Chapter 21 Luka

At five in the morning, Luka woke abruptly to the jarring sound of his phone ringing. When he picked up the phone, the sound of his mother’s voice greeted him, instantly grabbing his attention.

“Good morning, Luka. I’m sorry I was in surgery with a child when you called. Is everything okay?” she asked.

“Was the surgery successful?” Luka often worried about the children’s surgeries. He always hoped for a positive outcome for them and his mother.

“Yes, it was. We have a happy little girl and parents. Thanks for asking.”

“The captain of this ship is the man who owned the home Maleko burned down. Did you know?”

“Yes, your father told me. Is this a problem for you?”

“Yes, it’s a damn problem! You kept this information to yourself. How selfish could you be not to tell me? You wanted to get rid of me? Well, you did.”

“What are you talking about? Your father and I didn’t want you rotting away in prison because of that jackass boyfriend of yours.”

“You never liked Maleko. I know your opinion, so don’t repeat yourself.”

“Instead of being grateful you’re in a safe place under the direction of an honorable man, you’re complaining. Try learning a skill and some values from the captain. We’re all doing our best to ensure your safety.”

“I don’t appreciate you telling me I should be thankful for being kept in the dark about facts concerning me. I’ve got to go to work.” After ending the call, he wasted no time eagerly jumping into a refreshing shower. Afterward, the sensation of warm water still lingered on his skin as he secured a towel around his waist. The sound of the blow dryer filled the bathroom as he carefully styled his hair to perfection. Opening his closet, Luka was met with too many clothes choices at this hour, making it difficult for him to decide on the appropriate attire. The captain had told him not to wear his uniform when they went to the officers’ dining areas, but he also had to work, which required his uniform. He didn’t know where they were going, and he didn’t want to ask.

The door between their cabins swung open, revealing the captain dressed in full uniform.

“Good morning.”

“I’m not sure what to wear.”

“What you wore to dinner, then after, you can change into your uniform.”

Luka quickly dressed in slacks, a crisp shirt, and a perfectly knotted tie. Getting up and dressed at five in the morning was ridiculous, especially since he had slept little. He was not a morning person, but it was obvious the captain was.

“Ready?” Captain Clarke asked.

Luka nodded and followed him to the elevator. Neither said anything when they arrived in the Grand Dining room. They sat at the head table with the other officers. Charlie wasn’t with Officer Morgan.

A server asked them what they wanted, and they both ordered a pancake platter with fruit and yogurt. The captain poured him some coffee.

“I set up an email account for you so we can communicate. I’ve sent you some information about citizenship. Please fill it out after work.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“Your email address and password are written on a green card on the bar top. The door between us isn’t locked. Use my laptop.”

“Thank you.”

No one came up to the table, and he wondered why. He looked around the room and only the officers were having breakfast. He figured the passengers weren’t invited for breakfast.

“Don’t worry about anything tomorrow,” Officer Morgan told the captain.

“I appreciate you taking over. Call if there are any problems.”

“Are we still going to Sint Maarten tomorrow?” Luka asked.

“Yes. I’m looking forward to it.”

Luka worried Maleko might show up or try to call him again using a different phone. What if Maleko had set Luka up to leave with him so he could hurt the captain more? If anything happened to the captain, it would be his fault. He was angry, but he didn’t want him hurt.

“I need to talk to you about something before I go to work,” Luka whispered to the captain.

“I’ll go back with you, and we’ll talk.”

After they finished breakfast, they returned to Luka’s cabin. They sat down together on the chairs around the small round table.

Luka’s heart pounded against his ribcage as he struggled to meet the captain’s gaze, his stomach twisted into knots of apprehension and fear. Maleko’s menacing words echoed in his mind.

“Captain,” Luka began, his voice trembling, “I…I need to tell you something very important.”

Captain Clarke’s brows furrowed in concern as he made eye contact with Luka, his eyes filled with curiosity. “What is it, Luka? You look upset.”

