Chapter 5 – Storm on the Deck

The Caribbean sun beats down on my face as we walk along the main deck. The black silk robe Zion gave me barely hides what happened in the last few hours. My wrists are still marked, red beneath the wide sleeves. Every step reminds me that I’m here against my will… and, at the same time, that I didn’t try to run when I had the chance.

Zion walks on my right, his possessive hand on my waist. Luka was on my left, fingers intertwined with mine. Elias follows close behind, like a protective shadow. They won’t let me get even half a meter away.

“You’re too quiet,” Luka murmurs, squeezing my hand. “It scares me.”

“I’m thinking about how I’m going to kill all three of you once I get off this ship,” I reply, without looking at him.

Zion chuckles lowly, the sound vibrating against my body.

“Still angry? Good. I prefer you furious to pretending to be indifferent.”

We pass couples and families enjoying the sunny day. Some people recognize Zion and try to approach, but Elias simply blocks the way with his body, without saying a word. Zion’s fame now serves as the perfect disguise for what they really are.

We reach the infinity pool area. The turquoise sea stretches to the horizon. Eileen and Cian are already there, sitting on lounge chairs with colorful drinks in their hands. When they see us, both break into huge smiles—far too complicit for my liking.

“Finally!” Eileen exclaims, standing up to hug me. She squeezes me tight, whispering in my ear, "Breathe, darling." They love you. Let them love you.”

I swallow hard. She doesn’t know everything. No one does.

Cian gives Zion a friendly slap on the shoulder.

“Take good care of her. Or I’ll throw the three of you into the sea myself.”

“You got it,” Zion replies, pulling me down to sit between him and Luka on a wide lounge chair.

They surround me again. Always surrounding me.

I stay silent as I watch the activity around us. Children screaming in the pool, couples kissing, the sound of laughter and soft music. Everything looks so normal. And here I am, a willing prisoner to three dangerous men.

Luka applies sunscreen to my legs with slow, almost reverent movements. Zion lies down behind me, pulling my back against his chest. Elias sits on the edge, watching everything.

“You don’t need to watch me all the time,” I grumble.

“Yes, we do,” Elias answers, eyes never leaving the horizon. “You run when we least expect it.”

I turn my face toward the sea. The wind messes up my hair. For a few minutes, no one speaks. Only the sound of the waves and the warmth of their bodies around me.

Then Zion breaks the silence, his voice low, just for me:

“Do you still think about him? About your father?”

My entire body tenses. I don’t answer.

Luka stops applying sunscreen and rests his chin on my knee.

“We know your relationship with him is bad. That you avoid talking about him. But how bad is it, Maeve? Did he hurt you?”

I close my eyes. The memories threaten to rise—cold hands, venomous words, nights I wish I could erase from existence.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I whisper.

“It’s okay,” Elias says, surprisingly gentle. “But know this: if he tries to get close to you or Matthew while we’re together… he won’t like the outcome.”

The veiled threat makes me shiver. They don’t know half of it. And maybe that’s for the best.

The afternoon passes slowly. They take me to lunch at the deck restaurant. They make me drink coconut water. They even make me laugh—against my will—when Zion tells absurd stories about disastrous shows. For a few moments, I almost forget I was kidnapped.

Almost.

When the sun begins to set, we return to the suite. The tiredness of the day weighs on me. As soon as the door closes, Zion spins me against the wall, pressing his body into mine.

“You behaved well today,” he murmurs, nose brushing my neck. “You deserve a reward.”

I place my hands on his chest, pushing without any real force.

“Don’t confuse silence with surrender.”

Luka approaches from behind, kissing my exposed shoulder.

“We’re not confusing it. We know you’re still fighting. But we also know you’re tired of fighting alone.”

Elias leans against the door, watching us with those dark, intense eyes.

“Tonight,” he says, “we’re going to make you forget everything.”

I take a deep breath, trapped between Zion and Luka, my traitorous body responding to their heat.

“I can still say no,” I assert, even though my voice comes out weak.

Zion smiles against my skin.

“You can. And we’ll respect it… for now. But tomorrow? Tomorrow we’ll remind you exactly why you always come back to us.”

They guide me to the huge bed. This time, without ropes. Just warm bodies surrounding me again. Zion behind me. Elias in front. Luka at my side, holding my hand.

I close my eyes as the ship rocks gently.

The anger is still here. So is the fear.

But something new is growing along with them.

A slow surrender.

Dangerous.

Inevitable.

And I no longer know if I want to stop it.