It was a fucking ridiculous idea.

Selix arrived, squinting at the ten a.m. sunshine streaming into the bridge. “Sir, the girl is showered and prepared as you requested.”

Finally.

It’s time we discuss a few things.

“Thank you.” Giving him a look, I paced toward the exit. “When is our meeting with His Highness?”

Selix pulled out his phone, tapping on the diary where he recorded every deal, open contract, and agenda so I didn’t have to. “In six days. We’re meeting him in Asilah at a local beachfront restaurant he co-owns.”

My mind raced.

Ideally, I would’ve liked to stop off in Monaco where my boat builders were based and visit the small house where I stored pieces of my past. It was the only place on land where I had a resemblance of home.

But we didn’t have time.

The Mediterranean was a busy path of waterways and cruising congestion. We didn’t have the luxury to detour.

“I can arrange a small stay in Monaco once we’ve finished the meeting if you’d like?” Selix asked, reading my hesitation to swing into port.

I bit my lip, contemplating. What would I have done with Pim by then? Would I have earned the answers I needed? Would I have already sold her or would she still be my ward?

Either way, I needed to touch base with my managers. It’d been a few months. And I wanted to visit the things I constantly ran from—the memories I studiously avoided.

“Yes, arrange it. Give us a few days in Monaco after this.”

Trusting he would make it happen, I left the bridge and headed below deck to see my silent stowaway.

“GOOD MORNING.”

Him again.

My head wrenched up. I tucked the bloody dollar with its scribbled note that Elder had folded into a butterfly beneath the sheets. I’d held onto it all while my tongue was sliced. I’d woken from surgery with it gone. Dr. Michaels had placed the ruined money into the bedside drawer, letting the unfolded butterfly wings breathe with past pain and everything I’d overcome.

It was morbid to clutch such a thing; stupid to try to find comfort in something that had no power to grant any, especially when Elder’s penmanship inked with the truth: that he’d been willing to forget me but for some reason went against his promise.

Knowing he would’ve willingly left me didn’t grant comfort in my current circumstances.

Why did he return for me? What made him change his mind?

It added yet another question to the bubbling cauldron already taking up every nook and cranny of my thoughts.

I gritted my teeth, wishing this episode of my life was over and I was healed and strong and could demand my freedom before I went insane with questions.

Now that he’s here…I need all the strength I can find.

My breath caught as he strode into the room, nonchalant and unruffled in a black t-shirt and scuffed jeans.

Even in casual clothes, he reeked of power and money.

His dark eyes caught mine. “Time to go.”

Go?

Go where?

I had no idea where we were. Where we were sailing. Why. The only thing I’d been able to gather was I was on a ship. The gentle rock caused mild seasickness, but with no window to look out from, I couldn’t tell if we were close to land or in the middle of nowhere.

Elder stalked closer, his left hand in his pocket as if preventing himself from reaching for me. “Come.”

Beneath the covers, I scrunched up the dollar bill so he wouldn’t see and cocked my head. I could take the notepad and write a question. I could finally communicate and ask where he wanted me to go. But old habits were so damn hard to break.

A harsh sigh escaped his lips, answering me anyway. “You’re moving.”

My eyes flashed around the room I’d grown accustomed to. In this small, sterile space, I’d slept alone for the first time in so long. I’d been warm and comfortable, if not sore and healing. I didn’t sleep bound on the floor or collared at the foot of a bed.

This was heaven.

I hunched.

“You don’t want to go?” Elder raised an eyebrow. “You’d rather stay in the hospital wing?”

If it means I stay safe, then yes.

My chin rose defiantly.

He rolled his eyes. “Fuck, you push me.” Ripping off the sheet like he did yesterday, he muttered, “You can either walk, or I carry you. Your choice.”

I shot upright.

The thought of his arms around me again—protecting me while threatening me—was too much to deal with so soon.

I’ll walk.

My legs swung out of bed as I glowered.

He smirked. “That’s what I thought.”

What was his deal? He was so gruff, so pissed off—as if I’d done something to annoy him. It was his fault he felt that way. I didn’t ask him to come back for me.

You sort of did.

You begged him—remember? When he kissed you, you gave in. You willingly submitted for the first time…

I scoffed, shutting down those memories. I didn’t submit. I dove into pleasure I’d never had before. I gave in because I fully believed I was about to die and wanted to enjoy a splinter of normalcy between a man and a woman before I did.

What was so wrong with that?

Nothing. Just admit you liked him enough to kiss him back.

Never.

This man had intrigued me, but he’d extinguished any affection when he admitted I was his to do with as he pleased. He was just like the rest. He’d killed so easily. What was to prevent him from killing me once the novelty had worn off?