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But saying any of those things aloud wouldn’t serve my goals in this situation. There was no option but to extricate myself from this damned yacht right along with the omegas. Doing so meant there would be no witnesses to the crimes about to be committed. However, staying behind would ensure that my cover with the Huntwells ended up being well and truly blown.

“I believe her,” I replied simply, before returning my attention to the captain and our translator. “Thank you for agreeing to investigate the matter. I’m sure you understand how distressing it is for something like this to happen, given the guests’ expectation of privacy in their own cabins.”

I hadn’t meant it as an implication that I suspected a member of the crew—but based on the hardening of Carvalho’s expression as the cabin boy passed on my words to her, that’s how it had been received.

Diplomacy—international or otherwise—was definitely not my strong suit.

The captain bit out a short sentence in Portuguese.

“She says we’ll keep you informed,” said the cabin boy.

After a brusque farewell, the captain returned to her duties, our translator darting out of the room at her heels. I swallowed a sigh and turned back to Casick.

“If you have a few minutes, I’d like a word,” I said. “It’s a matter only tangentially related to this other...unpleasantness.”

The CMO’s gaze sharpened with interest. “Would this matter have anything to do with the only two omega models on the boat having moved into your cabin yesterday?”

He’d been paying attention, then. Not really a surprise, under the circumstances.

“It does,” I replied. “I’ve been led to understand that it may be possible to, how should I put this... ‘buy out’ a model’s contract withThe Secret Boudoir?”

Casick raised an eyebrow. “One model’s contract? Or two?”

I could practically see the accounting calculations running in his head.

“Two,” I confirmed. “Apparently they come as a set.”

The man’s lips twitched, and a snort of amusement escaped him. “Alphas and their harems,” he said. “Middle Eastern sheiks have got nothing on you guys.”

I took a moment to imagine punching Casick in his flabby gut, indulging my rough-and-tumble East End roots before placing the impulse firmly back inside its box.

“We prefer the term ‘pack’,” I said mildly, not bothering to point out that the ratio generally ran several alphas to one—or sometimes two—omegas, not the other way around. One alpha trying to satisfy multiple omegas during a pack heat sounded like a quick—if potentially enjoyable—route to an early heart attack.

“Right,” Casick said. “Like wolves, huh?” He tapped the side of his nose knowingly. “Well, since you ask—normally, this sort of negotiation happens a little later in the week. But for the right price, I’m sure we can make an exception. There’s a slight catch, though...”

He trailed off.

“Yes?” I prompted, trying not to let my impatience show.

“You see, we normally require our models to sign a rather extensive set of legal documents at the beginning of events like this one.” Casick examined his nails. “Unfortunately, I still don’t have signatures from either of the omegas. As I recall, the girl was feeling ill that first evening, and the boy left the dinner meeting rather... abruptly, you might say.”

He was needling me purposely—we both knew I’d been the one to abscond with Elijah before he could sign anything.

“That shouldn’t be an issue,” I said evenly, refusing to rise to the bait. “I’ll simply ask them to sign the papers now. Perhaps you could have someone bring the contracts to my cabin later?”

“That can be arranged,” Casick said, his tone equally bland. “Now, I suppose we should discuss the price of a double buyout.”

When I returned to the cabin an hour or so later, I didn’t even have to open the door to know that we had a problem. Emma Hope’s sharp absinthe and blackcurrant scent was seeping into the corridor, tickling my nostrils and going straight to my cock and balls.

I willed the reaction away with more difficulty than I cared to admit and knocked before letting myself in.

Elijah looked up. “Hi. Any luck with the captain?”

I closed the door and slipped off my jacket, feeling abruptly too warm as I glanced at the second figure hunched on the bed, a hot water bottle pressed to her stomach.

“I’m afraid not,” I said. “In fact, Imayhave given her the impression I was accusing a crew member of the theft. In my defense, there was a pretty significant language barrier.”

“I didn’t expect her to do anything,” Emma said, sounding as miserable as she looked.