“We are close, just be patient. Do you think we will be home for Christmas? When we return, we need to check in and have our visa's extended. I want to spend some more time here,” Seth says hoping to distract him
Alex grins, “I suppose a certain Irish girl has nothing to do with that, right?”
“Can you believe Tarrah wants nothing to do with me? I need time to convince her of my finer attributes. Besides, what kind of Uncle's would we be if we just left?”
“True. Jonah is something else, isn't he? Reminds me of us, not so long ago.” His eyes narrow and he pushes his beer away and turns back to Seth. “Here we go.”
Dr. Grant watches Misty walk back to the bar and removes her apron.
“I’m going on break,” she tells the bartender.
They watch as his eyes track the waitress. “I'll meet you at the table,” he tells the group and stands up before following Misty outside onto the darkened deck. She takes the servants stairs down onto the lower deck of the ship intending to put her feet up for a fifteen-minute break. When a hand grabs her from behind, clamping down over her mouth. Misty reacts instantly, slamming her head back into her perpetrators face and dropping down into a crouch.
Jung curses and holds his bleeding nose with one hand and snatches a fistful of red curls with the other. “Bitch!” He snarls in frustration. Before she can scream for help, she hears a grunt, and he crumples to the ground at her feet.
“Are you hurt?” Alex asks, pulling her gently to her feet. Seth moves in and picks up Grants limp form.
“No.” She rubs her scalp and replies, “It could have been much worse. Thank you. Put him in here.” Misty swings open a door and leads him into the sick room. “It is reserved for those who need to sleep off their drink.” Seth tosses him down and turns to look at Alex.
“Right then, thank you for your help.” Alex nods and notices the way her hands are trembling.
“Could I buy you a cup of tea?” He asks suddenly. Misty smiles and looks over at Seth.
“It seems to me, that I should be the one buying you two a drink. Unfortunately, my break is over. Dr. Grant will wake up shortly, and there will be hell to pay. It would be best if I’m far away from him when that happens.”
“Right,” Alex and Seth follow her to the door. They walk up the stairs and watch her hurry back to work. When the path is clear they return to the room where Dr. Grant waits.
Alex is already drawing the syringe loaded with the poison from his trousers and removes the cork stopper from the end.
“Damn you’re brave,” Seth says with a short laugh. “It was pure luck that he decided to attack Misty,” he continues in a whisper.
“Luck or fate, I care not.” Alex glares with hatred at the man who destroyed his family. He plucks the needle and squirts the air from the syringe before jamming it into the muscle of Jung’s thigh. He injects the toxin startling a little when Jung jumps and moans, but his eyes do not open.
“I guess I don’t need to ask if you want to think about this?” Seth murmurs, taking the needle from Alex.
Alex shakes his head, “I only wish I could get more time alone with him.” Seth covers the tip with the cork and wraps it in the canvas cloth before sticking it back in his pocket. Jung is beginning to stir as they hurry from the room and back up the stairs into the bar area.
They join a card game in progress next to Jung’s table and wait.
Misty delivers drinks to their table, “On the house boys,” she grins before sashaying back to work.
Jung stumbles back into the room, rubbing the back of his head and is quickly tended to by his date. “I was robbed by that slut of a waitress.” He roars, demanding the attention of any who will listen. Pointing at Misty, he insists she planned his attack and demands that she be fired. The Captain of the ship is called, and Alex stands up to protect Misty, but she catches his eye and shakes her head no at him. He sits back down and watches as everyone else does the same.
“Dr. Grant insists you robbed him, Misty. Did you?” the Captain asks.
“No. You can search me if you want?” She replies with a lusty grin. Her husband smiles and draws her into his side.
“Rest assured, I plan to do just that. Go to our cabin love, you’re fired!” Misty rolls her eyes and moves past Jung only to stop in front of his group.
“Trust me, Dr. Grant, if I had wanted to rob you, you would’ve never known what hit you. Perhaps you should learn that no means no.”
Captain Bartholomew moves into Jung's space. “You are no longer welcome on our ship, Dr. Grant. In fact, I want you off at the next dock. You ever touch my wife again, and I will make sure we need a new doctor in town.” Misty grabs his arm and squeezes gently. “Follow him and make sure he gets off at the next dock,” The Captain orders two large men.
The music starts and Jung stares open-mouthed at him. Outraged, he holds his throbbing head and glares at her. Beads of sweat begin to form on his forehead. “I need air.” He stands storming out as everyone laughs.
Misty whispers to her husband and he moves toward Alex and Seth. “My wife tells me I owe you both for her safety.” He hands them a card which gives them free access to everything on the ship. “I do mean everything boys.” He
