Chapter 14 Luka

Luka showered and dressed in a pair of shorts and a top. He wasn’t going anywhere until dinner, so he had nothing to do. He opened the door to the balcony and sat down, staring at the endless sea. They’d finally had sex, something he’d wanted. The sex was enjoyable, but the absence of cuddling left something to be desired. The captain did spoon him for a brief time, but Luka needed more than a short spooning session. Then, to have him shower and leave was extremely disappointing. He was aware the captain had a job to do, but something didn’t feel right. It was their first time together, and the atmosphere should have been filled with a mix of curiosity and wonder, not the hurried session they had shared.

Who was he kidding? He had grown accustomed to Maleko making love to him for hours. They had shared countless hours together, laughing and talking until sunset. Maleko was a bouncer on the weekends at a gay bar, so he didn’t work much. Being with someone who was responsible and worked made a noticeable difference in their time spent together. Maleko was an amazing lover, igniting a passionate connection that left Luka craving more. The captain was an excellent lover, too, but he didn’t think the captain could give him the time he needed.

Considering his situation, Luka guessed he should be grateful the captain wanted to get to know him. He’d told him to sleep on his side with him. Maybe then they could spend more time. Or will he be tired from working and just fall asleep?

His phone rang with a familiar ring. He picked up the phone.

“Hi, sweetie. How are you doing?” his mother asked.

Luka felt a lump in his throat as he listened to his mother’s voice. She sounded tired and worried, but was trying to sound cheerful for his sake.

Luka wanted to tell her everything. How he missed her so much. How he hated living away from her. How he struggled without her and his friends around. How he wished she could come home soon.

But he knew she had important work to do. She was a doctor, helping people in Nigeria who were sick and poor. She was saving lives while he was messing around and getting into trouble.

“Fine,” he lied. “Everything’s fine.”

He heard his mother sigh. She knew he was lying, but she didn’t press him. She had something else to tell him. Something he didn’t want to hear.

“Papai made a deal with the court. I’m on a cruise working for a year.”

“Did he tell you what kind of deal he made?”

“No. Do you know?”

“Yes. He turned himself into the US court system. Your behavior with that thug landed your father in prison. For how long I don’t know.”

Luka clenched his fists and bit his lip. He knew his father was never in good standing with the law in Brazil, but not about the US. He knew from his Brazilian cousin, Eduardo, that his father did bad things. He sold drugs—stole money—hurt people. He was constantly getting into legal trouble, but not in the United States. Luka would argue with his cousin and say his father wouldn’t do those things. As he grew older, he wondered why his father would get involved with criminals when he had a high-paying job in the government. Luka was always suspicious of how his father earned so much money from the government, but his mother assured him he had a good job.

Stunned, Luka sat frozen in disbelief, his mind racing to comprehend what his mother had said. “No, that can’t be. Why would he turn himself in there? He has done nothing wrong in the US.”

“That might be debatable. He has a strong connection in Brazil and right now they’re trying to extradite him. If the US returns him to Brazil, then the cartel will surely make a deal for his release.”

“Was that the deal? He got me off and now he’s in prison?”

“That was the deal. He had to turn himself in to get you an alternative sentence.”

“No. Why would he do that?”

“Because your father wanted to protect you from getting deported or doing time. He loves you that much. I hope you appreciate what he did for you.”

“I’m sorry. I never knew he would do that. I mean, why would he? He could have sent someone to help me.”

“Next time, think about who you sleep with. Maleko is already out of prison. He collected his things from storage only two days after your father had everything moved. I imagine he took your things too. Don’t take him back.”

“How could he be out already?” None of this made sense. His hand trembled as he held the phone. He was the one who robbed the home and set fire to it. This wasn’t fair when all he had done was drive the car. He didn’t steal and sure didn’t set a house on fire.

“Unfortunately, he’s out on a technicality. It doesn’t matter. You have no business with that man. Don’t talk to him! Block his calls!”

“Why can’t I get out on the same technicality?” Luka stood and paced in a circle on the balcony, feeling the cool breeze brushing against his face. Maleko was out, and he was doing time for a year. That wasn’t fair at all. He was stuck for a year on this ship taking orders with no privileges, while that bastard was free to roam California. He wouldn’t mind having a regular job on board without ship arrest. He also wanted to be with the captain, but under different circumstances.

“Maleko’s early release was tied to mistakes the officer made during his arrest. And you’re right where you belong. I agree with your father about finding a cruise for you to work on. You need job experience and to pay for your mistakes like everyone else.”

“Like everyone else except Maleko,” Luka said with a bitter taste in his mouth. “What did Papai do wrong in the US? What was he involved in?”

“You’re old enough to know if you don’t know already. He’s part of a Brazilian drug cartel that exports drugs to the US. So, the US made a deal with him.”

“Why didn’t they arrest him without the deal, then?”

“He didn’t make the deal in person. He’s not stupid.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me this? You said he was working with the Brazilian government.” Luka had feared this all along. Why else wouldn’t his father move to or visit the US? His father didn’t tell him what kind of deal he had made. After picking up Luka from jail, they’d spent one night in a hotel together before heading to the ship. They had had little time, but their conversations must have all been lies. No wonder he didn’t promise to pick me up in a year. It all made sense. It was a crushing realization that the man he loved and had waited for all his life was secretly affiliated with a notorious drug cartel. Why, Papai?

“He chose not to visit us out of fear that the cartel would discover our whereabouts. They turn on their own.”

“I wish I’d known that.” Luka had always thought his father didn’t care about them as much as he loved his government job.

