Chapter 9

NINE

Jesse

Oh my god. Archie was here, in the girls’ locker room. Again. The memory of the last time had bile bubbling up my throat and nausea welling in my guts. The only reason he hadn’t been able to follow through last time was the group of other interns who’d come into the locker room at the last moment.

They wouldn’t say shit of course, but I knew he couldn’t have an audience. He couldn’t damage that precious reputation of his.

I tried to breathe through the panic.

This time was different. This time, Merrick was here, and his body language assured me he wouldn’t be cowed into silence as he stood strong and sturdy in front of me, easily a foot taller than Archie. He wouldn’t leave me alone, and he couldn’t be threatened into keeping quiet since he didn’t have any affiliation with the aquarium or the university. Nonetheless, I dug my nails into his skin, creating crescent shaped marks. His tangible presence was the only thing helping me hold it together.

Merrick ignored Archie’s question of who he was. Instead, he twisted his head back to me, almost as if he were ignoring Archie altogether.

“Has he hurt you?” came the dark, rumbling question. I’d never heard his voice like that before—that fearless . It sent a delightful tingle down my spine and resonated in my core.

“H-he’s tried. Several times,” I choked out, my voice unable to get above a whisper. Merrick didn’t pry off my fingers or move me at all. He just let me hang onto him. His palm found my hip and squeezed, reassuring me and letting me know he wasn’t going anywhere. Oh fuck, that shouldn’t turn me on, but it did.

Merrick turned back to face Archie, shoulders bunching with tension. “Leave,” he grunted.

Archie laughed. “What, are you her brother or something? A cousin twice removed?”

“I am not,” Merrick snarled.

“No way you actually want her. Look at her!” Archie laughed and winked as if sharing a great joke with Merrick.

His barb hurt, because it was true. Guys who looked like Merrick never went for girls like me. They just didn’t. Which meant guys like Archie acted like they were doing us a huge favor by hitting on us, then calling us names when we weren’t interested.

Merrick didn’t answer.

Archie just stared at Merrick, his smirk fading as his words failed to garner any type of reaction. The tension was thick enough to choke on.

Archie took another step forward, reaching for me.

Merrick exploded, his fist reaching out and clocking Archie in the face. Blood and a tooth flew from his mouth, and Archie fell right the fuck over on the floor, momentarily stunned.

“Oh my god,” I breathed, my hands covering my mouth. Terror and euphoria warred within me. It had finally happened. A man had stood up for me. Merrick had stood up for me. I was frozen, unable to move.

And Archie had lost another tooth. This was too good!

“I’m calling the p-police,” Archie mumbled, blood leaking through his fingers as he tried to staunch the flow. I glanced at Merrick, who was gazing at his fist in wonder. Archie’s blood covered his fist. “This time you’re both going to jail!”

My girly parts went all tingly. Oh Jesus. What was wrong with me?

“We need to go. Now,” I gasped out.

I tugged Merrick away, crying in relief when he easily followed. I practically ran past my supervisor, only managing a quick apology and that I had to leave immediately. She blinked, but shooed me off.

My hands shook as I unlocked my bike, cursing that it wasn’t a two-seater. I whirled back to Merrick, who saw my panic and simply cupped my face, pressing his lips to my brow. “Ride your little machine. I will be next to you. I won’t leave you.”

Oh my god. If he kept that up, I was going to fall in love with him.

The ride to the docks seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. I was terrified Archie would come after us in his car or that the police would try to stop us. His uncle was a chief of the unit, and I had no faith in anyone being impartial.

But no one followed us.

Merrick had started out loping awkwardly next to me as though running was a strange task for him, but settled into a rhythm quick enough. His steadying presence by my side calmed my nerves and gave me something nice to look at when I could manage it.

“We’re here, Merrick.”

I put my foot down and hit the handbrakes. I eyed the large post I usually locked my bike at, concerned it would give me away if Archie came for me.

No. That was ridiculous. Archie didn’t know about my second job. Almost no one did aside from Javi, and of course, Merrick. It would be fine.

Well, except for everyone from the university who’d been on the boat that night. They all knew. Word might have already gotten around. Maybe Archie did know.

“Jesse. Calm.” Merrick stroked a finger down my cheek, and I sucked in a deep breath.

What a wonderful, delicious man. I tied my bike up in its normal spot.

Side by side, Merrick and I walked across the deck. I didn’t know why it felt so important to do, but my hand reached out, and I twined my fingers with his. Doing so gave me an immediate sense of equilibrium, and my anxiety halved. He tilted his head slightly at the gesture, but immediately gave my fingers a reassuring squeeze.

Mike poked his head up from where he was checking the knots tying the boat to the dock, giving us both a once over.

“Hmm. Didn’t think you’d actually show. Well then, let’s get to it.” Mike stubbed out his cigarette on a nearby post, and gestured for Merrick to follow him. Those aquamarine eyes held me steadily, one eye raised in question.

He was asking me if I needed him to stay with me. And I knew he’d do it, too, if I asked. Fuck Mike and all of it.

