Page 50 of High Seas

“I can’t really blame them,” I admitted. “Do you think Abram will jump with us?”

Titus craned his head back and looked at the ceiling. “I honestly don’t know. Part of me thinks he’ll want to try it just to get back home, but the other part thinks he’ll fight us about it just because he’s a dick.”

“He’ll fight because I’m involved.”

Titus scrubbed his hands down his face. “Probably. His common-sense train jumped its track years ago.”

There was a scuffle outside as two crewmen shoved and cursed at one another. Enoch quickly broke it up by just walking toward them. “We’re almost at port. Calm yourselves,” he demanded. The men were quick to comply, and we watched through the windows as they parted ways. Enoch turned and glanced inside. His eyes found me first, then slid to Titus. Emotionless, he strode away.

“He really hates me. I thought I was a likeable enough guy, but apparently not.”

I brushed it off. “You are.”

Titus raised his brows. “He doesn’t want me near you.”

“Too bad,” I retorted. “You’re my teammate, but beyond that, you’re my friend.”

Titus smiled proudly. “Thanks.”

“Thanks for slicing me open when I need it,” I volleyed, rotating my hand so he could see the blue-green glow beaming through my skin. “Can I ask you a question?”

“You just did.”

“Ha, ha. Seriously, though. Where did you used to go at night when you snuck out of the Compound?”

“I met up with a friend I started the Asset program with. He got injured during the program, and while he healed okay, his arm was never the same. He was placed in the military unit, assigned to the night shift. He was adamant that he could handle himself, and I’m sure he could, but it felt good to put my training to use. I had his back and he had mine.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. I suspected that was what you were doing.”

“There were other perks. Military chicks are hot.”

I rolled my eyes. He was such a guy sometimes.

“I saw Maru out there a few times.” He watched me to gauge my reaction.

My brows rose. “Now that surprises me. Maru likes to follow the rules.”

Titus laughed. “He makes sure you follow them. You’re his charge, his responsibility. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t crave a little adventure once in a while.”

“I would have gone with him.”

Titus shook his head. “He wouldn’t risk you getting hurt. Beyond that, Victor would’ve killed him for risking you. You were too valuable to the Asset program.”

“No more valuable than you.”

He gave me a look that said he disagreed. “You and I both know that’s not true.”

“If anyone thinks that, it’s not because of me. It’s because of Enoch. He’s the target. He’s the one I was changed for, so I could be a formidable opponent for him.”

“And what an opponent you are,” he responded without a hint of sarcasm.

“None at all, it turns out.”

Titus shook his head and laughed. “You have no idea how much power you have over him.”

He had no idea how much Enoch affected my every decision; how much I wanted to stay with him instead of jumping home. Not that Victor wanted me to return home, anyway. If his scathing words pre-jump hadn’t gotten under my skin, the absence of a built-in return code screamed his displeasure with me throughout time.

“You feeling okay?” Titus asked, startling me from my thoughts.

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