Page 69 of Worshiping Faith

I keep moving. First stop, the block. Soon as I step through the door, she’s on me.

Faith.

Her mouth crashes into mine, the force of her kiss knocking the breath from my lungs. Raw. Desperate. Hers.

I curl a hand around the back of her neck, grounding her.

“I hated that,” she says against my lips. “Not knowing if you were okay.”

“I said I was coming back.” My forehead presses to hers. Exhaustion sinks into my bones, but I don’t have the luxury of falling into her yet.

Not yet.

I lift my gaze, find Wilkes standing nearby. “Take her and Jinx to the ship. Even if shit hits the fan here, that beast is good to go.”

Faith stiffens. “Shit hits the fan?”

Her voice is tight, frustration winding through the words.

“Go with Wilkes. Settle Jinx in. Zachs and Trip are onboard.” That should be enough.

“It’s a shit idea.” She crosses her arms. “If you think things might go sideways, you need someone here with you.”

Jesus, she’s at the end of her rope too.

“Do you ever just listen?” I ask.

“No,” she fires back.

A muscle ticks in my jaw. Stubborn, impossible woman.

I exhale through my nose. “Fine. Go with Wilkes and send Trip to chow.”

A compromise. One I don’t fucking like, but she’ll fight me all night if I don’t give her something.

I don’t linger. No time.

By the time I reach chow, the grumbling from inside is spilling into the hall.

Here we go.

I walk in, and the noise cuts.

Every set of eyes locks onto me. Watching. Waiting.

They know something’s coming.

I keep my tone calm, straight to the point. “This shit is all over the mainland. It’s not just us, not just this island. This outbreak is everywhere.”

I watch as they process it, each one taking it differently. Some of them see a fresh start, like they’ve been handed a clean slate. Others? They see a death sentence.

“Here’s the deal,” I say, stepping forward. “That ship is mine. My crew bled for it. We took it. We earned it. Anyone who wants to come is welcome, but let’s be clear, this ain’t a democracy.”

A ripple moves through the crowd.

Grumbling turns to full-blown arguments.

I let them get it out, standing there like a stone in a storm, waiting for the noise to settle.