Chapter 10
Bianca
The definition of hate is a passionate or intense dislike for someone. And yes, I also feel passion for Costi. This raw, toe-curling passion where I just want to rip his clothes off and…
I stop my train of thought.
I do not want to rip the clothes off his delectable body. My face flames hot with the intense hatred I feel for Costi. I move around my room, wishing I could find a way off this ship, but knowing very well I can’t.
I can swim, but swimming in the ocean back to the port is insane. I’m not an idiot. I step out of my room to look for someone who might help me escape this ship. Most of these men are loyal to Costi, but for the right price, that could change.
I’m willing to try. Because I cannot end up in the arms of Bishop.
I have a life. I have personal goals I want to achieve. I won’t allow Costi to steal my future from me.
I sneak down the hallways of the ship and make my way to the galley, watching from the doorway as the crewmen sit around the table, chatting and drinking beer.
“I think Costi forgot the mission,” one of them says.
“She’s hot. I’d be forgettin’ everything else too if I were him,” a bald man sitting near the door says with a grin.
“She’s bad luck. I think Costi should throw her overboard.” They all chuckle at these words, and I shrink out of the doorway.
Nobody in there will help me.
I spin around and slam into a younger man with shifty brown eyes. Upon closer inspection, he’s not a man at all, but just a boy, around twelve or thirteen.
“I’m sorry,” I say, stepping to the side so he can pass.
“It’s fine,” he mutters as he rummages a hand through his copper hair.
“Actually, would you give me a tour of the ship?”
He appears nervous, biting his bottom lip. “I’m not sure I should do that.”
I touch his arm and give him the same smile I give my father when I want something. “No one even has to know.”
The boy shifts on his feet. “Um…”
“I’m Bianca. What’s your name?” I try to make him feel comfortable.
“Toby.”
“I love that name. You sure you can’t show me around?”
He thinks a moment. “Ok, Miss Bianca, I’ll show you around.” He turns and I follow him through the narrow corridor, moving further away from the kitchen.
Toby’s sweet as he shows me the hull of the ship where the crew sleeps in bunk beds. It’s a sizable area, but the place is empty. Toby shows me his personal area and a picture of him and Costi next to a mountain. Costi’s arm is slung over Toby’s shoulder and they both have fetching grins on their faces.
“Cap says he looks after me because my father and him were friends.”
“That’s so sweet. Where’s your father now?”
The boy’s whiskey-colored eyes gaze up at me. “He’s at home with my mother and sister.”
“He doesn’t mind you coming on the ship alone?”
Toby’s chest puffs out a little. “Nope. This is my job. I scrub the decks.”
“I’m sure you do a great job.”
He beams with pride. “I do my best.”
“What time do you think we’ll get to Greece?”
Toby chews the corner of his lip while he figures it out in his head. “Morning time.”
“Is there a way I can get off the boat first?”
“Why would you want to get off the ship first? You’ll leave with Captain.”
“I know. I know.” I try to placate him, thinking quickly on my feet. “I’m just wondering if I can sneak off because I have something special planned. I just have to pick up a surprise for Cap.”
“Maybe you could jump once we’re in the harbor and swim to shore?” Toby’s eyes light up.
“Could I do that? Would it be safe?”
He rubs his hand across the back of his neck. “Well, I did it once when I needed to get home to my mom in a hurry.”
“And you didn’t get hurt?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. I’m a fast swimmer.”
“I’m sure you are.” Am I fast enough to get away from the ship without getting hurt? Is this idea insane?
I think it is.
“Yeah, Cap said it was ok to jump from the ship once we docked.”
He did? “Interesting. And you think I’ll be able to do it?”
“Can you swim?”
“I can.”
This is my only chance. I can barely contain my glee, knowing I can return to Miami soon. Hopefully there won’t be any sharks off the coast of Greece. It’s fine. I’ll just swim faster. Toby continues his tour, and I remind myself of where everyone on the ship will be stationed once we pull into port.
I want to make sure I leave from this boat undetected, which Toby has ensured I’ll be able to. He even offered to help.
“There you are,” Costi says not long after I’ve ditched Toby.
I’m standing on the deck of the ship, watching the waters down below. “Here I am.”
“Have dinner with me tonight.” There’s no question. No ask. It’s a demand, and he doesn’t want me to refuse.
“Fine,” I mumble, wanting more than anything to be off this ship and back home. I head back to my cabin, wanting some alone time before dinner.
It’s crazy how you can know someone so well. You can know every part of their soul and after years of not being around them, they change so much. It’s almost not fair. Like we should be able to freeze time and keep people exactly the way they used to be. If we’re freezing time, I’d love to freeze everything back when Costi and I were growing up.
Every morning on my birthday, there’d always be something from Costi sitting on my nightstand. The best present Costi ever got me was when we were fifteen and he gave me my very first kiss.
On the beach. I wish I could have lived in that moment forever. Before everything changed.
