Page 13 of Ruining His Smirk

“How dare you come here?” I seethed.

“The fuck did you just say?” He shoved me back. He had at least fifty pounds of muscle on me. I stumbled, caught myself, and it just made me even more mad. I launched my whole body back at him.

“You heard me!” I yelled. “Get off my ship! I got your fucking note and I’m not interested!”

“Oh, you’ve got some nerve.” He grasped me by my shoulders and hauled me off my feet. “You think I’m here for you?”

If he was going to throw me over the rail, I was at least going to get a good hit. I swung my arm and punched him in the face with all I had.

“Nate!” Captain Birch’s voice boomed.

“Hey, hey!” A bunch of people materialized between us.

“What the hell is going on?”

“Break it up!”

I strained against the people holding me. “Let me GO!”

“You!” Landry roared over their shoulders. A thin trickle of blood ran down his split lip. Ha! I had gotten him good. “A man like you who cheats—”

I saw red instantly. “Who’re you calling a cheater?” I was trembling with anger. “You fucking lost! And you can’t even admit it.”

I lunged again but I was physically dragged away while I kept yelling and fighting but there were too many hands on me.

“ENOUGH!” Captain Birch’s voice cracked across the deck like a whip.

The captain got into my face. His face was red. “What,” he said, each word clipped, “the hell was that?”

“He—”

“That was not an invitation to open your mouth.”

I shut my mouth.

“You are one of my senior scientists.” He jabbed a finger toward my chest. “You just assaulted a man. An honorary guest aboard my ship. A favor from my old friend.”

Huh? What favor? The only favor would be throwing Landry’s arse into the ocean.

Captain Birch stared at me for a long moment. “Do you understand?”

I looked away.

“Don’t sulk like a petulant child. Look at me.”

I reluctantly raised my eyes.

“I don’t care what history the two of you have. While you are aboard this vessel, you will behave like professionals. Is that understood?”

I stared at him sullenly.

“Nate, I swear, I’ll call your Dad—”

“…Yes, Captain.”

“What have you been teaching him?” The captain looked at Keith, who was holding me with both hands wrapped around me as if I was a loose cannon. Which I guess…fair.

“Me? Sir, I—”