Chapter 381: Chapter 381: Meeting Tom in Person
Crawford’s gaze was sharp, fixed on the three boats ahead. He gripped the walkie-talkie in his hand tightly and said sternly, "We’ve brought Ms. Sinclair here, Tom. What about the hostages you promised?"
Tom laughed oddly twice, "Captain Crawford, we’ve been dealing with each other for so long, yet it seems you still don’t trust me. I’m a person who always keeps his word."
As soon as he finished speaking, a large number of hostages with their hands tied behind their backs appeared on the decks of the two boats on the sides, including women and children.
Tanya saw her senior colleague Cameron Wenworth among them.
Cameron had lost a lot of weight, appearing haggard and worn out.
"Senior Brother!" Tanya couldn’t help but shout.
At first, Cameron thought he was hallucinating, but as he followed the sound, he really saw Tanya appear on the shore and was so shocked he couldn’t believe his eyes.
"Tanya? Why are you here?"
Before Tanya could explain, Tom’s voice rang out again, urging, "You’ve seen the hostages. Give me Tanya Sinclair, and I’ll release them."
Cameron was taken aback, realizing that Tanya was here to exchange for their release.
He shouted excitedly, "Tanya, don’t come over! They’re all..."
Before Cameron could finish speaking, he was knocked unconscious by a terrorist behind him and thrown into the sea.
The child nearby was so frightened by the scene that they huddled into their mother’s arms, crying.
"Senior Brother!"
Tanya screamed sharply, trying to rush over, but was held back by Kyle Crawford.
A soldier in camouflage uniform was the first to jump into the sea to rescue Cameron Wenworth.
Tanya felt herself shaking all over, she grabbed the walkie-talkie in Crawford’s hand, angrily shouting, "What exactly do you want? I’ve already come! You must ensure all hostages safely disembark!"
Tom apologized indifferently, "Ms. Sinclair, don’t be so angry. My people have a bad temper. Typically, disobedient pigs are taught a lesson. Rest assured, your friend won’t die. However, if you delay any longer, I can’t guarantee my men can keep control of the guns they hold."
A surge of anger shot through Tanya’s heart. These terrorists were utterly inhumane!
To them, the more than three hundred hostages on the boats were not people, merely livestock to be slaughtered at their whim... What fate awaited her when she fell into their hands?
But as she saw the crying child, she clenched her palm, forcing herself to calm down.
She spoke, "Release them all safely, and I’ll come..."
Before Tanya could finish speaking, the terrorists on the boat suddenly fired two shots into the sky.
Tom impatiently said, "Ms. Sinclair, you aren’t in a position to negotiate. Get on the boat first, then I’ll release them. I’ll give you five seconds to decide, if you’re late by a second, I’ll kill one."
Tanya glanced at Kyle Crawford beside her.
Kyle gave her a slight nod.
Tom’s hoarse, cold voice continued, like an executioner.
"Five... four... three..."
The masked men beside the hostages were already prepared to fire.
"Two..."
Tanya strode towards the middle boat.
Tom chuckled gloomily, "Ms. Sinclair, truly kind-hearted."
Just as Tanya reached the plank connecting the shore to the boat, suddenly she heard the terrified screams of the hostages from both sides.
She followed the sound and was so angry at the scene before her that she felt chilled to the bone.
—The railings by the side of the boat opened, and those with their hands tied behind their backs—men and women, young and old—were pushed overboard like dumplings!
So cruel!
The hostages were bound by their hands; even if they could swim, they couldn’t free themselves!
Tanya turned back to meet Kyle Crawford’s gaze and shouted first, "Forget about me! Save the people!!"
Kyle wanted to step forward, but several terrorists on the deck opened fire, bullets falling behind Tanya like an-impenetrable wall.
It was impossible for Kyle and the others to get close. One of the terrorists took the opportunity to drag Tanya aboard.
Tanya reached for the gun she’d hidden in advance, cooperating as she was dragged into the cabin one step at a time. The man’s strength was great, causing Tanya to stumble along. Her foot slipped on something, she staggered, her knee slamming hard onto the deck.
Tanya was thin, essentially having her bones knock against the hard, cold surface, the pain shooting deep into the bones, rendering her immobilized.
The man was impatient, muttering in a language Tanya didn’t understand, but the tone clearly cursed her.
The man roughly grabbed Tanya’s collar, dragging her up completely, directly taking her to the command room beneath the deck.
In the main control area, sat a bald man with tattoos on his face, a cigar in his mouth.
His features were deep and coarse; living in a tropical environment had his skin darkened by ultraviolet rays, impossible to determine his age.
Perhaps in his thirties, possibly forties or even fifties.
The man dragging Tanya in was unusually respectful towards him.
Tanya immediately guessed his identity, "Are you Tom?"
