Chapter 9
Constantine
I can’t wait to be on land. I see now why pirates always felt it was bad luck to bring a woman aboard their ships. There’s no actual curse. They’re a distraction, plain and simple, and Bianca completely occupies my mind. When we sail into the Port of Gibraltar a few days later, I’m grateful to finally walk on land and stretch my legs, so to speak.
Bianca falls in step beside me. “Now what?”
“We’re going to get a few supplies and then head to Greece.”
Bianca rolls her eyes at me. “Why the long trip? Why don’t you just hand me over to Bishop already?”
“All in good time.”
Bianca stops, spinning on her heel and pushing me in the chest. “I hate you, Costi.”
I ignore her outburst. “Why don’t we grab a bite?”
“Fine.” She folds her arms but follows me into a quaint bistro situated at the corner of the marina.
The place is filled with diners, but we get lucky and find a table with a view of the port.
“See the big rock?” I point to the massive rock formation protruding out of the Earth in this otherwise flat land. “That’s the Rock of Gibraltar. This port serves as the maritime gateway between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.”
Bianca looks unimpressed. “You sound like an encyclopedia.” She leans her elbow on the table, scooting closer. “Shouldn’t you not be here with so many port authorities walking around?” She eyes the two men in uniform sitting across from us. “Being a pirate and all,” she says the word pirate louder.
I glance around, making sure no one overheard her. “Hilarious. You need to be careful what you say here.”
“Or what? You’ll kidnap me?”
“Bianca.”
“I should scream bloody murder right now. Tell everyone you kidnapped me.”
I lean closer. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Bianca’s green eyes challenge me. “Why not?”
“First, they won’t believe you. Second, Bishop will just find another way to get you. I’m your best choice right now.”
“I’m not a weak little girl.”
I lean back, getting out of her space and glancing back at the port authority officers. “Bianca, I advise you not to draw any attention to yourself right now. Bishop has deep pockets, and you don’t know who you can trust.”
She slinks back in her seat. “I hate evil men.”
“All men are evil.”
She cocks her head to the side. “Possibly. It’s just how evil each man is willing to become. I think evil is a weakness.”
This gains my interest. “How so?”
“Because everyone is born inherently good. Then, evil creeps in to corrupt. A strong man knows right from wrong and keeps to the path of righteousness. A weak man lets temptation overtake his mind and lets the evil creep in.”
I mull over her words, wondering if there’s merit to them. My father was very strong, and I wouldn’t classify him as a weak man. I rub my chin. “This is true if you believe everyone is born good. I think some people are born with an evil set inside them. I think it grows as they do, overtaking their whole life.”
Bianca studies me. “You’re not evil, Costi. I know you, and I know there’s good in you.”
I wave off her words when the server makes her way over to our table. We order—calamari for an appetizer and souvlaki for our meals—and before long we’re reminiscing about old times. It’s been so long since I looked back at that period in my life. The good ol’ days. The days before I was the devil I am now.
As Bianca scoops tzatziki atop the souvlaki nestled in warm pita bread, my phone pings in my pocket. I pull it out.
Bishop.
He wants to know if I have Bianca. I reply with a quick, “Yes,” and set my phone on the table, focusing my attention back on Bianca.
She raises a brow. “Who was that?”
I challenge her brow with my own. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you it’s rude to ask someone who they’re texting?”
“I’ve never heard that rule.” She leans closer. “Was it Bishop? Is he asking you if you have me?”
I don’t say a word to her psychic guesswork.
“It is, isn’t it? What did you tell him, Costi?”
Anger hits me at her questioning, because I want to confess everything. “It’s none of your business.”
She huffs and shifts in her seat, pushing her food away. “Fine. Don’t tell me. Answer me this, what will you do if you go to hand me over and I’m not there?”
“Why wouldn’t you be there?
She shrugs one shoulder, a nonchalant look crossing her features. “Mayhaps, I’ll run away.”
“Mayhaps?”
“Isn’t that pirate lingo?”
Despite my anger, I stifle a smile at her petulance, which only annoys me more. “You wouldn’t make it a mile before I found you again.”
“You think I’m some young girl who can’t take care of myself? A lot has changed since you last saw me.”
My eyes drop to her breasts, loving the way she fills out her new clothes. “I know a lot has changed.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “You’re a pervert.”
“You have no idea. But I’m not interested in anything you have to offer.” Lies.
She appears hurt at my words and turns her head to look back out over the blue water of the port. “Yeah, well, you’re no picnic either. I’d say more, but you’re not worth it.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yep.”
We finish our meal in silence, and once I’ve paid, I lead Bianca around the port, keeping my hand on the small of her back to make sure she doesn’t get any ideas about running away.
She really has nowhere to go. I wasn’t kidding when I said Bishop has deep pockets. There’s not a police officer this side of the Atlantic that isn’t on his payroll. It’s why I have to be careful with every step I make.
I can’t have Bishop finding out what I’m really after.
By the time we’ve made it back on the ship, it’s late. Bianca beelines straight to her room in the back of the boat. I head to the bridge, spotting Knox standing near the monitors.
“Do you think you’re going to pull this off?”
I gaze out at the tranquil ocean waters ahead. “I don’t know. I really don’t.”
“Should you just call it off?”
I sigh. “How can I? I just need Bianca to behave. Do you know she was talking about running away when we get to Greece?”
Knox fondles his long beard. “Well, you need to make sure she doesn’t do that.”
I rest my hand above the GPS monitor. “Yeah, I know. I’ve been thinking. I might have to keep her locked up in my basement.”
Knox lets out a deep, boisterous laugh. “I don’t see her liking that idea very much.”
“Well, I have to think of something. I can’t let her get away.”
Knox's face loses the humor. “I know.”
“I’ll just have to make sure she stays in line.” I slap Knox on the shoulder and make my way toward Bianca’s cabin to make peace.
I knock on her door, and she opens it with a scowl on her beautiful face.
“What do you want?” she asks, crossing her arms over her chest.
I step back, taking in her cropped floral-print blouse and navy capris. She looks like she’s heading on a vacation and not a prisoner. And that’s just how I want her to feel.
“Bianca…” I debate on telling her the truth about why I kidnapped her.
She doesn’t wait for me to decide. “Ok, let me just say something first.”
I nod. “Go ahead.”
“Don’t think just because you’ve given me things, or because we used to be friends, I will not remember that you abducted me. When I get to Greece, I will get home to my father.”
“Over my dead body.” I stalk away from her, knowing I can never tell her any truths I have.