upcoming war, Chandra, Jane, Sheree, Ada, Feifong, Elizabeth and the Iowees were going to be alone at the mercy of Antonio.

But he had no intentions of losing. The Drakes were going to pay with their lives for what they did to Janet, Mike and Lee's people.

He wasn't the only one in his crew with that grim determination.

" Chandie, I want you to take, Jane, Feifong, Ada, Elizabeth and Janet back to the boat. Wait for us until morning. If we don't show up at first light, sail to one of the other Islands."

" No." She didn't say anything else, just started walking away from him.

" Chandie."

" Yuh not gwan put me through dat again, bwoy--not knowing if yuh be dead or alive. Yuh tink I would wan to liv' on some Island without yuh? I belong with yuh. I belong to yuh. Where yuh go I gwan...even ti di boneyard."

She never gave him a chance to respond. He watched her back as she fast-walked to catch up to Steve.

It was ridiculous to feel the way he did about her. No one should love anything so much that they would instantly die, if they lost it. But that's how he loved her. There was nothing about life and living that meant anything to him without her. He couldn't do anything about her so he turned to the others he wanted to stay behind.

"Jane, it's for the sake of all of us. Don't you see that? We have been handed a gift. Help me Jane. Fei, Sheree...help me. Go back to the boat. Wait for us there."

"Ok, Damian, but hit him one time for me."

" I will...I promise."

" Tell Janet I wanted to come for her." Sheree said.

" I will."

" Tell Mike too...about me." Feifong looked at Damian with tears in her eyes. " Tell him how much I wanted to come."

" I'll tell him, Fei."

" Come back to us, Damian. Bring them all back to us."

"We'll come back Ada."

" Damian...?"

He gave his attention to her.

" Call me Pipsqueak?"

After all these years she could still come up with some of the most shameless and strangest requests. But he sensed her strong need to bond somehow to him at this moment, even if only by an old memory.

" No." He said softly.

" Why not?"

"Because that woman back at the lab was Pipsqueak. You're Ada, and that's who you'll always be to me from now on."

Elizabeth took the change in plans without a fuss although she was ready and willing to fight. She stood beside Sheree, as majestic as an Amazon, her long, curly hair falling across her eyes.

As they headed out for their showdown with Antonio and the rest of the Drakes, Damian whispered something to Steve.