The knowledge gave me the courage to smile and shake my head. Merrick ducked his head and boarded the boat, Mike’s voice already booming out orders about rope and riggings. I followed and ducked into the small office, bumping into Javi at the doorway.

“Girl! I see he came back. He must—”

“Merrick punched Archie in the face! He knocked a tooth out!”

Javi’s jaw dropped, his head dropping comically. “I ... he what?”

I pulled at the ends of my hair, frustrated.

Javi’s face, however, split into a wide grin. “Girl, what are you so pressed over? If you don’t marry him, I will.”

That got a snort from me, of course.

“And let’s not forget he’s willingly subjecting himself to being Mike’s gopher for you. If that isn’t infatuation then I don’t know what is,” Javi added.

Unease churned in my gut as a small ember of hope stoked itself. I’d gotten my hopes up on guys before, and only ever found pain and heartbreak.

“It’s not so much him I worry about. It’s Archie,” I reiterated, grabbing my apron and tying it around my waist.

Javi rolled his eyes, reflexively undoing my knot and redoing it so the bow puffed out prettily. “I think Mr. Muscles has proven he can take care of himself just fine.”

I bit my lip, unsure.

“Now, let me do your makeup, mess up your hair just so, and let’s get out there. It’s the first night of spring break, so you know what that means,” Javi fussed.

I groaned. “Baby twenty-somethings who are loud, messy, and don’t tip.”

Javi dabbed a bit of highlight under my eye, then booped my nose with it. “Exactly. So smile, and let’s go.”

I didn’t see Merrick much as Javi and I bustled around to get ready. I restocked condiments and set the tables, and he lit the candles and did a quick vacuuming, while ensuring the bar was properly stocked.

We finished with ten minutes to spare, and loitered by the main ramp.

“You look constipated. Smile.” Javi admonished me through his own cheesy grin. My own customer service smile stiffened, and twisted into more of a grimace.

“I’m worried,” I snarled back.

Then the first group of men arrived, looking like poster boys for snooty privilege in their button downs and khaki shorts. I shot Javi a look, but he was already bobbing forward to ask for drink orders.

Urgh.

There ended up being about two dozen of them, which wasn’t a lot, but it didn’t feel like it. They were loud, drunk, and very grabby. Javi seemed to think it a game to flirt with them without them picking up on it, so I let him to it and stayed away, mostly behind the bar and expedited food. I didn’t see Merrick, who was likely being kept outside by Mike, doing the harder physical stuff.

I felt better knowing he was at least nearby, though.

“This is an odd group for sure,” Javi remarked during a break, both of us leaning against the wall behind a bar to study them.

“Normal young idiots, but weird. They all have a mild accent that I can’t place. They’re drunk, but struggle to even hold the glasses and keep spilling everything. It’s bizarre.”

I frowned. That was … familiar.

“Diverse group for sure, but they all act like they know each other,” Javi huffed. “I get a bad vibe. I think you have the right idea staying here. They keep asking for you. ”

I rolled my eyes.

“As if,” I chastised him.

“They’re drunk enough that I don’t think they’d care whose ass they grab. Even if it isn’t mine.” Javi pouted, his lower lip hanging out.

I punched his shoulder. “Shut up. You love a challenge.”

He scowled. “Not this one. They’re practically babies. And stupid ones who can’t hold their drink, at that.”

I snorted and got to work on his orders. He took up the first few, wobbling dangerously with such a heavy tray as he went up the steps and faced the open air.

“Easy if you come up, it’s windy as fuck up here,” he called back.

I got the second tray ready and waited for him to come back. And waited.

And waited.

Perhaps Javi had found someone to chat up among the group. The thought made me grin, but it was quickly wiped away by the realization I’d have to take the second round up myself.

Boo.

Well, best to do it quickly and get it over with. I hefted the tray carefully and slowly made my way up the steps to the upper desk. I could hear the wind before I felt it and kept a firm hand on the tray. I ensured my footing before I took the next step.

When I reached the top, I scanned the crowd. Javi was indeed chatting up a dark-haired twenty-something. I took the last step up, spotting Merrick across the boat one level down near the prow, face screwed in concentration as he fumbled with some rope.

My foot caught the lip of the top step. I was too distracted as I watched the muscles in his forearm bunch and contract.

Fuck.

A strong gust of air aided my fall, catching the underside of my large tray and pushing me forward.

I smashed face first onto the floor of the deck, glass shattering all around me. Alcohol soaked me from head to toe, and every eye turned to me.

“Oh my god! Jesse!” Javi sprinted to get to me, but a few of the guys from the party were quicker, beating him to the punch. Two of them grabbed me, one under each elbow, and yanked me upright. The wind blew once more from behind me, fanning my hair out in front of my face.

“Are you—” The first guy froze. It was like he caught sight of my face and saw some kind of hideous birthmark.

The second one dropped me in shock, physically taking a step back. I grunted as I fell back onto the deck, cutting my hands and legs on glass.

