Page 39 of Terminal Voyage

Declan glared at me.

“I'm glad I was able to get it back to you," I said, playing along.

"It seems I am forever in your debt," Sophia replied.

Declan forced a smile and said to Luciano. "I thought you might be up for a game of billiards."

"Only if we play for money.”

"You name the stakes."

"Careful, I might recoup my poker losses.”

Something told me that if Declan wanted the deal to go through, he might start losing at the poker table.

"How about we meet in the sky lounge in half an hour,” Declan said.

Luciano smiled. "I look forward to it."

He closed the door, and Declan’s smile faded. He turned to me, grabbed my arm, and pulled me down the hallway. When we were far enough away, he said in a hushed tone, "I don't know what you're up to, but it stops now. You want money? Is that what it is? You threaten the deal until I pay you to stop acting like an asshole?”

"No. I don't want or need your money.”

"You're going to behave and play nice. I don't care what you see on this boat. If you see that man shoot someone in cold blood on this boat, you're going to look the other way and pretend you didn't see a thing. You got me? As soon as we get to the next port, you’re going to get off the boat. I'll pay for a ticket back. Hell, I'll fly you on my private jet. But I want you gone, and I never want to see you again. Are we clear?”

"Crystal,” I replied, trying not to shake.

Declan could be intense at times. This was one of those times. I swear, if he thought he could strangle me and toss me overboard, he would have done it. He might still.

18

Isat on the bed in my stateroom and felt ill. I didn't remember Sophia showing me the bracelet. Maybe I had taken all these different inputs and processed them into one big hallucination. I wasn't entirely sure that Vanessa hadn’t slipped something into my drink yesterday. But with the way things went, she wouldn’t be about to admit to it now.

To be honest, I felt like I was losing my grip. I called Tyson. He could calm me down and would have a rational take on this.

"How's the trip?" he asked.

"Not great."

"Oh, no. What's wrong?"

I told him.

"Do you think I'm crazy? Do you think I've lost my mind?"

He was silent for a long moment. "I think now is not an appropriate time to make jokes, so I will say, no. I don't think you're crazy. But I know you’ve been under a lot of stress. I think you blew off some steam and got a little out of your head." Then he added, "You know how you are always talking about getting visions from time to time?”

"Yeah.”

"Well, maybe this wasn't a vision as much as it was an active imagination.”

"You're saying I hallucinated.”

"Maybe it was your subconscious. Perhaps a way of dealing with all the stress. You were in a vulnerable position when Earl kidnapped you. Powerless. Maybe this is your way of trying to take back power.”

"What, by solving a nonexistent crime?"

"I'm no psychologist. I don't know how these things work. But I think your brain was just working through a scenario with the help of a lot of alcohol.” Then he added, "At least that sounds better than you went batshit crazy for a night."