Chapter 16
By the time Luciano had stepped into the compartment, I had made it into the closet. My heart pounded, and I trembled with nerves. How was I going to explain this one? Declan would kick me off the boat for sure. Maybe I was the next one to get thrown overboard.
"I don't like that girl," Sophia said.
"Relax, she's harmless."
"She's not harmless. She's calculating.”
"I think she's sweet.”
"You just want to fuck her.”
"But I only have eyes for you, my dear.”
Sophia scoffed. She knew better.
Luciano kissed her, then said, “Did you open a window?”
“No. I don’t know.”
He moved to the portlight and closed it.
"I’m bored,” Sophia said. “When can we get off this fucking boat?”
"Surely you can find something to occupy yourself with.”
"Are you going to do the deal with Declan, or aren't you?"
"I haven't made up my mind yet,” Luciano said, returning to her.
"What's there to debate?”
"How about you let me handle the business side of things, and you handle the pleasure?”
It sounded like Luciano wanted to get frisky. Sophia didn't sound as enthused. But eventually she acquiesced. It wasn't long before the mattress started squeaking. Grunts and groans bounced off the bulkheads. Luciano went at it pretty good, but by my count, it was over in under 10 minutes.
Luciano rolled over and started snoring.
Sophia climbed out of bed and stepped into the en suite. She pulled the door shut, and a moment later twisted a faucet. The shower head blasted water against the tile.
Now was my opportunity.
I poked a cautious head out of the closet and scanned the compartment.
Luciano was out cold.
The en suite door was closed.
The shower raged.
I stepped out of the closet, hurried across the deck, and rounded the bed.
Luciano stirred and rolled onto his side, facing the door.
"Hey, babe?" Sophia shouted from the en suite. "Can you bring my robe?”
I froze, then dropped to the floor at the foot of the bed as Luciano peeled open a sleepy eye.
"What?"
"My robe is not in here. The stew must have moved it. Is it hanging up out there?”
Luciano sat up and looked around. Sure enough, the terrycloth robe was folded and sitting atop the dresser with another one. The stewardess must have forgotten to put them in the bathroom.
Luciano crawled out of bed on the side nearest the entrance. He walked to the dresser, grabbed the robe, and spun around.
By that time, I had crawled to the far side of the bed, out of sight.
Luciano walked toward the en suite, buck naked.
"Just set it on the counter," she said.
He stepped inside. I'm sure Sophia looked delectable in the shower stall, hot water dripping on sultry skin. The two-minute power nap was all Luciano needed. He was ready to restart his engine and go again. He slipped into the shower stall with her.
"What are you doing?" Sophia asked, annoyed.
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
This was my opportunity to bolt for the door. I sprang to my feet and hurried across the compartment. I twisted the handle, opened the hatch with a delicate touch, and slipped into the hallway.
Grunts and groans emanated from the shower.
I closed the door behind me.
The stewardess came out of my room, having finished cleaning it. I'm not sure if she put two and two together that I had just stepped out of Luciano’s room. She smiled. "I’m finished. You can go in. Is there anything else you need?”
"No. I think I'm good. Thank you,” I said with a smile.
I slipped past her, stepped into my stateroom. I closed the door and leaned against it, breathing a sigh of relief.
Nobody could say I was crazy anymore. Nobody could say it was my imagination.
I took a moment to regroup, then left my cabin and went in search of Vanessa. With this bracelet, she had to believe me.