CHAPTER 96: BACK IN LONDON COURAGE (2)

"Nick! Wait!" Sarah’s voice rang out as she chased after him and Evelyn into the ship’s corridor.

Nick glanced sideways at Evelyn. "Go find some boxes, small enough to fit in the back of an SUV. Leave them in my office," he instructed, his tone clipped and businesslike.

Evelyn gave a quick nod before throwing Sarah a pointed, dismissive roll of her eyes.

The moment Evelyn disappeared, Nick resumed his brisk pace. "Come to the bridge with me. Help me sort things out. I want everything wrapped up today. I won’t have time later."

"You can do that tomorrow," Sarah argued, shoes clicking on the steel floor as she followed him. "We need to talk."

"I just told you, today is my only free time," he replied without looking back, his stride unbroken.

"The ship will be here for a week," she pressed.

"I know. But I’m busy and the next day... we’re flying home," he said in a casual tone.

Sarah’s eyes widened. "What? Then do it tomorrow! I want to know what happened after you jumped off this goddamn ship, just to run after that slut!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the narrow hallway.

Nick stopped dead in his tracks. His jaw tightened. He shut his eyes for a moment, running a hand over his face as if reining himself in. Then, in a swift motion, he turned, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into the nearest empty room. The door slammed behind them, and the lock clicked into place.

"Do you really have to scream like that?" Nick’s voice was calm, but every syllable carried a blade’s edge. His gaze locked on Sarah’s, sharp enough to cut. "I’m alive. I’m well. That’s all you need to know. As second mate of this ship, I need your help to finish everything I have to endorse to Steven, to you, to everyone else. If you’re not going to cooperate—fine. I won’t force you. Just... get out of my sight."

He turned toward the door, his hand already on the handle—

But Sarah moved faster. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist from behind, pressing her cheek against his back. "Please, Nick, don’t leave," she whispered, her voice trembling. "J-Just finish the two months... and we’ll leave together. Or—if you really want to get off this ship—then spend today with me. I’ll help you with everything tomorrow. Please..."

Nick’s shoulders rose with a sharp, weary breath. He stood there for a moment, silent except for the pounding tension in the air.

Finally, he exhaled, the sound heavy with resignation. "I told you... Today is my only time to finish what I need to do on this ship." He hesitated, then dropped the truth like a stone in still water. "Tomorrow, I’ll be taking Georgia’s niece to the ocean park."

He hadn’t wanted her to know. Not like this. But Sarah had pushed... and now the truth was out, raw and unavoidable.

Sarah’s hands fell from his waist, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. "What?! Why would you do that?!"

Nick turned, the storm in his eyes tempered only by a flicker of pity. "Sarah... that’s none of your business. You don’t own me. I don’t own you. I was clear from the start—this between us is just sex. No promises. No future. You agreed to that. Stop trying to chain me. It ends here." His tone was calm, but each word landed like a stab to Sarah’s heart.

*SLAP!*

Her palm crashed against his cheek, snapping his head to the side. She had given that strike everything she had.

"And what—she owns you? That bitch?!" Sarah spat.

His jaw tightened, rage flashing behind his composed voice. "No one owns anyone. And she’s not a bitch... she’s a respectable, intelligent woman." His fingers brushed over the burning sting on his cheek.

Sarah scoffed, placing her hands on her hips and laughing with disdain. "And how the hell would you know? You’ve only known her for weeks! She must be running from something, probably got caught fucking another man before her own wedding, and then she finds you. Jackpot! Another rich man to screw!"

*BANG!*

Sarah flinched violently as Nick’s shoes smashed into the chair, sending it skidding across the floor. Silence fell heavy.

"Don’t test me, Sarah," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. "You have no right to drag her name through the mud, especially when it’s you who’s acting like a whore, in body and in attitude. She doesn’t sleep around."

He stepped forward, close enough for her to feel his breath, a smirk curling at the corner of his mouth. "Want to know a secret? I’m the first man to touch her. And on that island where we washed up, we don’t have much to do—we just fucked. Day and night. And I intend to take responsibility for that. You? You’re not getting in my way."

His eyes narrowed, cold and final. "I changed my mind... I don’t need your help at all. I’ll handle everything with the other officers. Except you."

With that, Nick stormed out, the echo of his steps fading down the corridor until only the pounding of Sarah’s heart remained.

Sarah stood frozen, utterly flabbergasted. It was the first time she had seen Nick like this. She had watched him lash out at others before, his fury sharp and unyielding, but with her, he had always held a certain restraint.

He was never tender, not in the way lovers were, especially in bed; his touch was rough, commanding, unapologetic. And yet, it was that very rawness, that dangerous edge in him, that had kept her hopelessly drawn, like a moth to the flame that was now threatening to consume her.

She sank to the floor, her legs trembling, tears streaking her cheeks. The Nicholas Knight she had fallen in love with was gone. Gone was the man who sought her out for pleasure, who never said no to her body. He was no longer the man who would fuck her brains out and make her orgasm multiple times in a row.

Now, there was only a stranger—dangerous, resolute, untouchable, unreachable.

Her lips curled into a trembling snarl. "You’ll pay for this, Georgia Lewis," she whispered through her tears. "Once I’m off this ship... I’ll make you pay. You will understand who Sarah Meyer truly is. You’ll regret you ever messed with me!"