Page 9 of Viking Vengeance Cruise

“Real, cardboard, imaginary. I’m flexible in my old age.” Nettie waggles her brows. “Come on, Bess. Help me document this historic moment.”

Bess gives a dramatic sigh. “I’d better supervise before she does some damage. That woman is a menace to Vikings everywhere, cardboard or not.”

They head off toward the closest cluster of cutouts, and I’m left standing with Marina near the windows. Copenhagen’s lights are nearly gone now, the city shrinking to a glittering smudge on the horizon, and the water churning in every shade of blue behind the ship.

Marina stares at the city with her jaw set in that careful way she gets when she’s somewhere else entirely.

I’m about to say something when I spot Astrid a few yards off, arguing with a striking woman I haven’t met yet. This one’s tall, five-nine at least, with waist-length raven-black hair woven into intricate braids. Heavy black eyeliner, bold red lipstick, multiple ear piercings glinting in the light. She’s wearing black leather and a dramatic cape with so much silver jewelry I bet she jingles when she moves. She could have walked straight off the cover of one of their novels. Their argument is intense, all sharp gestures from Astrid and a flush riding high on the other woman’s cheeks, but I can’t hear a word of it over the music and chatter.

“That looks cozy,” I say.

Marina nods without looking away from Copenhagen. “Women don’t always get along. Especially when power dynamics are involved.”

I tuck that away for later, along with everything else Marina doesn’t say. Suffice it to say Marina Maxwell is still very much a mystery to me.

“Speaking from experience?” I tilt my ear her way in hopes she’ll offer up a clue as to what drove her onto the ship and away from whatever she escaped.

But she doesn’t answer. She’s too busy keeping tabs on the lounge entrance, and her shoulders dip when whoever she’s hoping for fails to appear. She’s watching for someone, and I know exactly who that is.

I bite down on a smile. “You’re waiting for Wes, aren’t you?”

Her face turns bright pink. “Am I that obvious?”

“Only to people who know you. Which currently includes me, Bess, Nettie, and probably Ransom.” I leave Wes out of that equation, but he’s a bright man. He can figure it out.

“Great. Subtle as a foghorn.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that.” I pause. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

Her shoulders tense. “Depends on the question.”

“What landed you in that bar in Copenhagen? The one where we found you?”

“Oh, Trixie.” Marina’s lips open and close. She looks back at the fading city lights, and her mouth pulls tight at one corner, a wince she can’t swallow fast enough. “I’ll share that with you. I promise. I’m just not ready yet.”

“Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be here,” I say, and I mean that down to the ground. This ship handed me a second chance when my old life fell apart, and I fully intend to pay it forward.

Whatever Marina is lugging around, she won’t be lugging it alone forever. Not on my watch.

She glances back at the lounge entrance. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I need to powder my nose.”

“Before the captain arrives?”

She gives a little wink. “A girl’s got to look her best.”

At least she’s forthcoming about some things.

She heads off toward the restrooms, and I can’t help but chuckle. Marina Maxwell, resident woman of mystery, has a crush. She is human after all.

The party cranks up another notch around me. The music seems to grow louder, the laughter wilder. Someone’s started a conga line between the Vikings. Nettie’s third from the front, naturally. The champagne is flowing freely, and these women are having the time of their lives.

I grab a chocolate-covered strawberry from a passing server. I truly am dedicated to my obsession with sweet treats. And I never abandon a cause.

Ransom’s security team floods into the room, six guys in crisp uniforms doing a casual patrol, and the women go absolutely feral. Hoots and whistles break out. Someone yells, “Fresh meat!”

It’s Nettie. From the conga line.

I’d apologize on her behalf, but she’d only take it as an encore request.