Page 35 of Knot Going Down

The bar is a glorious shrine to questionable decisions and overpriced cocktails for those poor souls without the beverage package. Tucked right beside the glistening pool like a siren luring the sunburned to day drink in their swimsuits, the thatched roofing and neon signs give it a tropical dive vibe. The bartenders serve with the efficiency of people who’ve seen it all and know it’s only noon.

Each day, the ship offers a new special drink, usually more about the container than the cocktail. Yesterday’s was a strawberry daiquiri served in a plastic coconut the size of my head. Today’s masterpiece comes in a hollowed-out pineapple painted like it’s wearing a polka-dot bikini complete with tiny sunglasses and an unsettling amount of confidence.

After the first rum and Coke, Declan seems more relaxed. But his gaze keeps flicking between Emily and Ava and me, ever watchful.

“What are you gonna do once Glenn’s put away?” he finally asks.

I bring a hand to my heart. “Officer McLaren, are you actually concerned about me?”

“No.” He turns away, so all I can see is his profile. “I’d just like to know you have a plan for something legitimate, so you don’t end up right back on the wrong side of the law.” He swirls the boozy cola dregs left in his glass of ice before taking a final sip.

Legitimate.

I take a sip of my drink. “Hadn’t really thought about it yet.”

“Well, you should.” He slides his empty glass away from him.

We’re both silent for a few minutes. A man in socks and sandals lounges by the hot tub, passionately explainingmaritime law to no one in particular. The couple next to him nods without removing their earbuds.

“Hey, you think I can check my phone before we get too far out to sea?” I ask.

Declan turns to me, just a little too fast to be casual. “Why?”

“I should text Glenn, make sure he doesn’t get suspicious when I can’t be reached for a week.”

He shifts his weight, arms crossing over his chest like a shield. “Every word goes through me.”

“No problem.” I take a deep breath. “I also want to call my parents.”

“No.”

“What? Why not?”

“How do I know you won’t pass them a message to Glenn?”

“You can listen to the call.”

“No. Too risky. You could use some sort of code.”

I laugh. “You give me way too much credit. My parents don’t know a thing about what I do. As far as they’re concerned, I’m a warehouse inventory supervisor.” The job sounds straightforward and blue-collar enough that no one really asks too many questions but it’s still vague on the details.

“The answer is still no.” He’s not budging. That’s clear.

“Fine.” I drum my fingers on the top of the bar counter. I’ve never gone more than a few days without checking in with my family to make sure Mercy is okay. My parents too, with dad’s injured leg and all, but really, I’m checking on my little sister. She should have what she needs to last her while I’m gone, but she has a bad habit of giving suppressants away to other omegas who need them.

I guess I’ll just have to hope her bleeding heart doesn’t get her in trouble for one week.

20

EMILY

“Ican’t,” Ava whispers, even though we’re floating in the middle of the pool, far from anyone else.

“It makes the most sense for me to question Declan while you see what you can get out of Knox,” I argue, leaning my weight on the inner tube. It’s massive, but we’re still squished together along one side so we can talk more privately. Our legs keep brushing as we kick lazily through the water.

“It’s too risky for me to get close to either of them,” Ava says. “And our best bet is still a subtle, flirty approach. Which requires things like touching and invading personal space.” She drags her toes up my leg in a way that has to be intentional, like she’s showing me what she means. I shiver even in the heated pool.

“Both those men stare at you like you’re the hottest piece of ass they’ve ever seen,” she adds as if she didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. “A little flirting, and they’ll be putty in your hands. It’ll be nothing to get the information out of them.”