Page 121 of Mark

“Jesus, I think we’re rubbing off on you,” she comments as she begins to load her plate up.

I swallow down the fruit and turn to her. “I haven’t eaten since lunch yesterday,” I explain.

Her eyebrows furrow. “You didn’t go to dinner?”

I roll my eyes, not the least bit offended that I went unnoticed by them. I’ve come to learn during this cruise that the Carters tune everything out whilst they’re eating. Their focus is solely on the food in front of them.

“Your cousin locked us in a store room and we didn’t get out until this morning.”

A grin spreads across her face. “You dirty little shits.”

“It’s not funny. The captain wasn’t happy about being woken up early this morning.”

“How are you not in the brigs?”

I sharply turn to face her. “Wait, that’s a real thing?”

She nods. “I asked for a tour of the ship the other day and we walked through them,” she shudders. “I’d go crazy in one of those cages. It’s just a thin mattress and a toilet without the seat. Pretty much what you’d expect in a prison, I assume.”

The blood rushes from my cheeks. “I’m going to kill your cousin. I said I’d rather go to the brig than spend another minute with him.”

Her lips twitch. “I think for what you had done, they would have secluded you to your cabin. How did you get out of it?”

“Evidently, your dad is owed five get-out-of-jail-free cards. He only has two left now.”

“Wait, two? What were the other two used for?” she asks, her eyes lighting up.

As I fill her in, I finish grabbing my food. Once I’m done, I wait for her to absorb the information and fill her glass up.

“So we, like, have two more chances?” she muses.

I can see the wheels turning in her mind. She’s running through the crazy shit she wants to do that she knows is illegal. I clear my throat. “I wouldn’t risk it. Knowing your dad, he’s probably only got one left by now.”

She pouts. “You have a point.”

I follow her, too tired to search out my family and deal with their questions. When I see only Charlotte, Drew, Clay, Lily, Jaxon and baby Rose are at the table, I begin to relax. Clay frowns at the sight of Hayden. “You couldn’t wait for me?”

“You were moving too slow. I’m starving.”

Instead of being annoyed, his lips twitch as he kisses her temple. “Be back in a moment.”

“Good morning, Freya,” Lily greets sweetly. “Is everything okay? We didn’t see you at dinner last night.”

“Well, you’re the only ones who noticed so far,” I reply. “I’m good. Just your brother bringing me into his web of crimes.”

“What did he do now?” Jaxon asks.

My cheeks heat. Telling Hayden was one thing, but for some reason, speaking it out loud in front of Lily seems wrong. But then again, she’s probably heard her family say worse.

“Actually, I’d rather not know. I can tell by your face it’s not a case of he had you breaking into a shop or something.”

I nod, letting him know he’s on the right track. “Probably best.”

“Where is he?” Lily asks. “Is he okay?”

“He’ll be fine if he leaves me alone,” I admit.

“You don’t mean that,” he breathes, dropping down in the chair beside me. He places his plate in front of him and my eyes bug out at how loaded up it is. It’s literally a mountain of food.

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