Read Online Reckless by Devon Hartford - Free Book Online Page B

situation. “I thought I heard a scuffle down here.”
    I rested my stinging cheek against Christos’ chest, hiding the red evidence of Tiffany’s ire. “It’s nothing,” I whispered.
    Tiffany’s eyes brimmed with tears. A heavy mask of abject panic and profound misery weighed her down. Her head sunk between her shoulders. She barged past the crowd that had formed on the back deck to gawk at the scene. She plowed past, into the living room, then made her way down the narrow staircase beside the kitchen.
    You could’ve heard a pin drop, the crowd was so silent. The sound of a door slamming downstairs shattered the silence momentarily, but it returned as everyone gaped wordlessly at each other.
    I hoped Tiffany would stay locked in whatever room she’d retreated to for the remainder of the trip.
    Why did I have the sinking feeling that whatever Tiffany did, tonight or in the days to come, she would make sure that someone’s voyage ended up at the bottom of the sea?
    I just prayed it wouldn’t be mine.

    SAMANTHA

    When the commotion died down, and I reassured Christos that I was okay, we all rejoined the crowd inside. Because the alcohol had been flowing for awhile, it didn’t take long for everyone to rekindle the party atmosphere. Conversation picked up, and soon the main room filled with celebratory laughter and good cheer.
    The dark haze I’d felt after Tiffany’s outburst faded from my memory. A few more drinks helped push away the bad vibes. I was in a saucy mood.
    “You ready to snoop around the rest of the boat,” Romeo asked mischievously, “while the wicked witch is asleep?”
    I giggled. “Why not? Maybe we’ll find her magic mirror or her bubbling cauldron.”
    “Or mermen trapped in the cargo hold,” Kamiko slurred, then hiccupped. “Mermen are hot . I require the services of my own personal merman right now,” she said lustily.
    “Have you been drinking , Kamiko?” Romeo gasped.
    Kamiko’s eyelids were at half-mast and her cheeks glowed red. Frowning, she said, “So fucking what? It’s New Year’s Eve, you vag hag, and I’m not the one driving the boat.”
    Madison and I burst out laughing.
    “Goodness gracious!” Romeo feigned offense. “Who knew Kamiko was such a mean drunk?”
    We made our way down the cramped spiral staircase beside the kitchen. A number of closed doors encircled the downstairs hallway.
    “How many frickin’ rooms does this yacht have?” I whispered.
    Knowing Tiffany was down below somewhere had me vaguely worried. I suddenly felt like I was in one of those trapped-at-sea monster movies, and some creeping deep-sea Tiffany might burst through one of the cabin doors any second, roaring and raging like a spurned she-shark. We’d all be trapped belowdecks while she rampaged and bit everyone’s heads off.
    “It’s really quiet down here,” Kamiko mumbled. “Do you think Tiffany’s dead?”
    “We can hope,” Romeo said.
    A doorway at the end of the hall stood open a crack. I peeked inside, expecting to see Tiffany sprawled out on the bed, either dead or sleeping off her drunk. Nope, the room was empty.
    The four of us crept inside. I closed the door and fumbled for the light switch. The room was beautiful. It must have been the master suite.
    “This is nicer than most of the hotels I’ve stayed at,” Madison said.
    Romeo flipped on the lights in the bathroom.  
    “OMG,” Kamiko said. “They have a bidet on their boat.”
    “That bidet is bigger than my bathtub,” Madison said.
    “My dorm doesn’t even have a bathtub,” Kamiko said longingly.
    “Tiffany is scary rich,” Madison said. “You’d think she’d be less of a bitch with so much money, but I guess it doesn’t work that way.”
    I stuck my head in the bathroom. “We should go, you guys. No one else is down here.”
    Romeo turned and squeezed out of the bathroom first. “Would you look at that,” he said, staring at the large painting over the queen-sized bed. “It’s that