The Stranded Sinners Series

Welcome to Rome, baby!” Lena flung her arms out dramatically in the middle of the airport, nearly smacking an old man with her oversized tote bag. He shot her an unimpressed look, but she just beamed, unfazed. Teri stifled a laugh, adjusting the strap of her backpack. “You’ve been in this country for exactly seven minutes. Dial it down.” “Not a chance,” Lena said, slipping her sunglasses onto her face with the kind of confidence only she could pull off. “We have officially entered the land of pasta, wine, and beautiful men with thick accents and questionable morals. I refuse to waste a single second.” Teri shook her head, but she couldn’t argue. This was exactly why they were here. A break. An adventure. Something different. For years, Teri had been the girl with a plan. A strict, bullet-pointed future that included finishing nursing school, getting a stable job, and being a fully functioning adult before she hit twenty-five. Then, reality hit. One semester in, and she realized she wasn’t even sure if she wanted to be a nurse. It wasn’t that she hated it—it just didn’t light her up the way she thought it would. So, she did something insane. She hit pause. Took a year off. Booked a trip to Italy with her best friend. Because if she didn’t start saying yes to things that scared her, she’d wake up one day with a life she didn’t even like. Teri inhaled deeply, the scent of espresso and something buttery filling the air. “Okay,” she said, smiling as they stepped outside into the warmth. “Let’s do this.” “Alright, hear me out.” Teri, freshly showered and lazily sprawled across the bed in their Airbnb, groaned. “Nope.” “You didn’t even let me say it yet!” Lena whined, tossing a hairbrush at her. “Because I know that tone,” Teri said, dodging it. “It means you’re about to suggest something incredibly stupid.” Lena gasped dramatically. “I would never.” Teri raised an eyebrow. “Okay, fine,” Lena huffed, plopping onto the bed. “But listen! We met some guys at the café downstairs, and they invited us to a party.” Teri sat up. “And?” “And it’s on a yacht.” Teri blinked. “A yacht yacht?” “Yes. Like, fancy. Probably full of rich people who don’t have real jobs.” “Ah, so potential serial killers. Great.” Lena threw a pillow at her. “Oh my God, live a little! We’re in Italy! What’s the worst that could happen?” Teri shot her a deadpan look. “You did not just say that.” Lena rolled her eyes. “Fine. Worst-case scenario, we get murdered and dumped in the ocean.” “That is a very bad worst-case scenario, Lena!” “But best-case scenario? We have the time of our lives on a luxury yacht with gorgeous men and free alcohol.” Teri sighed, staring at the ceiling. Normally, she’d say no. Normally, she’d choose the safe, predictable option. But she wasn’t here to be normal. “Teri rolled her eyes, but a small grin tugged at her lips. Maybe this was exactly what she needed—to stop overthinking for once. No plans. No schedules. Just one reckless decision at a time. And if it turned out to be a mistake? Well… at least it would be a good story. She hadn’t known what to expect when Lena dragged her into this—but it definitely wasn’t this. The yacht was straight out of a billionaire’s daydream—sleek, glowing with soft golden lights, a full bar stocked with expensive liquor, and music humming through hidden speakers. “This is ridiculous,” she muttered, adjusting the hem of her black dress. Lena, already two drinks deep, sighed happily. “I know, right? Behold—our new standard for men. If he doesn’t own a yacht, we don’t want him.” Teri snorted. “I think that eliminates about 99.9% of the population.” Lena shrugged. “That’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.” They grabbed drinks at the bar, slipping into the flow of the party. Teri found herself loosening up, letting the music and wine settle into her skin. And then—she felt it. That subtle shift in the air. Like someone was watching. Her stomach tightened. Not in a bad way. In a holy hell, what was that kind of way. She turned her head—and locked eyes with him. Green. That was the first thing she noticed. His eyes—a shade so sharp and vivid, they practically glowed under the yacht’s soft lights. Then, the rest of him hit. Tall. Tan. Jet-black hair that curled just slightly at the ends, just long enough to look effortlessly good. The kind of strong, chiseled features that made her forget how words worked for a second. He wasn’t smiling. Just watching. Like he was trying to figure her out. Teri, naturally, did the only logical thing. She smirked and turned her back on him. Let him chase. Lena, who had witnessed the whole thing, grabbed her arm. “Um. Who was that?” Teri took a slow sip of her drink, feeling a smug little thrill crawl down her spine. “No idea.” Lena gaped. “You mean to tell me a man who looks like he was sculpted by the gods just undressed you with his eyes and you’re not even curious?” “Oh, I’m curious,” Teri said. “But where’s the fun in making it easy for him?” Lena stared at her like she’d grown a second head. “I love vacation Teri.” Teri just laughed, but inside, her pulse was still racing. Because she knew, without a doubt—this wasn’t over. Not even close.