Secrets Aboard!, page 3
“Just a reminder. Dinner is at seven. You have ten minutes to get there.”
“Yes, sir. I know.”
“What you’re wearing now is not casual. It’s indecent. Make sure you dress appropriately. Enjoy your dinner.”
Westly left for the Grand Dining Room. When he stepped inside the room, the place was swarming with officers and VIPs. He passed by a mirror and saw himself in his crisp white uniform gleaming under the crystal chandeliers. Luka had said he was hot. If only he could show him how hot he could be with him. He strode to the head table and took his place. He raised a glass of sparkling champagne, the clinking sound from tapping their glasses with each other echoing off the high, polished mahogany ceiling. The air buzzed with the joyous hum of conversation, punctuated by the gentle clinking of cutlery against china. The scent of grilled lobster and roasted chicken wove a fragrant spell.
“So how did you come by that young man who is under your direction and supervision?” Scott, one of the younger officers sitting at the table, asked.
“I’m doing a favor for a family friend. The young man needs direction, and that’s what he’ll get here.”
“How old is Luka?” Brock asked, pushing his brown hair out of his gray eyes. He was Westly’s best friend and one of the officers.
“He’s twenty-one. Why such an interest in the young man?” Westly asked.
The two officers looked at each other as if they had been talking on the subject before. Both sipped their drinks and avoided answering his question.
“I don’t get your interest in him.” Westly tried to engage them.
“You have never put any new crewmember under your direct supervision. Is he gay?” Brock asked.
“Why do you want to know his sexual orientation?”
“He’s adorable. I wouldn’t mind dating him. This is a gay cruise,” Scott said.
“I’d like to do more than date him,” Brock said.
“Officers don’t mingle with crewmembers. Stay away from him.” Westly stood and left the table. He’d lost his appetite from the conversation about Luka. He had to keep him away from them, but it might be more difficult than he had planned.
He made his way to the deck where the crewmembers were eating. He stood at the side of a pole and scanned the room for Luka. Why was he behaving like this? Spying on a crewmember is so unlike me.
Westly was annoyed when he spotted Luka standing in the dining hall line with Charlie and some other troublemakers. Of course, he would be drawn to them. He had made it clear to all the crewmembers, including Luka, they had to follow a strict dress code for dinner. He wanted them to look professional and respectable, especially in front of the passengers. He had provided them with uniforms, ties, and shoes, and expected them to wear them properly.
But Luka had ignored the dress code even after their recent conversation. He was wearing a black mesh midriff, a pair of short cutoff jeans, and he was barefoot. He’d dressed like a rent boy. Luka stood out among the other crewmembers, who were dressed in tidy uniforms. The boy was disrespectful and rebellious. Westly had his work cut out for himself, but he was certain he could rein in the boy’s behavior. As a matter of fact, he would enjoy making him toe the line.
Westly walked over and tapped him on the shoulder. He spoke in a stern and loud voice, so that everyone could hear him.
“Luka, what do you think you are doing? You’re not dressed appropriately for dinner. You’re violating the dress code, and you’re embarrassing yourself. Go back to your cabin and change into your uniform. And don’t ever show up like this again, or you will face serious consequences. Do you understand?”
Luka turned around and muttered an apology. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry, sir. I’ll change, sir.”
He quickly left the dining hall and headed to his cabin. Westly felt the eyes of the other crewmembers on him, and he didn’t care. He wondered why Luka had disobeyed the dress code. He stood in the dining room and waited until Luka returned. Once he did, Luka stood in line again. He was wearing his uniform and looked exceptionally handsome.
After watching Luka pile desserts on his plate and sit with Charlie, Westly left. He stopped at a vending machine and grabbed a ham sandwich. Part of his duties as ship’s captain was to attend the welcome parties on the first night, but he wanted to take some time getting to know Luka. Rafael only said Luka lived with a man who had a harmful influence on his son’s choices. He also told Westly the boy’s mother was too busy working to supervise him. After many arguments with his mother over Maleko, Luka had left her home and moved in with Maleko. His father explained he could not supervise him from Brazil.
As soon as Westly unlocked his cabin door, he made himself a drink and checked the news. Later, he heard Luka talking to someone. He rushed over to the adjoining door and opened it. Luka and Charlie were standing by the porthole.
“Why do you have a guest in your cabin?” Westly asked Luka.
They both turned at the words and whatever he saw on Westly’s face had Charlie heading towards the door.
Chapter 5 Luka
Inside, Luka was seething with anger, his thoughts racing and his heart pounding after being humiliated at dinner and now this. The captain had absolutely no reason to check on him in the Crew Mess Hall and to return to his cabin so early. “Is there a reason I can’t have visitors in my cabin, sir?” Luka asked.
“No visitors are allowed in your cabin.” Captain Clarke turned to Charlie. “You’re not welcome in this section of the ship, and you know that. Leave now!”
“Yes, sir.” Charlie shot Luka a troubled glance, then rushed out of the cabin at once.
“Let’s get something straight, Luka!” he shouted. “This is my ship, and you follow my rules. You’re not on vacation.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Sit down.” His expression stilled and grew serious.
