Page 35 of Ship Happens
Judging by the stunned silence and widening blue eyes, the answer is no. Oh, this is going to be fun.
Chapter Sixteen
Frankie
Istare at myself in the mirror and sigh. Is this really better than being handcuffed to the bed while topless? God, that would almost be hot if the circumstances were different, but no, I’m not sure this is better. Not as I stand below deck on a small fishing vessel and prepare to commit murder under a sea of stars.
Eve steps beside me and offers a kind smile. “If you’re nervous about the sharks, don’t be. Yeah, it’s possible for them to get into the cage, but you’re more likely to be struck by lightning.”
“They can get into the cage?” I blink a few times and try to steel my nerves, but it’s no use. That wasn’t what I was nervous about, but it sure as fuck is now.
“You’ll be working with Maverick, right?”
I nod.
“Then you definitely have nothing to worry about. Honey, he is the definition of Mister Nice Guy. If the shark squeezes into your cage, he’ll throw himself into its jaws to save you.”
“The Maverick you know and the Maverick I know are two very different people, it would seem. To be honest, I don’t think he likes me very much.” I pretend that this bothers me. And it kind of does. “He and I don’t see eye to eye on killing, and it’s creating a bit of a disconnect.”
“Because he’s a hitman?” Eve nibbles her lip. “I hate to break it to you, but I’m no different from him. Kindra and Cat struggled with it at first too, but our friendship came first, so that helped them cope. Maybe that’s how you need to look at it. See Maverick for who he is as a person and how he treats others.”
I mean, he kills others, but okay. Maybe she has a point. Maybe I should try to silence my rational mind and be a little more open. Hell, maybe I should even cut loose a little. It’s not like anything can come back to haunt me. King gave us license to kill.
“Yeah, maybe you’re right,” I say, and that earns a smile from Eve. I’m grateful. I really like her. And maybe I don’t have to rat oneveryoneafter this.
We help each other into our wetsuits. The only other woman in the changing room is the little old lady from the first day, but she hasn’t said peep since we boarded the ship. She picks up the wet suit, grimaces, then hurries up the steps.
“What’s her deal?” I ask when the upstairs door shuts behind the woman. “I met her on the first day, and she didn’t speak then, either.”
Eve gathers her hair and ties it back with an elastic, then hands one to me. “Don’t take offense. Her ex-husband slashed her throat and damaged her vocal cords, so she can’t talk. Well, she can, but only in a language she and Grim understand fully.”
“Grim...” Realization dawns, and the blood freezes in my veins. “Der Sensenmann?” I whisper.
“Honey, you don’t have to whisper,” Eve says with a chuckle. “We’re all a little infamous here. The Abattoir Adonis, the Heartbreak Killer, the?—”
“The Abattoir Adonisandthe Heartbreak Killer are here? Where?”
Eve laughs again, a little harder this time. “You’re starting to sound like Cat. She was obsessed with serial killers before she became one of us. I can’t lie, though. I was a little starstruck the first time I met Kindra, but I played it off well.”
“Wait, I thought the Abattoir Adonis was a man!”
“He is. That’s Ezra, the hot British guy with glasses.” Eve pulls the rubber hood over her head, leaving only her face exposed. “Kindra is his fiancée. The Heartbreak Killer. Cat, her best friend, is the Confessor, andherboyfriend, Bennett, is the Chaos Killer.”
Jesus fucking Christ! Who needs Maverick when there are Eves in the world? I feel like I’ve met God at the pearly gates, and he’s giving me the answers to all of life’s mysteries.
“Do you know who killed JonBenét too?” I ask, though I’m only half-joking.
“No, but Jim promised that as soon as he learns of the killer’s identity, he’ll pay five million to the Sinner who brings him to Devil Horn Island.”
My ears perk up, and I log that tidbit away for later. Devil Horn Island doesn’t sound familiar, which means it hasn’t been on our radar. I plan to change that.
We start up the stairs, which means I’m running out of time to ask questions. If Maverick gets wind of the sort of conversations I’m having when out of his grasp, he’ll keep a tighter hold.
“Have you been to Devil Horn Island?” I ask.
Eve shakes her head. “No, my first trip was last winter, and that wasn’t on the island. Jim hosted the first winter event inAlaska, and I had a break between shows, so I decided to give it a go. I’m so glad I did because I’ve made some incredible friendships.”
“Alaska, huh?” I close the door behind me as we reach the top of the stairs, but the questions come to a swift halt when I spot Maverick’s tall figure a few feet away.
