Rest and Relaxation?

ZANE

We touched down at a small airstrip near the cruise ship after a few hours in the air. My love was nestled in my lap, sleeping soundly. She’d mentioned how this pregnancy was making her more tired than usual.

I gently brushed a curl from her face, trailing my fingers down her jawline, feeling the softness of her skin.

Careful not to wake her, I eased my hips from under her head and lifted her into my arms. I carried her to the waiting car at the bottom of the steps.

I settled into the back seat with her, her soft groan barely audible as I nestled her against my chest. Sleep claimed her once more.

The rest of our group piled into the other waiting cars, and we all headed toward the dock where our ship was moored. When we finally arrived, I woke her with a flurry of soft kisses.

“Are we there?” she murmured, her eyes fluttering open.

“Yes, love. I can’t carry you onto the ship. They need to check your ticket and passport. I can’t juggle all that with you asleep in my arms, can I?”

Her giggle was music to my ears as she sat up and peered out the car window. The massive ship was docked just down the pier.

“That thing is enormous! How are we supposed to navigate that without getting lost?” Her eyes were wide with awe.

“It’s the newest and biggest ship in the fleet. But don’t worry about getting lost. We’ll be with you at all times.

“It’s a ship, so there are only so many places you can go. It’s not like the outside world where someone can disappear. Are you ready to start our vacation, love?”

Conner leaned in close, grinning. “Yes, I am, baby,” he said. “I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time.”

I pushed him away, and everyone laughed. We all got out of the car and headed toward the ship. Conner and Noah took care of getting our luggage to the suites we’d reserved.

“Boss, are we next to you or across the hall?” Noah asked as we strolled down the pier.

“You can choose any room on the side of the ship I reserved for us. We have the presidential suite, but you guys can decide among yourselves who gets the other suites.

“You can be next to us or across the hall. Just don’t stray too far.”

Conner wrapped an arm around Noah’s waist. “We won’t be, boss. I can’t wait to share a room with my baby here.”

Noah wriggled free and landed a punch on Conner’s face. “Dude, chill out. We’re going to have a problem if you don’t stop touching me like that.

“What’s gotten into you? You’ve been acting strange since we left the house.”

Conner rubbed his jaw.

“I’m just excited, that’s all. Did you have to hit me so hard? I was just messing around. When was the last time we had a vacation like this, Noah?

“It’s been years. I’m ready to kick back and not worry about anything except when my next drink is coming.”

I chuckled at their banter. “I’m sorry it’s been like that, guys. I guess the maze isn’t exactly a vacation, is it?”

“No, it’s not. Dealing with shipments, meetings, and managing all the men is stressful.

“Getting calls at three in the morning about missing items, conflicts among the men—it all gets tiring after a while.” Conner kicked at the concrete beneath his shoe.

“Conner, that’s why I planned this trip for us. We all need a break from everything that’s happened over the past five years.

“The stress has been building, and I take responsibility for that. Building our empire has taken a toll on all of us.

“Use this week to relax and do what you want, but stay alert for any potential problems. I hope everything goes smoothly, but we know how our luck usually goes.

“Luca might be on this ship, and if he is, we’ll handle him my way. Got it?”

“Yeah, but unless he can read minds, you said she hated the alias you gave us. I hope she never told Mateo without us knowing,” Noah said.

He scanned the crowd as we walked up the ramp to board the ship.

“We’ll be ready this time if he does know. Brandon and Max are here, and there are a few people he shouldn’t recognize.

“They’ve only been with us a few years. Even though we’re here to relax, don’t let your guard down.”

We boarded the ship and took the elevator to the top deck so everyone could find their rooms. When we reached our floor, they all scattered to choose their rooms.

I slipped a pink wristband onto her wrist.

“This needs to stay on your wrist the whole time we’re on the ship. It’ll let you into our room, get drinks, play in the casino, and shop.

“Soft drinks are included with our package, so you can have as many as you want. Your casino tab is five thousand dollars, but I’d prefer if you only went with one of us three.

“Max is okay too because he can protect you if something happens. Meals will be with me at all times, even if we order room service.

“Otherwise, you’re free to explore the ship as long as one of my men is with you.”

I scanned my black bracelet over the scanner and the door to our grand suite swung open. We walked through a spacious living room, a large dining room, an office area, and finally arrived at the expansive bedroom.

The room boasted a king-sized bed, a luxurious bathroom, and a deck that ran the length of our room, offering a breathtaking view of the ocean.

Our bags were already tucked away in the closet. Shay stepped out onto the balcony, her eyes wide as she took in the view.

“Zane, this is incredible. I can’t believe you pulled this off so quickly. Thank you, baby. This is going to be a blast for all of us,” she said, her words melting into a deep kiss.

A knock at the door pulled me away from her. I opened it to find Conner, Noah, and Max on the other side, their eyes scanning the room.

“Damn, Zane, your room is something else. Got any extra space for me in here?” Conner joked, his eyes darting around the room.

“Nope, you each have your own private suites. They either overlook the ocean or the pool area. Which did you guys pick?”

Noah gestured towards the bedroom wall. “I’m right next door. My suite isn’t as big as this, but it’s just me, so it’s perfect.”

Max pointed back out the door. “I’m across the hall. Wasn’t sure if I’d get seasick looking at the ocean, so I opted for a view of the pool.”

Conner pointed to the other wall. “I’m right there, boss. If you need us, Sunshine can pound on one wall and you can pound on the other.

“We’ll be here in a flash, guns drawn, ready to take down whoever we need to.”

With a shared smile, we all stepped out onto the balcony, watching as the ship began to set sail.