Onboard Artemis
Vera
My phone buzzed for the fourth time that morning. Alistair’s name lit up the screen again. His last message hovered
Come on, sweetheart. One drink. You can yell at me in person if you want.
I’d ignored the rest.
Miss me yet? Still alive?
You ghosting me for good, or just keeping me hungry?
Each one made me smile, roll my eyes, and stare a little too long before locking the phone again.
But here I was anyway, perched in a deck chair on his yacht, the sea glittering all around us, the kind of blue that made the world feel surreal. The air smelled like salt, sunscreen, and money. I told myself I was only here for the ocean.
Alistair leaned back, sunglasses catching the sun. “Glad you joined me on my boat today,” he said, like he knew he’d worn me down.
“You’ve got some nerve, calling my boss just to track me down.” I leveled him with a stare. “He handed me his phone and stood there, waiting like I owed him an explanation. He reminded me you were a ‘good friend’ and a valuable client, so I shouldn’t piss you off.”
Alistair removed his gold-framed Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses and set them on the table, finally letting me see his green eyes. “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you. That wasn’t my intention.”
I arched a brow. “You think calling my boss was subtle?”
He almost smiled but caught himself. “You weren’t answering. I had to get through somehow.”
I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms. “So you put me on the spot in front of half the office? Classy move.”
His jaw flexed. “I needed a chance to talk to you, Vera.”
“Well, here I am. Only because Brenton ordered me onto your damn boat. He’d have skinned me alive if I said no.”
He let out a breath. “I know. And I hate that it came to this, but I need you to hear me out.”
I fixed him with a look. “Then talk. After this, I owe you nothing. Tell me, what’s going on between my brother and your ex-wife?”
Alistair’s lips curled into a playful smile. “You know, you’re the first lawyer I’ve ever slept with.”
I didn’t blink. “You planning to plead the Fifth, or answer my question?
“Always straight to cross-examination with you. God, I love a woman who doesn’t let up.”
“And I love a real man, but I haven’t found him yet. Cut the bullshit and be honest.”
His eyes softened. He reached for my hand, and for once, he didn’t try to charm his way out. “Alright. I’ll be straight with you about my ex-wife.”
“Go on.”
He let out a breath. “I’m spending more time with my son now. Saira and I are locked in a custody fight. Doesn’t matter what she’s done. Her lawyers are good at spinning a story, making her look like the perfect mother. She’s got connections everywhere. Even the police.”
His forehead creased as his mouth tightened. “This city’s rotten, Vera. I gave up on playing the hero a long time ago.”
“I’m sorry.” I squeezed his hand, feeling the edge of my frustration slip away, just a little.
“Don’t be.” Alistair’s fingers lifted my chin. “I’ll tell you a few things you may not want to hear.”
“I can handle it.”
“The moment Julian ends things with her, she’ll come after you. Saira hates being rejected. She tears families apart, leaving nothing behind. Don’t be fooled by her appearance. She looks like a porcelain doll, but she’s dangerous.”
“How does she treat people, Scotty?”
“Before our divorce, I visited one of her establishments. Her sex workers were abused and mistreated. A few contracted sexually transmitted infections that aren’t curable. They were bold enough to ask me for help.”
“Oh, shit.” I sucked in a deep breath, then exhaled.
“Exactly. After buying her share, I revamped the club and gave payouts to those who were infected. I couldn’t have them working for me because they’d put others at risk. Think of clients with wives, partners, and families.”
“The business. Is that The Church?”
“Bingo. I suspect Saira paid officials to look the other way while she conducted her illicit activities. Things are different under my management these days. My employees have health insurance and fair wages.”
“What does this have to do with my brother?”
“Saira still runs an illegal sex ring for wealthy clients. She hires prostitutes, both men and women, and provides drugs to entertain her clients at secret soirées.”
“Oh.” I suddenly felt sick. Julian.
“Julian is one of Saira’s favorites, but he’s risking his life and yours. He’s playing a dangerous game.”
“Alistair, I don’t feel so well.”
“I’m sorry, love.”
My brows knitted together. “Julian did this to pay off our college fees.”
“Vera, I’m sorry. Do you and Julian have remaining debts I can help you with?”
“You’ll have to ask him.”
“Would you like me to talk to your brother and my ex-wife to see if I can mediate and keep you and your family out of danger?”
“Y-y-yes,” I whispered, clutching my stomach. I stood up but stumbled, only to have a pair of strong, muscular arms catch my body to keep me from falling.
