Page 14 of Wet and Welder

CHAPTER TEN

MIC

After a sleepless night filled with haunting memories of Mallory Montgomery, the strong, feisty, and completely out of my league woman of my dreams, coffee is not cutting it.

It’s early morning, with the sun just starting to come up. Lights are still on as the crew moves about the deck, preparing for another dive. We’ll be finishing up the repairs within the week. I’ve thought about offering to stay and get the ship up, but knowing that might cause Mallory more trouble has held me back.

“Mornin’ boss man. We finishing the big wall today?” Cooper asks, and I reply with a stern nod. Not only am I not in the mood to talk, but it’s proven to only get me into trouble when talking to Coop, so I refrain.

“You know I could handle the rest on my own today,” he says.

“That might be true, but then what would I do?” I joke, bringing my coffee to my mouth, needing the caffeine.

“Glad you asked. I hear Montgomery is diving into the other side of the ship today despite everyone telling her it isn’t safe to do so yet. Bet she could use some help.”

“Cooper, you’ve got to stop meddling. There’s nothing between Mallory and me, and the last thing she wants, or needs is me chaperoning her dive. I’ll wager she’s got plenty of help to go with her.”

“That’s the thing. She knows it’s dangerous, so she won’t let anyone go with her.”

The thought of her putting herself in harm’s way yet again has me grinding my teeth. I hate the idea, but after my long-winded speech last night, I have no right to insert myself in her life for any reason.

“You know, boss, I bet you fifty bucks and a cold beer when we’re done, that she’ll let you go with her.”

As much as I think he’s wrong, every bone in my body tells me to use it as my excuse.

“Throw in finishing today’s work with Karl, and you’re on.”

“I knew it! Hot dog!” he says, slapping the thigh of his wet suit.

“Mornin’ boys, what do ya know?” Cassandra says, stepping into our conversation.

“Who could eat hot dogs after that breakfast,” Brian adds, rubbing his belly.

“Mind your own business, the both of you,” Karl interjects.

“Nah, you guys should know that boss man here is going to win over the boss lady. I’m takin’ bets,” Cooper says, and I smack his shoulder with the back of my hand. When I look at Cassandra, she’s glaring at me.

“I’m going to go make sure she doesn’t die,” I answer her and the rest of my team before they have more questions.

“I’ll put fifty on her killing him first,” Brian smarts off.

“The lot of you are fools,” Cassandra adds, making me feel guilty. I’m not actually taking the bet to win her over. She made it clear she’s the boss, and I’m supposed to be a stranger. I just hate the thought of her being reckless.

“If anyone can get the girl to fall for him, it’s Mic. Count me in on that,” Karl says with a nod to Cooper.

“Y’all can’t be serious?” Cassandra says in a huff of disapproval.

I don’t protest like I should because the deck has become crowded with others moving to their stations. That fucker Nelson who’s always giving Mallory a hard time is one of them, so I send a pointed look to my crew so they understand to shut their yaps.

Soon enough, we’re in the water, and my crew enters our usual marked side of the ship while I move to the other side. We’ve all been told to stay out. I thought it was because they wanted to protect the artifacts from thieves, but now I’m all too aware of how dangerous that section is. I follow the floating caution tape until I find an opening where Mallory must have torn her way in.

Turning on my headlamp, I make my way into the dark waters of the ship. No one seems to be talking over the radio, and I suspect Mallory has it turned off, so for now, I do the same. Up ahead, I spot a clearing on the side of the ship above water, and once inside, I find Mallory. The room she’s in is tilted, and the once steel wall makes a ramp for me to follow. When I make it up, I’m greeted by a surprised Mallory, and I take off my mask so she knows it’s me. That, and I hate wearing the fucking thing.

“What are you doing here?” She asks me while turning on a large lamp that lights up the room.

Looking around the room I see stacks and stacks of crates. Some are broken open, and others are still in perfect condition, if not waterlogged. Wood shards float in the waves of water that slap against the steel. The room is crooked and lays sideways, but there’s plenty of air here with no visible sign of the water rising. At least slow enough to give us a few hours to get the pieces up safely.

“Came to make sure you don’t die. Feel free to yell at me,” I mutter as I walk up to a dirty pile of rags. Picking it up, I feel something inside, so I unwrap it. It’s a vase with black painted scribbles on it.

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