Family Secret

Chapter 40

The sun gleamed bright over the harbor, glittering across the ocean like scattered diamonds. The SS Nautilus towered over everything in sight, a floating city of steel and glass. It stretched nearly twelve hundred feet from bow to stern, its sleek white frame gleaming like polished ivory. At two hundred and fifty thousand gross tons and taller than most city skyscrapers, the ship dwarfed the line of passengers waiting to board. Children squealed with excitement, parents struggled with luggage, and cruise attendants smiled warmly as they guided families toward the gangway.

Ryan and Kyan stood in awe, necks craned back so far they nearly tipped over.

“It’s HUGE,” Kyan whispered, clinging to Alexia’s hand. “Like… like a whole kingdom on water.”

Ryan nodded vigorously, his wide eyes tracing the shining decks stacked one on top of the other. “I’m gonna explore every single floor and door.”

“Not by yourself,” Nate said firmly, his deep voice grounding the moment. He adjusted his tweed vest, the salt wind tugging at his tie, though his gaze lingered on the ship with an edge that had nothing to do with excitement.

“Spas, pools, five-star restaurants, bars, even massage parlors…” Margaret's cheerful voice cut in as she and her husband approached with Clint in tow. She carried the glossy cruise pamphlet in hand, pointing to pictures as if she were a personal tour guide.

Clint waved excitedly at Ryan and Kyan. “They have an arcade on deck eight! And a movie theater! And a roller coaster on top of the ship!”

Kyan gasped dramatically. “I’m never sleeping again. I’m just gonna do EVERYTHING.”

Ryan smirked. “Bet I’ll find all the secret places first.”

The three children were already buzzing with plans, voices tumbling over one another like a pack of puppies. Alexia gave a small laugh, nodding politely to Margaret’s chatter about spa treatments and luxury packages. But her eyes weren’t on Margaret. They were scanning the crowd.

And then she froze.

From the line of luxury cars that had been pulling up, a black limousine rolled to a stop. A chauffeur stepped out, opening the door with crisp precision. First came Fiona Monroe, draped in designer silk, sunglasses hiding her sharp eyes. Miguel trailed behind her, his expensive shoes scuffing against the pavement, expression caught somewhere between pride and embarrassment.

Then he stepped out.

Cisco Monroe.

He was a tall man in his early forties, broad-shouldered with the kind of confidence that radiated without effort. His black hair was neatly slicked back, flecked with just enough gray to give him a distinguished edge. A strong jawline framed his handsome face, and his neatly trimmed beard lent him a polished, masculine appeal. His dark eyes scanned the crowd with the easy authority of someone used to power—someone who knew eyes would always follow him.

And they did.

The crowd seemed to part around him, whispers rippling in his wake.

Nate’s jaw tightened as his gaze locked on Cisco. Every instinct sharpened, every trained nerve on high alert. He flicked his eyes across the pier, subtle but precise.

There—Rose and Kevin. Dressed casually like affluent tourists, sunhats and sunglasses in place. They stood at a distance near the embarkation line, feigning fascination with a souvenir stand. But when Nate’s gaze brushed theirs, both gave the smallest nods. They saw Cisco too. Message received. Target confirmed.

Alexia, meanwhile, forced herself to nod at Margaret’s endless chatter about wine tastings and luxury bars. Her smile was polite, her posture relaxed. But her dark eyes cut toward the Monroes with the same instinctive sharpness Nate carried.

She noticed Cisco immediately. His presence demanded it.

And just beyond him, she caught another figure. A cruise ship waiter weaving through the crowd. To anyone else, he was invisible—another nameless staff member in crisp uniform.

But Alexia knew him.

Gale.

Her gaze lingered for only a second, just enough for their eyes to meet. A silent acknowledgment passed between them. They both saw Cisco. They both knew why they were here.

Then Gale melted back into the crowd, vanishing like smoke.

Alexia inhaled slowly, steadying her features into an easy mask, hiding the twist of thoughts boiling beneath her calm exterior.

Both of them locked on Cisco Monroe.

Both of them waiting for their chance.

Unaware that the other was a threat standing right beside them.