“Your father didn’t want you to know,” his mother whispered, her voice laced with sadness. “The reason for my call is to tell you I’ll be working in Nigeria for two years. The need is great here. When you finish your year, you can go back to California to our beach home. I’ve rented it out until you return. You’re always welcome to come here and help me.”

“Two years? That’s a long time.”

“I’ll send you a ticket to visit.”

“Are you okay over there?” Luka didn’t want to visit her in Nigeria, but he also didn’t want to be without his mother for two years. He needed her, but he understood that her work was extremely important. He might have to visit because two years was too long a separation.

“Yes, I’ve met a doctor.”

“What about Papai?”

“We’re divorced.”

“Divorced?”

“Yes, when he didn’t move to California after two years, we thought it would be best.”

“And you never told me?”

“You were too young. There was no reason to upset you.”

Luka felt tears sting his eyes. He wanted to scream. He wanted to curse. He wanted to hang up. But he didn’t. He stayed silent. He listened to his mother’s voice as she tried to comfort him.

“Luka, I’m so sorry. I know this is hard. I know you love your father. But you have to be strong. You have a bright future ahead of you. Be better than your father. Make us proud.”

Luka nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. He wanted to believe her. He wanted to make her happy. He wanted to make himself happy. But he didn’t know how. He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know what to feel. He felt numb. He felt empty. He felt alone.

“You’re going to get through this,” she said.

“I’m sorry I caused all this trouble for Papai. I should have listened to you. Maleko was no good. He just used me.” Tears ran down his cheeks as his body trembled.

“You were just experimenting, trying to find your place, and dealing with being gay. I understand. But don’t do it again.”

“It won’t happen ever again.”

“Are you eating and sleeping, okay?”

“The captain in charge of me is seeing to that. Don’t worry.”

“Do me one favor, get your US citizenship.”

“I’ll work on that. Don’t worry about me. I have to go. I love you and I’m sorry.” Luka ended the call.

Making his way inside to the captain’s bar, he reached for a bottle of scotch and carefully poured it into a glass filled with ice. Hopefully, the captain wouldn’t mind. It was an emergency. Did Captain Clarke know the deal his father had made? He’d be pissed if he hadn’t mentioned that critical information.

He remembered the last time he saw his father right after he boarded. The sight of him patiently waiting for the ship to leave remained etched in his mind. The night before, his father had taken him to dinner, and after, they went swimming in the hotel’s pool together. His father had praised him for his swimming and diving skills. They’d raced each other from one end of the pool to the other. Luka beat his father every time.

In the pool, he’d hugged him and said, “I love you, son. Never forget that.”

Luka had believed that he would finally have the relationship he wanted with his father, filled with love and understanding. Now, because of Luka’s horrendous mistakes with Maleko, his father was in prison, so they couldn’t have a father-son relationship. He had hoped he would move to California. But he couldn’t. His father was suffering because Luka messed up when he agreed to help Maleko. He would never forgive himself for the pain he had caused. He found himself at a loss, with no clue how to tackle the problem his father was dealing with because of him.

A loud knock on the door caused him to pause, wondering who could be interrupting his solitude. He wanted to take the bottle of scotch to his side and drink alone. He quickly put the bottle and drink in the sink.

He looked through the peephole and Charlie stood there. Now Charlie’s visit would get him in trouble with Captain Clarke. Luka wiped his tears away before he opened the door.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” Luka asked.

“Brock told me to visit you while he and the captain work.”

“Did the captain say it was okay?”

“Yes, Brock said the captain told him to send me to visit, but not to break any rules.”

“Come in then.”

“Hey, are you okay?”

“I just talked to my mother. Things are turning to shit. I was about to go to my side and drink. Want a drink?”

“No. I don’t want anything from the captain. Brock told me not to touch anything here. He said the captain is very fussy.”

“Yes, he is.” Luka grabbed his drink and gestured for Charlie to follow him to his side of the cabin. “I have soft drinks and water in my refrigerator. Take what you want. Let’s sit outside on the balcony.”

“Didn’t he lock it?” Charlie pulled out a soft drink.

“No. Actually, let’s go to the captain’s balcony. It has better chairs on his side. I see no reason we can’t sit out there.”

“Why are your clothes on the floor?”

“Oh, wouldn’t you like to know? I’d better pick them up before he gets back.” Luka picked up his clothes, and since everything needed to be cleaned, put them in the duffle bag marked “dirty laundry”.

“So, are you ever going to be allowed to tell me why he locks you in this cabin at night?”

“I can’t tell you. He threatened me if I told anyone. I can tell you everything in a year.”

“Are you safe with him?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Luka gestured for them to return to the other side, and they sat on the balcony.

“I never heard of a boss locking an employee up.”

“I guess that’s not normal, but there’s a reason for it.”

“I just don’t want you to be hurt. Are you sure everything is okay with you and the captain?”

“Yes, he’s just a Marine. Structured and organized.”

“Brock is too. They went through college and the Marines together.”

“I wonder if they were ever together?”

“Nope. I asked Brock. He said no way.”

“Two tops, I guess.”

“Brock is a top. I can’t imagine that fusspot being a bottom.”

“He’s a top. I found that out.” Luka grinned.

“I figured with your clothes thrown on the floor and wet hair from a shower.”

“I’m not used to a guy fucking me then leaving right after.”

“This ship is where they work.”

“Charlie, I need to make some phone calls, then I want to take a nap.”

“Are you going to be okay?”

Luka nodded. “I’ll talk to you later.”

Charlie left the cabin, and he slid into his berth.

All he could think about was his father being mistreated in prison. And that bastard Maleko was out. And it was all his fault.