Chapter 7
The margaritas were stout. Jet fuel. I had the feeling that Jimmy, the bartender, was going to be my best friend or my worst enemy. I wasn't sure which just yet.
I hung out on the sky deck with Vanessa and Declan as the crew cast off and the pilot navigated us out of the marina. Already, I felt the stress of daily life melting away.
Vanessa lifted her glass to toast. "To wild adventures!"
We clinked beverages and sipped the deadly concoctions.
Declan seemed to keep his wits about him and stick to something a little more traditional, like scotch on the rocks.
Vanessa and I were heading for sugar-filled hangovers.
As if the margaritas weren’t strong enough, she wanted to supplement with tequila shots.
Jimmy poured three, and Vanessa doled them out.
"Here, take it," she said.
I shook it off. "No. I need to pace myself."
"For what? Live a little."
"Just one."
She rolled her eyes.
I took the shot glass, and we clinked before downing it. My face twisted, and my throat burned. It was like kerosene.
There was an endless supply where that came from.
"Babe, maybe you should pace yourself," Declan said to her.
Vanessa looked at him like he was crazy. "I can handle my liquor. Besides, I'm so excited to see my friend." She hugged me again, squeezing tight.
Vanessa had been drinking long before I arrived on the boat, and I figured she would continue long after I tapped out. If a little is good, a lot is better. That was always Vanessa's mantra.
Declan's cell phone buzzed with a call. He answered and said, "What's happening?"
By the look on his face, the news on the other end didn’t sound good. Declan excused himself and stepped away.
I was hesitant to ask, but did anyway. “Hey, has anything bad ever happened on this ship?”
Vanessa’s brow wrinkled. “What do you mean, bad?”
“You know, like bad.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know. I just got this weird vibe when I passed one of the staterooms.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes. “You and your vibes. Good Lord. Would you relax and have fun? Nothing bad has ever happened on this boat. Nothing bad is going to happen. We’re not going to hit an iceberg and sink. Just chill. Stop prophesying doom over everything.”
“I don’t prophesize doom over everything.”
“Yes, you do. Start thinking positive. We’re going to have a great time. Say it with me.”
“We’re going to have a great time.”
“See how easy that was?” Vanessa smiled. “We’re also going to find you a husband on this trip."
"I don't need a husband."
She gave me an incredulous look. "Yes, you do. What are you going to do, sling drinks at that bar forever? That's cute when you're young and hot. Not so cute when you're old and fat."
I gave her a look. "I'm not getting old or fat."
"Well, there are drugs for the fat part, but…” Vanessa spotted someone across the deck.
A handsome man in his 40s with short, wavy dark hair stepped on the sky deck. He was with a young platinum blonde who looked like a pinup queen. She wore an elegant, somewhat sheer dress that managed to look both casual and formal at the same time.
"I need to introduce you to Luciano,” Vanessa said. “They’re in the cabin next to you.”
“Oh, I think I heard them. But I thought it was two women in that cabin.”
Vanessa looked at me like I was crazy. “You heard them?”
“It sounded like they were in an argument.”
“When?”
“When I was getting settled.”
“They’ve been here on the deck the whole time. Probably a couple of the stews cleaning the room. But they shouldn’t be having arguments in guest cabins. I’ll say something to Declan.” She took my hand. “Come on.”
"He looks taken.”
"That's his wife, Sophia." Then she muttered aside. "He's loaded," she said with emphasis. "I'm talking global shipping magnate. Stupid money.”
"What exactly does Declan do?" I asked.
"He can explain it better than I can.”
She dragged me across the deck to meet Luciano and his wife. Vanessa made introductions, and we exchanged pleasantries.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Luciano said in a slight Italian accent, staring into me with lustful dark eyes.
Sophia seemed used to his flirtations.
"What brings you aboard?"
I shrugged. "Just a little fun in the sun.”
"Excellent! How long will you be with us?”
"I don't know. I haven't made up my mind yet.”
"Declan is such a gracious host,” Luciano said. “I'm sure you will have a wonderful time.”
"How do you know Declan?”
"We have a mutual interest.”
"What interest is that?"
"Making obscene amounts of money," he said with a chuckle.
I laughed. "Well, please share the secret.”
Luciano took a deep breath and thought about it for a moment. "The secret to making money is to control something scarce that other people need. Food, energy, currency, goods. I control access. Every product that is imported into this country got here somehow.”
"And you’re that somehow. Sounds like a good position to be in."
"I'm a large percentage of that somehow and want to grow even larger." He smiled.
"How does Declan come into the picture?"
"Declan brings certain synergies to the table. I don't want to bore you with the details of it all."
"I'm sorry, I'm just inquisitive by nature. Here we are, supposed to be having fun, and I'm asking about work."
Luciano smiled. "Making money never really feels like work to me. I’d love to talk to you more about it sometime.”
He was totally flirting.
"I'd love to chat more with you and your wife sometime. You two make such a cute couple."
He put his arm around her.
She looked disgusted.
"I'm a very lucky man," Luciano said, then kissed her cheek.
“Oh, no. I’m the lucky one,” Sophia said.
I couldn’t quite tell if it was sarcasm. It was right on the line.
Declan waved Luciano over, and he excused himself.
“Don’t mind him,” Sophia said. “He’s a harmless flirt. I let him have that, and he doesn’t bitch about the credit card bill.”
We chuckled.
“How long have you been together?”
“Married for two. Together for three. It happened quickly. When you know, you know,” she said in another sardonic tone. After a casual glance around, she asked, “Are you traveling alone?”
“I’m not alone. I’m with all of you,” I said with a smile.
Sophia returned my smile. “Enjoy single life.”
I got the impression she was over married life.
“By the end of the trip, we’re going to find her a traveling partner,” Vanessa said. A lightbulb flashed in her brain. “I know who’d be perfect for you. Declan’s friend, Logan. I’ll call him and have him meet us in San Montego.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No. I need relaxation. Not blind-date anxiety.”
Vanessa gave me a look.
“Well, if you’re looking for a quickie, there appears to be more than a few capable deckhands willing to lend assistance,” Sophia said before sipping her martini. “Not that I would know.”
She looked at Vanessa and shared a giggle.
“What time is dinner?” I asked.
“7:30,” Vanessa replied.
“What time is it now?”
“It’s shot:30!”
“No. No more shots.”
“Yes! More shots! I’ll be right back,” she said before sauntering toward the bar.
“She’s a riot, isn’t she?” Sophia muttered.
“And then some.”
“I don’t know how she does it. She’s been going non-stop like this since we got aboard.”
“She’s built differently.”
There was an awkward pause.
Sophia filled the space. “Have you met Hannah and Sebastian yet?”
“No.”
“Cute couple. They spend a lot of time in the cabin. New relationship,” she muttered aside.
Vanessa returned a moment later with the tequila and dealt out the shots. “Bottom’s up!”
She downed the tequila like it was water.
Sophia and I sipped ours.
Vanessa gave us an annoyed look. “Don’t be wussies.”
Sophia smirked. She didn’t seem like the type of woman that could be easily pressured.
“I’m still warming up,” I said. “Pre-season training.”
“You better bring it,” Vanessa said. “You’re in the big leagues now.”