The Summers family arrived with their usual air of superiority. Gregory adjusted his cufflinks as if he were about to attend a board meeting, while Carissa trailed behind him in a fitted dress that screamed wealth over practicality. Chadwick walked between them, his chin lifted a little too high, his expression already sour.

When his eyes landed on the Nautilus, his face twisted. “Seriously? I thought the ship would be bigger.”

Ryan and Kyan both whipped their heads toward him, jaws slack with disbelief.

“It’s the size of a city!” Kyan blurted, arms flinging wide. “It’s HUGE.”

Chadwick just glared, narrowing his eyes at the twins like their joy was somehow offensive. He mimed a gagging face at them before strutting ahead toward his parents.

Nate caught the gesture out of the corner of his eye. His jaw flexed, but he didn’t comment. Instead, he reached down, taking Ryan’s hand while Alexia took Kyan’s, guiding them toward the gangway.

The closer they got, the bigger the Nautilus became, its gleaming white frame swallowing the skyline. Crew members in crisp uniforms smiled and checked boarding passes, while music played softly from hidden speakers. As they stepped inside, the twins gasped.

The grand atrium stretched several stories high, glittering with chandeliers that reflected a thousand sparkles of light. Marble floors gleamed beneath their shoes, and massive glass elevators glided silently up and down. Shops lined the promenade, their windows glittering with jewelry, clothing, and sweets. A fountain bubbled in the center, casting shimmering reflections on the golden railings.

“This… is… insane,” Ryan whispered, eyes darting everywhere at once.

Kyan tugged Alexia’s hand, bouncing on her toes. “Look! They have an ice cream bar! And a candy shop!”

They passed pools lined with palm trees under a retractable glass dome, a stage already set up for live music, and endless corridors filled with possibility. Everywhere they looked, there was something new and dazzling.

Eventually, they reached their rooms. Two side-by-side doors waited for them, polished brass numbers gleaming.

Nate paused, his hand on one of the handles. His sharp eyes flicked between the doors, and before he could stop himself, the thought slipped through his mind: Bollocks. Only two rooms.

Ryan, standing close, accidentally brushed against the thought. His brows furrowed as Nate’s internal voice spilled through.

That means Alexia and I have to share a room. That’s going to make things harder if I have to slip away… not to mention if there’s no couch…

Nate’s expression flickered—just a split-second widening of his eyes.

…that means we’ll have to share a bed.

Ryan’s own eyes widened like saucers. He yanked himself out of Nate’s mind so fast it felt like slamming a door shut. His heart hammered against his ribs, his face heating with secondhand awkwardness he definitely didn’t want to hear more of.

Nate cleared his throat and opened the first door, ushering the twins inside.

Their room was stunning—two twin beds covered in crisp white linens, a small sitting area with a velvet chair, their own bathroom stocked with gold-rimmed toiletries. Ryan and Kyan squealed, immediately racing to claim their beds, bouncing on the mattresses like springs.

Between the two rooms was a connecting door. Nate opened it slowly.

His and Alexia’s room was nearly identical, save for one major difference.

One massive king-sized bed dominated the center.

The room was elegant, spacious, with a desk, flat-screen TV, and a love seat tucked near the window. But the “love seat” was laughably small—barely big enough for Nate’s broad frame to stretch out on.

Both he and Alexia froze for half a heartbeat, their gazes locking on the bed. The air thickened, silence stretching longer than it should.

Nate coughed softly, breaking it. “You can take the bed. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

Alexia’s brow arched, her tone light but her eyes searching him. “Are you sure? We could switch if you’d rather.”

Nate shook his head, standing straighter. “No. It’s fine. I don’t sleep much anyway. I’ll be comfortable enough.”

Alexia studied him for a moment, the faintest curve of a smile tugging her lips as if she didn’t quite believe him. But she let it go, nodding once before turning to set her bag down on the dresser.

Behind them, the twins’ laughter filtered through the connecting door, their voices full of joy. But in Nate and Alexia’s room, the atmosphere was different—charged, uncertain, fragile in a way neither of them were trained to handle.