Luka sat down, his head hanging low, avoiding eye contact. He’d assumed Captain Clarke would have been having dinner in the Grand Dining Room, then later dropping in on various parties. He’d said he was going to dinner. Why did he return early? To check on him because he didn’t trust him was the only possible explanation. He’d never be able to sneak away and have some fun at the parties.
“First of all, your friendship with Charlie needs to end. He is trouble. I know he’s new, but this afternoon, I caught him in a passenger only area. He’ll only wave temptation in your face. You must follow the rules, or you will serve the rest of your time in prison with your boyfriend.”
“You said I can only associate with the crewmembers. Charlie is a crewmember. Even prisoners make friends on the inside. We were just talking in my cabin. I don’t understand why that’s a big deal,” he said.
“The reason you’re in the situation you’re in is because of who you associated with. You need to learn to distinguish between the good and bad influences in your life. Do you want another man to drag you into a deeper hole?”
“I like Charlie as a friend, and he won’t drag me anywhere I don’t want to go. We have a lot in common. I think you haven’t gotten to know him.”
“He’s a bad influence.” He sat down in a chair across from Luka. “I want to get to know you better, so I understand where you’re coming from. Why did you allow your boyfriend to talk you into committing a crime?”
This conversation was reminiscent of the old fights with his mother about Maleko. Though she had been right about him. He was a manipulative person who distracted Luka from his dreams and ambitions.
“You just threatened me and now you want me to confide in you? I don’t feel you have my back, and anything I say can and will be used against me.”
“I didn’t threaten you. I warned you about the consequences of not following the court orders.”
“Your personality type is one reason I never joined the military.”
“What do you mean by that? You couldn’t join the military if you wanted to. You’re not a citizen.”
“See, when you talk to me, I feel like you’re shouting at me or talking down to me. You don’t talk to me like someone I want to confide anything to.”
“I don’t do well in personal relationships. That’s why I don’t have them. However, for my goals for you to be reached, our relationship has to be personal. I want us to have the kind of relationship where I’m helping you get back on track. I didn’t mean to shout at you, but no one under my command has ever disobeyed and disrespected me in the manner you have. I know it’s been a tough day for you.”
“I don’t know if I can trust you or any other man.”
Captain Clarke touched his arm. “I’m on your side and I’m your go-to- man between you and the court. You need to trust me and tell me what’s going on. I’m in charge of you, so I need to know how you feel.”
As soon as he touched Luka, it felt like a jolt of electricity coursed through his veins.
“You want to know how I feel? Well then, today I found out my boyfriend lied to convince me to help him during the robbery. I feel like shit! All I wanted to do was forget all that crap and have a few drinks.”
“Are you blaming him?”
“I blame myself for believing his damn lies. My father told me I was his blind fool. And he was right. That makes me a loser for being involved in the robbery.”
“You didn’t just rob a home.”
“What do you mean?” Luka felt sick to his stomach and the waves banging against the ship weren’t helping the situation.
“The house was burned down. Did you have any part in setting the home on fire?”
Luka closed his eyes, thinking back to that horrible night. “Why are you asking me this?”
“If you did, I need to make sure you’re not going to try to set fire to my ship.”
“I didn’t burn that house down. I had nothing to do with that.”
“Did you know the house you invaded burned down?”
“I learned about it in court, but I never saw it on fire.”
“You said you drove the car. Did you go inside the house?”
“I parked around the block and waited for Maleko. He never said he set the house on fire.”
“What do you think now?”
“I don’t know why he would set fire to the house. He said he didn’t.” Talking about setting the house on fire brought back memories of when his car was destroyed by fire in the University of California’s parking lot. No one saw anyone nearby his car, but it was around the time Maleko told him to quit college. After the fire, Luka left school. He hoped Maleko didn’t have any part in destroying his car.
“Weren’t you two on vacation in Florida at the time?”
“We were. I don’t know why he thought what he did was a good idea. I just did what he told me, but I could have said no. I was afraid he’d dump me for someone who would help him.”
“Would you like to sit on my balcony with me to clear your mind? I’d really like your company.”
Luka nodded.
“I’ll make us a drink.”
“I thought you said I couldn’t have alcohol or cigarettes.”
“You’re not allowed to buy alcohol and cigarettes with the gold card. Do you smoke?”
“No.”
“Follow me to the other side of my cabin. I have a well-stocked bar.” He opened the door between them, and Luka followed him.
His suite was of course much larger than Luka’s, and he admired the perfection of the cabin. Nothing was out of place. Luka couldn’t imagine having everything in the right place at any time of the day or night. His mother told him he was a slob, and his bedroom was always a complete disaster. Luka knew the cleaning service took care of everything, so he got very lazy. When he moved in with Maleko, even he had said he was messy.
“What do you want to have?”
“Scotch on the rocks.”
He nodded and pointed to the balcony. The sun was setting, painting the sky in orange and purple hues. Luka felt a breeze on his face and heard the waves crashing below. He wondered what secrets the captain was hiding behind his position on the ship.
The captain handed him a glass of scotch and gestured to a pair of chairs. Luka took a sip and felt the warmth in his throat. He sat down as he caught the captain smiling at him.
