Page 105 of Ship Happens

There’s only one way to find out if this will change the way Maverick feels about me. With a smile, I step forward and plunge the knife into the man’s stomach, dragging to the side with all my weight. He screams as the serrated blade claws over his internal organs, which then burst from the seam in his abdomen in a rush of red and pink.

“He hurt children,” Ezra says behind me. “Drag it out a bit if you can.”

“With pleasure,” I murmur as I grip a rope of intestines and drag it from his guts. Once I have enough pulled from his insides, I start shoving it into his gaping mouth.

Unfortunately, he passes out soon after, but that’s okay. While he’s unconscious, I slash the thumping stretch of skin on his neck. A red trickle burbles out, and he gasps a bit before going still.

A small round of applause erupts from the group as we stand from the murder. I turn to Maverick, but my heart refuses to beat when I see the look on his face. He isn’t clapping. He isn’t even smiling. He looks upset.

The worry fades as he pulls me against him and whispers in my ear. “That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, and when we get home, I’m going to reward you for it.”

“Glad I’m heading out for a trip tonight,” Eve says with a giggle. “You little sadists will have the place all to yourselves. Just keep the fucking out of my room. Deal?”

My cheeks blaze red.

“Could we maybe not talk about my sister’s sex life in my presence? Thanks.” Bennett gags and rolls his eyes.

Ezra plants a hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “That was a good kill, Frankie. Worthy of the Carter name.”

“Thanks.”

The group is all smiles as they turn and head back toward the manor, the excitement over. Maverick and I linger behind,looking into each other’s eyes as the footsteps fade. I’m glad Gary wasn’t here to witness his brother’s demise. He had the forethought to stay put.

“I was worried you’d be upset,” I say once I’m sure the others are out of earshot.

He cocks his head and stares at me. “Upset?”

“You never wanted me to be a killer. I know we’ve talked about it, and you say you’re okay with it, but I wasn’t sure you meant it.”

“Do I have a habit of saying things I don’t mean?”

I smirk. “There was that one time . . .”

“Okay, okay, but that was for a good reason.” He brushes my hair away from my cheek and places a gentle kiss on my lips. “It was never that I didn’t want you to kill. I just wanted you to be happy.”

“Then kiss me again,” I say, and he does. “That’s all I need. Your support. No matter what my decisions are, I just need to know you support them. Can you do that?”

“Always.”

“Then I’ll always be happy.”

“Even when we’re barreling down a roller coaster hill at an amusement park that likely hasn’t seen an inspection since before the pandemic?”

I wince. “Okay, maybe that’s a little much...but as long as you’re with me, I think I’ll get through it.”

“That’s what I like to hear, sweetheart.”

He takes my hand, and we head toward the others. We head toward family, friends, and a lot of unknowns. But we’re heading toward them together.