Chapter 422
Chapter 422:
He was a man who counted pennies and dreamed of millions. He was greedy.
And greed was a lever.
Skye took a steadying breath, assuming the posture of a broken woman. She walked unsteadily toward the railing near him, timing her movement with the roll of the ship.
As the deck tilted, she let out a small cry and stumbled, her hand flying to her ear.
With a practiced sleight of hand, she unclipped the heavy diamond stud and let it fall.
It hit the metal deck with a sharp clink and rolled toward Zeke’s boots.
Zeke turned instantly, his eyes tracking the stone like a predator. He stooped, snatching the diamond up before anyone else could see. He looked at it, then at Skye, a hungry calculation narrowing his gaze.
“Ms. Sterling,” he said, his voice oily and low.
He did not offer the earring back. He closed his fist around it.
“Careful. The sea takes what isn’t secured p>
Skye didn’t demand it back. Instead, she leaned against the railing, looking up at him through her lashes, projecting fear and desperation.
“Keep it,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “It’s worth fifty thousand. Flawless cut. These are worth double p>
Zeke’s eyebrows shot up. He looked around furtively, ensuring Lucian wasn’t on deck.
“What’s the game, lady p>
“I need a phone,” Skye murmured, stepping closer into his personal space. “Five minutes. Just a text. You give me a phone, I give you the other one. Lucian has insurance. He won’t notice a missing pair of earrings among the millions in the vault p>
She saw the war in his eyes. Fear of Lucian versus the life-changing sum of money in his hand.
Greed was winning.
It always did with men like him.
“Show me the other one,” Zeke demanded, his voice a hoarse whisper.
Skye glanced up toward the bridge. The dark glass of the command center reflected the sun, but she knew the cameras were recording.
She needed this to look like an assault, not a transaction.
She reached for her other ear, fumbling slightly. As she did, she shifted her body to block the camera’s view of her hands, while ensuring Zeke’s aggressive posture was perfectly framed.
𝗢𝗋𝗶𝗴𝗶nа𝘭 𝗰𝗈𝘯𝘵е𝗇𝘁 fr𝘰𝗆 𝘣𝘦lո𝗼𝘷𝗲𝘭s.сo𝗆
Her fingers brushed his jacket pocket as she leaned in, feeling the hard rectangular outline of a device. Not a phone, but a marine transponder.
“Give it to me,” Zeke growled, reaching for her arm.
Skye’s hand dipped into his pocket, her fingers closing around the transponder.
In the same motion, she recoiled violently, shoving him away.
“No!” she screamed, her voice shrill and carrying over the wind. “Don’t touch me! Help! Lucian p>
She stumbled back, clutching her ear as if he had torn the jewelry from her.
“He’s stealing them p>
Zeke froze, the diamond still clutched in his hand, confusion plastered across his face.
“What? You said p>
The door to the upper deck slammed open.
Lucian Graves appeared at the railing above, looking down like a vengeful god. His face was a mask of thunderous fury.
“Zeke!” Lucian’s voice boomed, stopping the crew in their tracks.
Skye ran toward the stairs leading up to Lucian, burying her face in her hands.
“He cornered me! He tried to take the earrings p>