Sanguine Tides - Book 3

Chapter 6

TW in the description
Thank you to Choo_arts for ALL FOUR of these images! (Patreon only)

Alberto POV

Almost two weeks passed before Mattias was able to secure a boat large enough for all of them. Unless they wanted to travel the ocean in tin boats with outdated motors, there wasn't much available. But Mattias pulled some of his connections and got them something.

"That isn't a boat," Alberto said as they snuck onto the docks late one night, careful to avoid being seen.

"Well, I did say I got something nice," Mattias said, climbing the ramp to the vessel.

It was a yacht. Massive and built for long voyages with all the luxuries ocean living had to offer.

"I will never get used to how much money you have," Alberto said to Mattias as he helped Luca climb the last length of the ramp.

"Neither will I," Mattias said and flipped a switch. The anchor began automatically pulling up.

Despite his teasing, Alberto was thankful for their accommodations. The rickety sea shack had worn them all down. The cold, on top of not being able to get adequate food, put them all in a sour mood by the end of the week. If it wasn't for Luca playing the role of peacekeeper, Alberto was sure that he, Giulia, and Eshe would have torn each other apart.

Getting out of the run-down shack was a relief, and they all instantly relaxed as the yacht pulled away from the coast and out to the open sea. By the time the sun began its rise over the blue horizon, the coast was long gone.

But they had little time to relax. In order to keep the location a secret, Mattias didn't hire a crew to keep the ship running. That put their small group in charge of maintenance, checking the engine, cooking, and of course, steering the ship.

Mattias very quickly deemed himself the captain and even found himself a captain's cap that he wore with a smirk.

"You look like a goof," Giulia said to him on the first morning in the main bridge.

"But a handsome goof, right?" He asked.

"Of course." She leaned over and gave him a kiss.

Alberto bit the inside of his cheek but said nothing. He was slowly getting used to the idea of those two being an item. But he still had the urge to kick Mattias in a place he wouldn't forget.

"Be nice," Luca warned inside his head.

"I am!" Alberto thought back but grinned.

"They put up with us too."

"Yeah, but at least we do that kind of thing in private," Alberto replied, letting his thoughts slide smoothly from his mind to Luca's.

"Not always." Luca thought mischievously.

Then Alberto received a snapshot of Luca's memory. The memory of their time in the pool. When Luca was underwater and...

(Don't panic this is a reference to Chapter 16 of Hurricane that was Patreon exclusive. No major plot points here.)

Alberto's face turned red.

"That was risky!"

"Maybe I like risky," Luca said, sending a flirtatious feeling through the Bond.

Alberto turned his head, grinning at Luca.

"Are you two done?" Giulia sneered at them. "I can tell when you're doing your secret talking thing."