“So, Luka, tell me about yourself.”
“I grew up in a Newport Beach condo right on the beach. I surfed a lot. My mother gave me the freedom to explore anything I wanted to learn. I attended the University of California in Los Angeles. Then I dropped out in my third year.”
“What were you studying?” He sipped his scotch.
“Cybersecurity.”
“Why did you drop out?”
“I met Maleko on the beach. He surfed too. Then he wanted to spend more time with me.”
“So, you just quit?”
Luka nodded. “It was another mistake, but I can return.” He didn’t want to go into the fire on campus that destroyed his car. It had freaked him out and now he wondered if Maleko was behind it as he’d wanted to spend more time with Luka.
“I find you very interesting. You’re so different from the men in the military and the crewmembers too.”
“I wouldn’t fit in the military, and I don’t think I belong on this ship cleaning toilets all day.”
“No one wants that job. Tomorrow, I’ve assigned you to the kitchen in the Grand Dining Room. You will be under Mr. Harrison. He will tell you what your job is for the first shift. The second shift you will report to the Tahiti Bar and wash glasses. They will give you an apron to wear over your uniform.”
“No toilet scrubbing?”
“No, that’s reserved for real mess ups. When you show some respect towards me and the rules, you might make better use of your time here besides manual labor. Do not disrespect your supervisors. They will report that to me, then you’ll be assigned to scrub toilets.”
“Are you going to talk about you?”
“No time right now, but I promise the next time we talk, you can ask me questions. I have several parties to go to. It’s part of my job. Go to your room and stay there. I’ll be locking your outside door.”
“Yes, sir. Thanks for the drink.” Luka stood to leave.
“Make sure you make it to breakfast at five.”
“I will.”
“Good night, Luka.”
Chapter 6 Luka
The lock clicked shut, a finality that sent a fresh wave of anger crashing through Luka. Trapped. The captain had locked him in his cabin like he had promised while he was on his way to all the welcoming parties.
He should have been grateful to relax in the luxurious cabin with its plush furnishings and flat-screen TV, very different from the dank prison cell his father saved him from. Luka was never content when he was denied fun and that’s what the captain was doing.
Luka’s phone vibrated, and he stared at the phone in his hand. Charlie’s text had broken the suffocating thoughts of his locked cabin.
Charlie: Hang down from your balcony, move three cabin balconies to the right and drop to the landing with the elevator. We’ll be waiting there for you.
Luka: I have to unlock the balcony door first without a key. He locked it.
Charlie: Use your name tag and slide it down the side while you turn the knob.
Luka: Okay, I’ll try that.
He changed into his swim trunks and wore his jean shorts over them. He picked up his mesh top from the closet floor. He took his name tag card and slid it down the side of the door as he twisted the doorknob. It didn’t fucking work.
Sweat prickled his palms as he surveyed the balcony door. No keyhole, just a sleek electronic lock. He searched his suitcase for a lockpick on his keyring Maleko had given to him in case he forgot his key to the apartment. His fingers skimmed the worn grooves of his makeshift lockpick, made from a hairpin and a paper clip. Fear coiled in his gut. What if it doesn’t work? What if the alarm blasts, summoning the captain’s goons before I can reach Charlie? The image of those burly security guards, their faces cold and unforgiving, sent a tremor through him.
Luka’s frustration grew as he listened to the sounds of joy and music coming from every corner of the ship, while he remained trapped and excluded. His fear was overshadowed by a strong desire for friendship. Taking a deep, shaky breath, Luka pressed the pick to the lock. His heart hammered against his ribs as he manipulated the delicate pins, the tension growing with each passing second. A tiny click, a sigh of relief. The door swung open revealing the sea. In a matter of seconds, he had his phone in hand and was typing out a message to Charlie.
Luka: I’m on my way.
When he stepped onto the balcony, the cool night air slapped against his damp skin. The wind whipped at his hair, carrying the distant strains of blended songs from the nearby parties. Below, the deck stretched out like a dark abyss, the unforgiving steel promising a bone-jarring impact. A sudden wave of nausea washed over him, causing his stomach to roll. Can I really do this?
With a silent prayer, Luka swung his leg over the railing, the metal cold against his skin. His bare feet dangled in the wind until he reached the next spot. He inched sideways, using his arms, each movement a victory against his fear. The lights twinkled below, creating a revolving kaleidoscope of shattered rainbows. Panic clawed at him when he looked down at the raging sea, but he gritted his teeth, pushing forward. He had to trust Charlie would be at the end and trust his own instincts.
One dangerous move after another, he inched his way along the ledge, keeping his balance like he had when he surfed tumultuous waves in a storm. His doubts gnawed at him, forewarning him of falls and fractures. But the music grew louder, a flare guiding him through the darkness. Finally, he reached the end, the open elevator visible below him. Then Luka let go.
The world became a blur of rushing wind and churning water. He braced for impact, but it never came. Strong hands grabbed him, hauling him to safety. Charlie’s face, etched with concern and relief, filled his vision. There were other crewmembers helping him land safely.
“Crazy stunt, man,” Brent said, his voice rough with emotion. “But you made it.”