“Jesse! Oh my god. Here.” Javi elbowed the men aside as he untied his apron and threw it down on the ground to shield me from the shards.

“You … you …” The men were all standing as a unit now, staring at me with a mixture of shock and amazement. I felt like a mouse caught by a herd of cats. Had they never seen a fat girl fall before? Hardy har! Everyone yuck it up!

“Gentlemen, it’s fine. Just give us a moment to clean this up.” Javi tried to break the odd tension, moving between me and the guys.

Cuts stung all over my body, and I swallowed heavily at the amount of blood trailing down my arms and legs. I had lacerations everywhere.

“I think … I think I need the hospital,” I whispered to no one.

The group of men all took a collective step forward. Javi puffed out his chest and put himself between us, trying to herd me down the stairs. A man with hair so dark it reflected blue highlights grabbed Javi by his shirt collar and threw him to the side, away from me. Javi’s head bounced off the deck and he groaned, trying to get back up and failing.

What the FUCK?

“JAVI!” I screamed, taking a stepx back toward the stairs. My foot exploded with pain and I panted, realizing I must have gotten glass stuck somewhere in my sole.

I didn’t know what was wrong with these men. How drunk were they? Why were they looking at me like that? My stomach twisted with nausea. It was Archie all over again.

No. No .

I did the only thing I could think of. Merrick. I screamed.

The men flinched like I’d physically struck all of them. The sound echoed oddly around the small interior of the boat, sounding louder and more shrill than I’d ever heard myself.

I gripped the railing behind me, trying to take the weight off my feet. Heavy, running footsteps pounded in time with my heart, and then Merrick leaped from the outside of the lower deck up onto the upper one, climbing the rails like it was a child’s set of monkey bars. He froze at the top, staring in disbelief at the group of men.

“Merrick?” sputtered one man with brown hair, his jaw dropping slightly.

Merrick didn’t answer, merely kept his gaze between me, and the men. Me, then the men. His eyes narrowed in on the blood running down my body in rivulets, and his body spasmed.

“Do you—do you know them?” I asked.

The man closest to me with the dark, blue-highlighted hair actually growled.

“She is mine!” snarled Mr. Blue-hair, and then all hell broke loose.

The man leaped for me, I shrank back against the railing. Merrick jumped from the railing and hit him midair, taking him to the ground.

The other men were shouting now, and all of them were rushing toward me.

I screamed again, but it only jolted them for a second. They came at me like wild animals. From below deck, Mike was yelling, asking what the fuck was going on up there. I screamed for him, hoping he could at least help Javi, who was still struggling to get on his feet.

He took his head roughly, winked at me, and jumped back into the fray.

Men!

One man was quicker than the others, his red hair a beacon as he grabbed me by the throat and hair, yanking me into his chest. Hands and fingers tried to pry me from him, and I was too horrified to scream. Merrick was buried under three of them, hair wild and eyes crazy.

Someone grabbed the neckline of my dress, ripping it like tissue paper. That broke the spell for me, turning me from a shocked victim into a pissed off woman.

I kneed the red-head in the crotch and viciously struck out blindly with my elbows. Hands dropped me. Others pushed them aside and reached. I ignored the pain from the cuts and fought like a feral barn cat, scratching and clawing as I was kicked in the back and sent sprawling to the deck.

Mike burst from the stairs with Miguel on his heels, immediately jumping into the fray with no questions asked. Javi waved cheekily at them, spinning and landing an expert high quick to the dark-haired guy, grinning as the man slumped unconscious. Mike laughed as if Christmas had come early, cracking his knuckles as he started knocking heads together. Miguel had an ugly look on his face but also looked strangely pleased with this turn of events.

I tried to crawl back toward the stairs to get away from it all, but someone caught me by my ankles and tugged me backward.

“Come here, female,” a voice cooed at me. My heart caught at a flash of blond hair, but it wasn’t Merrick. Merrick was on my right, throwing a man overboard .

Oh well. I’d worry about that later.

This man was more of a dirty blond. I reared my foot back and kicked him in the face. He let go, hissing and spitting.

I didn’t know why these men were attacking, but it was clear they were after me. Were they on drugs of some kind?

“Jesse! I’m—” Merrick’s voice cut off as a man with long, brown hair punched him in the jaw.

I saw red, but what could I do? There were five of us on this small boat. We were horribly outnumbered.

“Fucking bath salts …” I muttered to no one. Trying to rationalize it wouldn’t help. The fighting needed to stop. If the crazy men wouldn’t stop, and if it was over me for some reason, maybe the best thing to do was … go away.

I clutched the railing and glanced down at the dark, choppy waters. Faced with a choice between the men and a gator, I’d take the gator.

And yet, I hesitated.

It cost me.

I turned, my gasp of surprise cut short as another man put his elbow around my neck and pressed himself against my back. I rammed my bleeding foot as hard as I could into his crotch, and he shoved me hard away from him.

I overbalanced but it was too late—momentum dragged me forward toward the dark waters in front of me. I squeezed my eyes shut as I fell overboard and hit the water hard.