I shoulder past John and continue out into the corridor, hoping to put this conversation behind me. Although, I’m not that lucky as I hear John quicken his pace on my heels the second I enter the hallway. My men scatter, startled, panicked, and fearful into various rooms as I walk towards the stairwell leading up to the first deck. The boat sways as I hear their whispers, their uncontrolled chatter about what’s got me so fucking fired up, but I let it slide against my better judgment. My mind is too full of puzzles I’ve never been able to piece together. Starting with Wendy.

If my intuition on the sunset is right, Tiger Lily should be bare naked, tits down, ass up, spread across my bed in the guest quarters; I’ve kept her waiting long enough. My dick hardens at the thought, and I pick up the pace, climbing the stairs two at a time when John finally speaks again.

“You can’t outrun it this time, you know.”

My feet hit the deck just as the wind picks up. I have to duck in order to not be tossed overboard by one of my ship’s sails. Rolling my eyes, I let another one of his insubordinate outbursts go when I really shouldn’t. I just don’t give him the satisfaction of a response. I look down at my blood-stained clothes as I make my way across deck and start to unbutton my shirt, pulling it from my slacks in the process.

“You brought her back here for a reason, Hook. Burying yourself in the same damn pussy you’ve been fucking for the past seventeen years isn’t going to fix whatever the hell you fucked up.”

In less than a second, I turn and have my hand wrapped tightly around John’s throat, his body pushed up against the nearest wall. I tighten my grip into a painful vice and glare into his eyes. I’m intent on making sure he’s just taken his last breath for continuing to run his fucking mouth. I’ve already told him to stop. I’ve already given him more than enough chances over the years to shut the fuck up about shit he has no damned clue about.

“Who says I fucked it up?” My eyes bore into his, my jaw clenches tight in rage as my grip tightens, continuing to cut off his air supply.