Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
“Are you drinking the water I gave you?” Lucas’ voice comes through the bathroom door. “It’s likely you drank a spiked drink if you can’t remember anything. You’re probably dehydrated.”
I wrap a towel around my hair and then sip the bottled water. “Why would anyone do that?”
“It’s a rough crowd, things happen.” Lucas clears his throat.
“When you’re done, I have a hair dryer out here, deodorant, moisturizer and anything else you might need.
Once I’ve had a shower we’ll head down to the galley.
I put on a pot of coffee before I came to look for you.
I checked your cabin last night—just to make sure you were okay.
When it was empty, I figured you’d met someone. ”
I open the bathroom door and step outside. “No, I didn’t meet anyone and I crashed where you found me the moment I had that second drink. I still feel dizzy.”
“You’ll be fine.” He slips by me, carrying an arm full of clothes.
“The coffee will help and maybe some Tylenol. I’ve left a pile of clothes on the bed for you.
They belong to Mia but she won’t notice them missing.
Her drawers are stuffed full. The T-shirt is mine but you can keep it. I have a ton of them.”
I tighten the towel wrapped around me. “Did she give them to you?”
“Nah.” He chuckles. “She’ll be dead to the world until we dock. I just went into her cabin and helped myself. She’s about your size but you only need to make it from here to the house and you can get changed.” He shuts the door.
Soon I hear the water running and his rich and melodious voice coming through the door.
I take my time looking around the room. I always had the impression cabins on boats were tiny little places—not so.
A king-size bed dominates the room, and I see an ocean view through the porthole.
There are closets, a chest of drawers, a refrigerator containing bottled water.
Two guitars in cases are hung on the wall alongside a framed concert poster.
On the bed I find a pair of undies, black yoga pants and a Blood Orchid band T-shirt.
I dress quickly and stare at myself in the mirror. The shirt comes down to my knees.
There’s a chair in front of a dressing table with a mirror.
Neatly stacked on shelves behind glass doors sit an assortment of toiletries.
I open a drawer to find hairbrushes, which all look brand new, alongside a hair dryer.
I make good use of the toiletries, and after reading the brands on most of the moisturizers, I now know why everyone in the house has amazing skin.
I’m drying my hair when Lucas emerges from the bathroom fully dressed with damp hair hanging loose about his shoulders.
He leans over me to grab a hairbrush. I notice he is clean shaven and the scent of his aftershave dominates the room. I offer him the hair dryer. “I’m done.” I look at his reflection as he brushes his hair. “I had a white jacket with me when I arrived. I’ll need to look for it.”
“We have staff to clean the mess. I’ll make sure I ask them to look out for it.” Lucas turns on the hair dryer and I watch him dry his hair.
I recall the faces of the women looking at him with adoration as he played and glance at my own reflection but my expression isn’t one of wonder.
Perhaps it’s because I’ve mixed with many famous people in my life, and to me they’re just people.
No one overly affects me and I can’t recall ever having a crush on anyone.
My stomach drops as the information I read on serial killers slams into my brain—they have no empathy.
They get angry but they don’t experience love like normal people.
I stare at my hands, seeing the thick sticky blood.
I’m shaking. Deep down inside I know something bad has happened.
“Hey.” Lucas touches my shoulder. “You’re trembling. Is it me? Have I frightened you? I do that to some people. I didn’t mean to, Alani.”
I look at the concern on his face and shake my head. “There’s something you need to know about me, before you go sticking your neck out.”
“I know you’re smart, honest and you don’t take shit from anyone.
” Lucas shakes his head. “Some people might find that challenging but I kinda like it. I’m a drunk and a drug addict.
There are things I’ve done in my past I wouldn’t repeat to anyone.
Maybe that’s why we get along. We don’t give a shit about the past and live each day at a time. ”
I swallow hard but if he’s planning on helping me, I owe him the truth.
“I discovered the name of my father. He is a psychopathic killer doing time in prison. The problem is he’ll be out soon.
His sentence was twenty-five years for an attempted murder and rape.
With good behavior, he gets out this year.
He was on trial for murdering a long list of women but it was all circumstantial evidence.
Since then he’s admitted killing them but can’t be retried due to double jeopardy.
” I stare at him but his face doesn’t show any emotion whatsoever.
“I have a brother, Damon. He found me after I visited my father in prison and told me he’s just like him and I am too.
” I’m shaking so hard I can hardly speak.
“The blood and the knife. The blackout. How do I know I’m not a psychopath too?
There’s every chance I’ve murdered someone, Lucas.
You can’t risk everything you’ve worked for to protect me. ”
“I refuse to believe you’re capable of murder.” Lucas takes my hands and pulls me to my feet. “It’s not been long but I know you, Alani.”
I stare into his eyes. “Do you? Do you really know me?” I shake my head. “Will you sing me the song, the one you wrote with Linc when I was there? You were singing it last night—‘Blood on the Tide.’”
“Okay but what—? Oh, never mind. The lady wants a song.” Lucas takes a guitar case down from the wall, and pulls out his acoustic guitar. He sits on the bed and sings.
“She lay on the deck, in a crimson cloud,
No one had seen her, the night wore a shroud.
Whispers of vengeance still hang in the air,
The blade cut deep—no mercy, no prayer.
Her screams went unnoticed, the truth left to rot,
A promise broken, a crime never forgot.
Steel kissed her neck, and took our fame,
Now ghosts of the guilty will carry her name.
Blood on the tide, the silence won’t break,
Secrets are held by the choices we make.
Screams in the dark, the truth is a lie,
I know for a fact, it’s an eye for an eye.”
He glances at me as the last lyrics leave his lips and realization dawns on him.
I look at him and spread my hands wide. “Now do you understand? A murder happened after ‘Black Valentine’ was recorded. I wondered at first if it was a publicity stunt but thought—no Linc wouldn’t stoop that low.
I trusted you all but now this has happened.
” I feel tears prick the backs of my eyes.
Is Lucas in on it? Is all this an act to make me believe he cares?
A lump forms in my throat making it hard to speak.
“Have I been set up for murder—or am I the same as my father?”
“No, you’re not like him.” Lucas shakes his head.
“Why would we set you up? It makes no sense at all.” His troubled eyes move over my face.
“I’d never do anything like that. I don’t need money or success.
Something like that would ruin us, not make us more popular.
” He puts his guitar back into the case.
“I was just trying to help you, Alani, and who else knows? It’s our secret. ”
I nod slowly. “I really want to believe that, Lucas, but if someone died last night, and I didn’t kill them, then why was I set up for the murder? Do they believe I’ve discovered a secret that will ruin the family so they need to silence me?”
“I don’t know, but if they wanted to silence you, it would have been easy enough when you were drugged.” Lucas frowns. “They could have tossed you overboard after everyone passed out.”
Ice cold trickles down my spine like a snowflake hitting warm flesh. Everyone but you. “It might be better to have me locked away in prison because I know who set me up.” I search his face. “It’s whoever on this yacht, apart from me, who knows my mother is the ‘Black Valentine’ murder victim.”
“She was what? Oh, shit. I knew she was a relative but not your mom.” Lucas runs a hand down his face. “Everyone still believes my dad killed Rachel. If someone else found you, and knew about Rachel being your mom, they’d believe you were out for revenge, like in the song, ‘an eye for an eye.’”
I nod. “Exactly.” I swallow hard. “Have you noticed how quiet it is? Shouldn’t at least Oliver be up by now? Where is everyone? I’m scared, Lucas. Something real bad has happened.”
“If this is real—” The color drains from his face. “—which one of my family has been murdered?”