Page 36 of Wayward

“If that light there above the hamper clicks from clean to dirty, we’re to move into the wall,” Sam says. I kiss his cheek and stand, moving into the main part of the closet. My heart rate is beginning to return to normal. It’s the stew in me.

I can’t help but look through Thayer’s suits. They’re all custom or high-end off the rack. There are several drawers full of ties. I’ve been a stew for single male owners before. Most naturally stick to half the closet. Like there’s some sort of invisible barrier keeping them off the side of their futurepartner’s turf. Thayer doesn’t have that problem. He’s taken over the entire space. I open a tuxedo jacket. It’s clear it’s never been worn, but it’s pressed to perfection. TheRosewoodstews are good at what they do. And it ticks me off a little.

“Little Bird?” Zane wraps his arms around me. “You doing okay?”

I nod. He spins me around and stares into my eyes. And my heart stops beating for a second. Without words, he’s telling me that listening up is important.

I nod again. “We’re in Taiwan. Right?”

“Yes, Sassy.” Dante raises his chin to Zane, in the same subtlelisten upway.

“Do you remember when I showed you the pictures from last year?” Zane asks.

“Yes.”

“Last year’s crew at Portofino?”

I nod at Zane. “Yeah. You climbed it with some of the deckies who didn’t come back after Rocky changed boats.”

Zane turns to Sam.

“I spent time with the captain. Hawk-on Lindholm,” Sam says. It’s a weird change of subject, but I’m getting that somehow the two are connected. “About where theRock Candywent dead in the water. He’s about sixty. How old is your mom, Zane?”

“Fifty-eight, but if you meet my mum, I didn’t tell you anything.” Zane smiles.

This is beyond a little weird. Then it clicks. I remember Zane talking about a deckhand named Hawk. A tall, lanky twenty-one-year-old who could outdrink the rest of the crew.

I nod and give it a few minutes. Dante’s listing all the supplies that were brought on board before he was removed from the galley. “. . . watercress, swordfish, Wagyu in all sorts of fucking cuts. Tomahawk, top round . . .”

“The elder Mr. Z is interested in yachts, just like Thayer. It does seem that there are a lot of yachting families.”

Sam breaks out into a smile. “Exactly, Sugar. Exactly.”

I try to contain my excitement. But I knew that Calvin was holding something back when we were in the cabin. The captain of theRosewoodis going to help us. Or at least hopefully doesn’t want us dead. “Did Thayer say anything about how long we’re going to be here when he brought you in?” I ask Dante.

“No, Sassy. We just got the lowdown on the water, bucket, and glowing light.”

“He told you about his father’s men?”

“Yeah, and that theRosewoodis being used as an Uber by Daddy Dearest.” Dante pops a cracker in his mouth.

Sam stands. “We’re in Taiwan. Let’s talk this through. Where are there ports big enough for theRosewood?”

“More like where is the hot yachting scene within a week of here?” Zane adds.

“Fuck-ton of places,” Dante says.

“Gold Coast, Hong Kong . . .” Zane cocks his head.

“No, no way a family like Z’s is going to hang out in Hong Kong. There’s too much competition, and the government is . . .” Dante dusts his hands together.

“There’s Singapore, and the popular areas around Phuket, Thailand. But the real problem with a boat like this is where the fuck do you dock it? Were you guys able to look outside at all when we first docked? We’re at some sort of strange outstation fueler.” Calvin’s pacing, and the small space feels even smaller.

“Yeah, we saw it for an hour or so while I was unloading supplies into the pantry.” Dante runs his hand down the side of my arm.

I breathe out. I’m not claustrophobic. Heck, I don’t think I’m even afraid of storms anymore. But this space is enough to give me a whole new set of fears. And most of them come fromThayer’s dad. “Why does he want us dead? What possible danger do we pose?”

“It’s not us, Little Bird.”