“Stay with me today.” Alistair’s green eyes met mine, more vulnerable than I’d ever seen.
I didn’t answer. My arms stayed crossed, fingers digging into my elbows. My foot tapped against the deck, impatience radiating from every inch of me. He’d forced this meeting, and I didn’t want to make it easy.
He reached for my hand. I pulled back, letting his touch fall short. Silence stretched between us, tight as a wire.
He tried again, this time letting the backs of his fingers brush lightly down my arm. I stiffened but didn’t move away, caught between the urge to bolt and the ache to lean in.
As he spoke about Saira, the threats, and the custody fight, my anger started to cool, replaced by something heavier. Worry pressed in. The playboy routine had dropped, leaving only a man fighting for his son.
By the end, I let him take my hand. His palm was warm and steady. I held on, just enough to let him know I was still there.
Lunch was a slow negotiation. Alistair slid a plate of oysters my way and raised an eyebrow, daring me. “They’re good luck, you know.”
I hesitated. “Only if you believe in luck.”
He grinned. “I prefer to make my own.” He poured wine, his knuckles grazing mine, and I didn’t pull away.
As I nibbled on salad, my questions started to spill out, more out of habit than trust. “So. Saira. Is she as toxic as the rumors say?”
He paused, glass halfway to his lips. “Worse.” He swirled the wine, studying me. “She can charm a judge or ruin a man with the same smile.”
“And business?” I pressed. “You always this legitimate, or do you also have underground connections?”
His mouth twisted, equal parts pride and regret. “Let’s just say I’ve paid my way out of more messes than I care to admit. The city’s rotten, but I’m learning to stay clean.” He shrugged. “For my son, mostly.”
I didn’t know what to say, so he filled the silence with a slow, knowing smile.
“Want to see the rest of the yacht?”
“Sure.” I grinned back. “I’ve never been on a super yacht.”
He guided me through cabin after cabin, his voice low and smooth as he pointed out the craftsmanship… hand-polished wood, silk-lined walls, details so precise they felt unreal. There was a pool. An actual onboard cinema. Each turn blurred the line between excess and fantasy.
He stopped at a set of sliding doors and pushed them open.
A suite sprawled before me, all sunlight and ocean framed by floor-to-ceiling glass.
Gold brass fixtures caught the light. A king-sized bed waited with rose petals and fresh towels.
Across the room, a hidden bar gleamed with champagne that probably cost more than my rent.
I kept my face neutral, but my pulse jumped every time his arm grazed mine.
He opened the terrace door, and the scent of saltwater hit me. The railing curved just high enough to keep the cautious out, low enough for the daring to dive straight into the deep.
Alistair stepped in beside me, close enough that his shoulder brushed mine. “Ever swim in open water?”
“Is that a dare?” I shot back, arching a brow.
He stripped his shirt, grinning, and dove in.
I followed, shrieking as the cold swallowed me up.
The shock was electric… salt on my lips, sunlight flashing as I surfaced.
He reached for me in the water, steadying me as laughter bubbled up from my chest. Back on deck, he wrapped a thick towel around me, rubbing warmth into my shivering arms. His skin smelled like salt and sun.
I found myself studying a scar near his eagle tattoo and traced it, curiosity getting the better of me.
He caught my wrist, his voice lower now. “Bad business. It’s over.”
We lay side by side on the sun-warmed deck, bodies just barely touching. Every glance lingered a little too long. My skin tingled, nerves awake and hungry for more.
Alistair threw me a half-smile. “Do you like my boat? It’s called Artemis. It suits you, don’t you think?”
I let my gaze sweep over the deck, then laughed low. “You call this a boat?”
His eyes lit up like fireworks as he grinned. Underneath all the swagger, there was something honest about him. He was beautifully flawed, and I was falling for him.
“Scotty, thank you for being real with me today.” My voice softened as I slid a hand under the strap of my damp bikini top, peeling it off and tossing it aside. The green sequins glittered in the low light, a not-so-subtle gift I’d found wrapped on his nightstand earlier.
He traced slow circles at the small of my back, the heat of his palm steady and sure. “I care about you,” he murmured, fingers trailing over my bare skin. I let the air fill my lungs, the ocean’s salt mixing with his scent.
I hooked my thumbs in the bikini strings at my hips and let the bottoms fall to the floor.
I straightened, meeting his gaze without a hint of apology.
He took in every inch of me… my curves, my scars, the stretch marks along my thighs and hips, the way my breasts shifted when I moved. I let him look.