I throw on a dress, knowing tonight’s my last night on this ship. By this time tomorrow, I’ll be on my way back to Miami. I can’t let myself fall into the hands of Bishop Blackstone. I need to make sure my father is ok and check on Mia, Ava, and Giana, the other daughters of the Four Families.
Bishop can’t get away with this plan.
I stare at myself in the mirror, gazing at the dress the same color as my eyes with a daring slit riding up my thigh, nearly showing my goods. Well, at least he’ll get a glimpse of what he tossed away. I head down the corridor and toward the captain’s cabin. My knuckles falter on their way to the wood, but then I remember who I am and knock on the door, waiting for Costi to open it.
When he does, I’m awestruck at the mere presence of him. He looks dashing with his hair tousled on the top of his head. A smile that melts my heart—ahem, my panties—and muscles forged in steel.
“Come in,” he says, moving to the side so I can enter. His eyes watch my every movement, studying, calculating my every little thing.
It almost makes me feel like he can read my mind.
Does he know I’m planning on escaping?
By the way his eyes never leave me, it makes me think he does.
“This is extravagant.” A buffet of food covers the table. Steaks, lobster tails, baked potatoes, and rolls have my mouth watering. “Who made all of this?”
“Well, I did.”
My eyes flick to his. “Really?”
“You don’t think I learned how to cook since we’ve been friends?”
“I just remember how badly you burnt the pizza when we were twelve.”
He rubs his chin. “I’ve learned patience since then.”
“It suits you.”
Costi points to a chair at the head of the intimate wood table. “Have a seat. Let’s eat.”
My eyes take in which food I’m wanting to sink my teeth into first. It’s nice to not have Gino’s nagging reminders about carbs and calories sounding in my ear. Until now, I don’t think I realized just how many things I’ve passed up because of his judgy eyes. Don’t get me wrong, I like my sleeker body, but it’s my choice what I put in it, not Gino’s.
“I can’t believe you remembered the burnt pizza,” he says.
I could pass a test on all the things I remember about Costi.
“Well, it nearly caught fire. How could I forget?”
We plate our food, and as we eat, I want to ask him why he never wrote to me. Ask why he never returned. What happened to my best friend that made us lose touch? Costi chews slowly, his eyes never leaving mine, making my stomach tingle with nerves.
“What?” I ask when I can no longer take this innocent torture.
“I’m just admiring the many ways you’ve changed.”
I spear a slice of steak with my fork. “Oh, and how do you think I’ve changed?”
He leans back, his eyes roaming over my body freely. Appreciating it. Sending my confidence level soaring.
He lets out a little growl, like he likes all the ways I’ve changed. “You’ve filled out nicely.”
I laugh. “You sound like a horny teenager.”
He laughs too. “Well, I missed that stage with you.”
“Do you remember our kiss?” My cheeks flame fiery red as I wait for his answer.
“I remember it every day.”
After dinner last night, I rushed right back to my room to, well, breathe. Costi leaves me breathless in his presence, which is more reason I need to get back home ASAP.
If my father and his men have a plan to take Bishop down, I want in on it. I’ve always been the girl who likes to take part in the action, not left in the dark.
I don’t want people thinking of me as a weak woman who can’t take care of herself.
Even though I’m a prisoner on this ship, it doesn’t mean I can’t take matters into my own hands.
I tiptoe out of my room the next morning, searching for Toby, while plotting my escape.
There’s a flurry of activity among the crew members today.
I spot Toby coming out of the galley and motion him to me. “Where’s the captain?” I ask.
“Cap is on the bridge. We should be in the harbor soon.”
“How soon?”
Toby glances at a pocket watch, and I worry I’ve overestimated my chances of getting off this boat. “Real soon.”
I roll my eyes where he can’t see and follow him to the back deck. “Is this where I’ll jump?”
“Yes, I’ll tell you when.”
I gaze at the water below and rethink this idea. Can I really make it? The coast of Greece comes into view and it’s mesmerizing. There’s tons of activity on a boardwalk banked with storefronts. White buildings are stacked as far as the eye can see. Smaller in the front and getting larger further away from the port. In the distance, a few mountains shoot toward the clouds in the clear blue-sky.
The water is smooth like silk, and I wonder what it’ll be like to jump into it.
“What part of Greece is that?”
“We’re near Athens. It’s the Port of Piraeus.”
“It’s gorgeous.” There are many ships in the harbor, and doubt creeps up my spine. “Toby, you’re sure this is safe?”
He rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah, sure. You can swim, right?”
I chew at my bottom lip. “Yes, I can swim.” But can I swim well enough? Will I be fighting against other ships?
We float into the harbor and pass a mammoth cruise ship. My stomach twists in knots. I’m losing faith in this idea, Toby, and everything as we drift closer to shore.
“Get ready,” Toby says. “Once we get a little closer and the ship shuts off the engine, you can jump.”
I nod and step up onto the small railing, noticing how there are few boats this close to land. “I got this.”
“You’re not planning on jumping, are you?” the deep voice of Costi says from behind me.
I glance at him from over my shoulder. “I have to get back to my father.”
And then I leap off the ship.