Taking a deep breath, Luka forced himself to maintain eye-contact with the captain. “Maleko…Maleko’s out of prison. He called me from Miami. And…I think he wants to hurt you.”

The color drained from Captain Clarke’s face as he processed Luka’s words, his jaw tightening with concern. “Maleko?”

Luka nodded, his chest constricting with tension. “He…he told me to sneak off the ship, to get away from you. He wants to hide me away and marry me. I think that’s just a con to get me away from you so he can hurt you more.”

A wave of guilt washed over Luka as he watched the captain’s expression shift from shock to anger. He knew Maleko’s hatred was as strong as when he had admitted to setting the captain’s home on fire for the first time. Luka couldn’t bear to see the hurt in Captain Clarke’s eyes. Despite everything, he still cared for him deeply.

Captain Clarke’s fists clenched at his sides, his features contorted with a mixture of fury and frustration. “Damn it,” he muttered, standing and pacing back and forth across the cabin.

“Did you know he was out of prison?” Luka asked.

“What did you tell him when he said he wanted to marry you?” He ignored Luka’s question, which didn’t go unnoticed.

“I hung up and blocked his number. I don’t think he wants to marry me. He’s using me to get to you. That’s what I think.”

“I’m glad you told me. We’re still going to the island, but I’ll get two guards to follow us.”

“I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“I’ll protect you from him, regardless. I’ll make sure security is on top of it, so he doesn’t burn down my ship.”

Luka’s heart ached at the sight of the captain’s distress. A pang of guilt stabbed his conscience. He wished he could take back the words he had spoken last night, to spare him from the pain and danger awaiting him. Deep down, he knew they couldn’t ignore Maleko’s threats.

As the captain turned to face him once more, his eyes filled with determination, Luka admired him for standing up to the problems facing them. Despite the danger, despite the risks, he was prepared to face Maleko head-on.

“I won’t let him hurt you, Luka.” The captain’s voice was filled with determination. “We’ll deal with this together.”

Tears welled up in Luka’s eyes as he nodded, overwhelmed by the captain’s unwavering resolve to work together even after he had told him to go to hell last night. Despite the fear and uncertainty created by Maleko, he knew if they stood together, they could overcome anything. The captain showed signs of wanting to work together like lovers in a real relationship instead of making plans behind his back. Trusting him again would be challenging at best, but he was determined to make them work.

Captain Clarke wiped Luka’s tears and took him in his arms. “I’m on your side, Luka. I want you to be happy and safe. I’d really like it if we could be happy together.”

“I’ll give it a try, but I’m worried about you.”

“Message me if you need me.” He kissed Luka on the cheek. As Captain Clarke prepared to leave the cozy cabin for another day’s work, the morning sunlight streamed in through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room.

“Hey, Westly! Can’t you do better than a cheek kiss?” Luka grinned.

Westly turned towards him, a soft smile playing on his lips. With a tender expression, he crossed the room and stood before Luka, their eyes locked in a silent exchange of affection.

In that moment, the air seemed charged with anticipation, as if every heartbeat echoed the unspoken desire between them. Without a word, Westly reached out, gently cupping Luka’s face in his hands, his touch tender and reassuring.

Luka leaned into the caress and closed his eyes as he savored the warmth of Westly’s hands against his skin. Westly closed the distance between them, his lips capturing Luka’s in a kiss that spoke of longing and promise.

Luka loved the tenderness and passion of Westly’s kiss. The silent declaration of their connection and the unspoken vows of Westly’s renewed commitment to him. It felt real to Luka. In that fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still as Luka lost himself in Westly’s arms, their hearts beating as one.

All too soon, the kiss ended, leaving them both breathless and wanting more. With a soft sigh, Westly pulled away, his forehead resting against Luka’s as they shared one last lingering moment of intimacy.

“I’ll be back before you know it,” he whispered.

And with one final, longing look, Westly tore himself away from Luka, leaving the cabin with the memory of their kiss lingering on his lips, and the promise of more to come in the evening.