Enslaved By The Ocean (8 page)

He gives her a bored expression, and she huffs once more before storming out. I turn my face back to the bottle of water in my hands, quite proud of myself. That’ll teach him for trying to make my stay difficult.
 

“Proud of yourself, aren’t you,
inocencia
?” he says from behind me.
 

“Quite, thank you.”
 

He snorts, and I look up to see him studying me, as if he’s trying to understand me. Good luck, buddy. I don’t even understand me. I meet his gaze, and I hold it. There’s a challenge in his eyes, and I have no doubt he sees equal challenge in mine. I might have signed myself over to him, and to whomever he decides to sell me to, but damned if I’ll stop fighting. Nothing will take away the spirit I have inside. If I have to drive him crazy, then so help his sorry ass, that’s what I’ll do.
 

“Where are you from,
incocencia
?”
 

Why does he insist on calling me that? What does it even mean?
 

“That’s really none of your business,” I throw at him, taking another bite of my sandwich.
 

“It is my business
. Yo
u’re my business now. So, answer the question.”
 

“I’m originally from Australia.”
 

He grins, wide. “I thought I detected an Australian accent. How long have you lived in the United States?”
 

I cross my arms, and then swallow the food in my mouth. “What is this? A checklist for the man you’re selling me to? Trying to make sure I am up to standards? Well, don’t bother, pirate. I’m not telling you anything
.
I might be following your rules but it doesn’t mean I like you, or respect you. Get that through your head.”
 

His entire body stiffens, and he storms forward, gripping my shoulder and hurling me up. As soon as I land on my feet, he brings his face down close to mine, and his voice comes out steely and rough. “Do not forget I am the one holding your friend in my cells. I can go down there, slit his throat, and then sell you anyway. I owe you nothing, girl. Don’t push me.”
 

“You made a deal,” I whisper, feeling my rage building.
 

He lets me go, and I stumble backwards onto the couch. He straightens and turns, taking lengthy, determined strides until he reaches the door. He spins around and glares at me. His fingers grip the doorframe. “Don’t push what you don’t know,
inocencia
. Even the strongest men, and the strongest deals…can be broken.”
 

Then he turns and leaves the room.
 

What the hell?
 

I sit for only a few minutes before deciding that, if I’m allowed to start walking around the ship, then I will make good use of it. I step out of the room, and begin walking down the halls to head toward the cells. I want to talk with Eric, see if we can figure out a way to escape together. I can’t leave him behin
d -
if I do, he dies. If I go, it has to be with him, or I have to at least make sure he goes safely on his own.
 

I put my head down, and try to make it to the cells as quickly as I can, but midway there I run into the blond bimbo Hendrix had in his room. She reaches out as I try to duck past her, and her fingers curl around my upper arm. Then I’m being slammed against the wall. I close my eyes, and grit my teeth. I won’t be bullied by this beast. It won’t happen. I take a deep breath, and open my eyes to meet her angry glare.
 

“Listen to me, you little whore. Hendrix is mine. I don’t care what deal you two have going, the next time I come into his room I am going to get what I need.”
 

Ew.
 

“If you think I’m going to let you bully me into making the decision to stop cock blocking Hendrix
,
you will find yourself at a dead end. I won’t be bullied, and I sure as shit won’t sit around and let him fuck your trashy brains out in front of me.”
 

Her eyes flare, and she raises her fist. I see it coming, and I know how to block it. Call me a seasoned pro, but I’ve learned how to dodge punches. As soon as her fist flies forward, I twist my body from her grips, and swing my head to the side. Her fist hits the wooden wall, and she screams in pain as it splinters and her hand goes right through it. Before I can react any further, the tall, blond man who threw me in the cells originally, Drake, I think, is pulling me back.
 

“Enough,” he barks.
 

“Oh God,” the blond girl screams. “Drake, my hand is stuck in the wall.”
 

“That will teach you for running your mouth off,” he barks.
 

He’s…defending me? I squirm in his grips, but he doesn’t let me go.
 

“I said enough, girl. Stop squirming.”
 

“Then let me go,” I snap.
 

“No,” he says simply, before reaching over, gripping the blond girls shirt and pulling her so hard her hand comes out of the wall. It’s got blood and splinters all over it.
 

“Go and see Jess, Senny, and get your hand sorted out.”
 

Senny is the blond girl’s name. She spins, gripping her hand and glaring at me. “This isn’t over.”
 

“It is over.”
 

I hear the booming voice and turn to see Hendrix appear from the shadows of the hall. How long had he been standing there? He walks over to Senny, grips her shoulder and leans in close. “You touch anyone on my ship again, male or female, I will slice you up and toss you overboard. You’re no more than an easy fuck, Sienna. That’s it. I don’t owe you anything, so I suggest you shut your mouth and stay away from Indigo.”
 

I feel my body tense. It’s the first time I’ve heard him use my name.
 

Sienna/Senny nods frantically, and turns and rushes off. When she’s gone, Hendrix turns to me. “Cock blocking?”
 

I bite my lower lip, and look away.
 

“Where’d you learn to dodge punches like that?” he adds.
 

I shrug, still staring at the floor. Drake is still holding onto me, saying nothing.
 

“I just reacted…”
 

“What did I say about lying?” he growls. “You will learn very quickly that I can tell a liar from a mile away, so don’t bother trying. Now, I ask again, where did you learn to dodge punches like that?”
 

I’m sick of his arrogant attitude. He’s always so pushy, so dominant, so frustrating. I wiggle from Drake’s grip, and he steps back and lets me go. I cross my arms, and face Hendrix, my eyes wild with adrenalin and rage. “I learned it because my ex-boyfriend used to beat me so much I had to defend myself. One night, I couldn’t defend myself, so I shot him and he went to jail. Now he’s free and looking for me.
I had to learn to defend myself otherwise he would have killed me.
Does that answer your question?”
 

