Page 35 of Wayward

I bite my lips and nod. I’m doing the best I can to keep my fear pushed down. We’re past the windowless conference room. Down the hallway and not quite to the grand salon. He punches a code into a pad next to a door and opens it. It’s a stateroom. The owner’s stateroom, if I’m not mistaken. The walls are dark cherry and the linens on the king-sized bed a deep brown. There’s a deep scent of cloves and eucalyptus in the air.

“That’s good enough,” Thayer says. He holds up his hand, stopping the guards from coming into the cabin. They linger in the corridor like well-trained dogs.Penny.

There is a pause until Thayer motions them away and closes the door with a button next to the nightstand.

Thayer clears his throat. “The crew I’ve got on board is loyal to me. But I’ve been surprised with some of my father’s men waiting for us here. They’ve asked for a ride to our next port.”

“And this complicates things,” Easton states.

“Yes, spoken like a Rockwell. This complicates things.” Thayer pushes another button next to the bed, and a panel next to it opens. “You’ve had a downgrade in accommodations.”

I glance over at Calvin and Easton.

“Don’t look at them. They follow you, Hal. And if you want to live, this is the way to do it.”

“Okay.” I step inside the space. It’s a massive closet with an array of Thayer’s expensive shirts and suits.

“Back here, Sassy.” Dante slides a hanger to the side and opens his arms to me. Beyond Dante, there’s another open panel. Sam and Zane are standing in front of the open panel with their arms crossed over their chests. We’re all here.

I turn to Thayer. “I’m glad we’re together, but why are we here?”

“According to my crew, you’ve all been killed and are at the bottom of the ocean now. My father’s trying to kill all the Rockwells, and the rest of you can’t be alive if the younger Rockwell isn’t.” Thayer says it like he’s ordering a bottle of Macallan at a Michelin star restaurant. “Fill them in. And no ‘family time.’ He cocks his head when he says it, staring at me.

Warmth rushes up my neck in what I know is a strong blush. “Got it.” I nod and turn away from him. “Wait. Thayer, where are you giving them a ride to?”

Thayer shakes his head. “Sorry, Hal.” Thayer motions Calvin and Easton behind the line of suits and closes the door.

“So fill us in,” Easton says, taking a seat on top of a Rimowa extra-large metallic suitcase.

“There are seven little spaces. And enough scratch marks to know they’ve been used more than once,” Zane says, giving a shiver.

“It’s disgusting,” Sam adds.

“Also kind of genius.” Calvin ducks his head into the chambers. “What?” he says when we all stare at him like he’s lost his head.

“It is. I mean, yeah, disgusting. That the ship has a secret compartment for something like this. But also, most of these things are built into the bilge where the Coast Guard or any other maritime agency are trained to look for them. But the owner’s cabin? Yeah, they walk in here, move a suitcase maybe, and that’s it. Unless they’re looking for something small. But people? Not small. Plus, if it’s his father’s men we’re really trying to steerclear of, they’re not going to come looking for us in here. His own guards didn’t want to come in here. So, gross on a moral scale but good for us. Also, we’re not going to smell like bilge or . . .”

“Cat piss,” Dante says.

“Yeah, or at leastyouaren’t.” Calvin laughs and sniffs his shirt. “Guess I should have taken a shower when I had the chance.”

“What about Penny and Pepper?” I turn to the closed door.

Sam takes my hand. “Thayer said he would have someone feed and look after them. Apparently, his dad has a thing for animals and would have been more upset if they were gone.”

“That’s good? I guess.” I move closer to Sam.

“Yeah, it is.” Sam pulls me onto his lap.

“Here, Sassy.” Dante takes a sleeve of crackers from the floor and hands it to me. “I grabbed these on my way out of the galley."

“Thank you.” I take a few and pass them to Calvin and Easton.

“There’s bottled water in the cubbies back there. Along with a bucket for . . .” Sam trails off.

“Thanks. He wouldn’t have cameras in here, would he?”

“No, I don’t think so. But you never know with Z.” Calvin steps into the cubby and comes back with a bunch of bottles of water. He hands them to Easton and me.