Page 13 of Knot for Sale

SEVEN

Emma

NO, NO, NO, this couldn’t possibly be happening... not here, not now, not during my last-ditch opportunity to salvage my career. To salvage my newlife.

I half-jogged down the staircase, aware that I was one slip away from a sprained ankle or worse—but I couldn’t even spare the few seconds it would take to untie my ridiculous high-heeled gladiator sandals and rip them off.

Don’t fall, don’t fall... the silent mantra played in my head in time with the clack of heels on expensive inlaid wood. I reached the lower deck and hurried past the lounge, the pool, the theater. Why were the guest cabins hidden away so deep in the bowels of the damned ship?

Finally, I reached the right door, only to have a fresh moment of panic when I remembered that Elijah had our key card, because there’d been no place to stash mine in my bikini. I pounded a fist against the closed door in frustration, near tears.

Had the steward dropped off the rest of my bags yet? Would I have to leave most of my belongings behind? How far would the six thousand dollars TSB had already deposited in my bank account stretch? Maybe I could contact Elijah after I got away, and ask him to send my luggage on to me—

“Em?” My omega roommate had followed me, and dread fought with relief in my stomach.

“I need the key card,” I snapped. “Quickly!”

He held it up, and I grabbed it like a starving hyena tearing a chunk of carrion from the lion’s kill.

“Em, what thehell?” Elijah sounded bewildered rather than angry, but either way, I didn’t have time for it.

I swiped the card clumsily through the slot, cursing when the light stayed red. Elijah took it back from me and swiped it in the opposite direction. I was already pushing on the door when it beeped and turned green.

“I have to leave,” I said, rushing to my carryon bag and rummaging for any suitable clothing I could throw on over my swimsuit. I’d partially unpacked the bag while I was getting ready earlier, but it would only take a minute or two to shove everything back inside. The rest of our luggage sat in a pile in the corner of the room. Maybe I could carry another suitcase... I needed a more sensible pair of shoes.

A hand closed around my upper arm. I gasped and whirled, nearly tripping. My heart pounded like a drum against my ribs.

Elijah whipped his hand away like I’d burned him, holding it palm up in a gesture of nonaggression.

“Em,” he said for the third time. “Please just stop for a second.What’s going on?”

“I t-told you,” I said, my stutter reappearing. I couldn’t even blame myself, under the circumstances. “I have to g-get off this yacht!”

His brow creased. “Because of those two men? The bald guy and the creepy beta with the paunch?”

Even the description sent a trickle of chill down my spine.

“I just... I have to g-go,” I deflected. “I was wrong to come here. This isn’t going to work.”

He still looked bewildered, but also worried.

“I don’t know if there’s time for that, dove. They were getting ready to cast off. I think those two men were the last guests to come aboard.”