Hendrix’s expression is hard to read, but his eyes are intense. They’re focusing on me, and he looks like he’s deep in thought. I shake my head, and turn to Drake. “Thank you, for whatever that was.”
 

He focuses his blue eyes on me and I see a flash of something else inside them. He looks…lonely. He holds his life in his eyes, and from what I can see it’s a life of bad, painful things. The scar on his face tells only confirms that. I hold his gaze, wondering about the man that is behind the giant. He’s so big, so muscly, so powerful, yet his face…it holds a certain level of gentle. He turns his eyes away from mine, and nods, before turning and walking off.
 

“Don’t make friends with Drake, he’s not the kind of man you’ll understand,” Hendrix says.
 

I rip my eyes from Drake, and turn to Hendrix. “You said I could do whatever I wanted on this ship, so long as I took care of myself. That’s what I’m doing.”
 

I turn and begin walking toward the cells again.
 

“Is he still after you?” Hendrix yells out.
 

I stop, and my entire body stiffens. I look over my shoulder and murmur, “It doesn’t matter, because it’s none of your business.”
 

He makes a growling sound as I disappear into the dark.
 

What does it matter to him anyway?
 

Yo ho, haul together, hoist the colors high!
 

**
 

“You what?” Eric rasps, widening his eyes.
 

I wrap my fingers around the cell bars, and peer in at him. “It was the only way to keep you safe, Eric.”
 

“You basically sold yourself to him,” he yells.
 

“I had no choice.”
 

“You knew he wouldn’t have hurt you, you didn’t have to make that deal.”
 

“He might not have hurt me,” I cry, “but he would have hurt you.”
 

“Indi…”
 

“I’ll get us out of this mess, I just needed some time. For the moment, he thinks I am not going to do anything because I want to protect you. If I can get you out . . . ”
 

“Even if you can, how do we escape?” he whispers, letting his eyes dart around the small space as if double-checking no one is around.
 

“If I can get the key we can sneak out really late at night when Hendrix is asleep. There’s a lifeboat at the back of the ship. I might be able to start hiding some water in there…it might give us a few days…”
 

“As soon as he knows you’re gone he will come looking, he will find us out there…”
 

“Do you just want me to give up?” I snap. “Lay down and let my life be sold?”
 

“No, but we need a more solid plan.”
 

“We’re in the middle of the ocean, Eric. There’s nothing more solid than that.”
 

“We can’t just jump overboard, Indi. It doesn’t work like that.”
 

“Well when you figure out a better plan,” I bark, “do share.”
 

Then I spin around and storm toward the door.
 

“Indi!” Eric yells. “Don’t start acting stupid.”
 

Acting stupid?
 

Is he serious?
 

I am laying my freedom down for him, and he thinks I’m acting stupid.
 

I don’t look back at him, nor do I stop. I walk up the stairs, slamming the door behind me, only to run right into Jess. She squeaks and jumps backwards, her big eyes wide. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were there.”
 

I shake my head, putting my hands up. “It’s fine, I’m fine.”
 

“Are you okay?” she asks softly.
 

I feel my body relax a little, and I exhale a loud breath. “I’m fine, thank you.”
 

“I’m Jess
. We
haven’t been formally introduced.”
 

She extends her hand to me, and I wearily take it. “I’m Indigo.”
 

“That’s a pretty name.” She smiles.
 

I smile back. “Thank you. Is Hendrix around?”
 

“He will be in the dining room at this time of the day.”
 

I smile again. “Thank you.”
 

She nods, and then shrugs. “Anytime, that’s what I’m here for.”
 

I so desperately want to ask her why she’s
on this ship
, but I can’t. If she’s working closely with Hendrix then she is likely to tell him everything I say or do.
 

“Thank you,” I say once more, before turning and heading up toward the deck.
 

I need fresh air.
 

I need to think.
 

When I reach the deck, I see a group of pirates near the navigation cabin. They are all smoking and talking amongst themselves. I don’t meet any of their gazes as I walk past them to the edge of the old yet beautiful ship. I peer overboard, and see a sculpture of a mermaid soaring off the front. I smile, and I realize it’s the first real smile I’ve given in days.
 

I can hear the faint chatter of the pirates behind me, and I zone out, forgetting where I am for just a moment. I close my eyes and let the sea breeze tickle my face. I take a deep breath and fill my lungs, enjoying the slight burn as they expand.
 

“Best not get too close to the edge.” I hear a raspy voice behind me. “There’s a lot of sharks down there, but I’m sure the cap’n has already told you that.”
 

I spin around to see three pirates standing, staring over at me. They’re all older, and they look kind of mean. One of them laughs at the nervous expression on my face, but the laugh isn’t gentle or kind. It frightens me. I step back against the side, gripping on.
 

“Oh now, don’t be scared, lassie. We ain’t gonna hurt ya’.”
 

Why don’t I believe him?
 

“Just leave me alone…”
 

The pirate standing in the middle takes a step forward, and my entire body stiffens. “Just warnin’ you about them there sharks
. Wh
y if you fall overboard, you’re toast.”
 

“I know,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
 

“You seen them, then?” He grins. “Well you wouldn’t want to trip…”
 

He steps forward quickly, and I scurry backwards, slipping and gripping onto the railings to stop myself falling over the side. All three of them roar with laughter, and my entire body tingles with fear. They’re trying to bait me, trying to tease and taunt me. They would find it absolutely hilarious if I was to fall over the side right now. I feel my eyes burning, and I turn away, trying to steady my wobbling legs.