Page 92 of Stone Coast

“This is a nice boat,” I said of the Reef Rogue 46.

The gorgeous catamaran looked brand new.

“Beats the shit out of that dinghy Coop lives on.”

TJ escorted me aboard and gave me the tour. There was a spacious aft deck, a luxurious salon with a galley to port and a fridge to starboard. There were loads of counter space, a four-burner stove, a double sink, and an oven. Wraparound windows allowed copious amounts of moonlight to flood in. There was plenty of U-shaped seating around a glossy wood dinette.

“You can have either compartment on the port side. It’s all you. I’ll be in the master to starboard.”

I flashed an appreciative smile.

“You’ve got a private en suite and that hatch locks. Make yourself at home. Help yourself to anything that’s in the galley. What’s mine is yours.”

“This is very generous of you. Thank you.”

“You’ve been through a lot. You need a safe place to let yourself unwind. Stay as long as you like.” He hesitated, then thought better of it.

“What?”

“It’s none of my business. You seem like a nice girl. I don’t know anything about your past except what Xzavier tells us.” he paused. “If I were you, I’d forget all about this place. I’d take off and start somewhere new. New name, new identity, a whole new future. We’re all just chasing ghosts. Do that for long enough, and you forget the point of living. There’s enough time to chase ghosts when you’re dead.”

“That’s good advice,” I said.

His eyes narrowed as he stared deep into mine. “You won’t take it.”

I smiled. “You never know.”

“The eyes don’t lie. You’re as stubborn as the day is long.”

“So I’ve been told,” I said with a chuckle.

“Get some rest. There’s a cold pack in the freezer. I’d put that on your face. You already look like a chipmunk.”

I gave him a mock salute. “Aye-aye, Captain.”

“You took some pretty heavy hits. You want medical attention?”

I shook my head. My neck was already stiff. “I’m fine.”

TJ stared into my eyes, examining my pupils. “If you get dizzy, nauseous, confused, you let me know.”

“I’m okay. Really.”

“You might change your mind when you look in the mirror.”

I cringed, and my lip split again. “That bad?”

He hesitated, shrugged, then nodded.

I cringed again.

TJ retired to his stateroom.

I grabbed a cool pack from the freezer and took the companionway down to the port quarters. I chose the aft berth, then examined myself in the mirror in the en suite before settling in.

That was a mistake. I shouldn’t have looked.

Dark circles of purple and black had formed under my left eye. It was damn near swollen shut. Blood engulfed my left sclera, and abrasions turned my left cheek red. My lip was puffy and fat like after a bad trip to the plastic surgeon. Split on the left side, it had crusted with blood. The taste still lingered in my mouth. My cheek had puffed up. There was no covering that shit with makeup.