chapter62

As the pirate scrambled onto the speedboat and fled into the mist, Sally stood on the deck, pressing a hand against the shallow cut on her neck. Her eyes were wide with fury as she watched the vessel retreat.

“Nate! Tell your men to open fire!” she cried, rushing to Nathan’s side. “He’s still in range! We can end this right now! Hurry!”

Nathan didn't move to grab his weapon. Instead, he gripped Sally’s wrist, pulling her hand away to inspect the wound. His assessment was clinical and detached. “The cut is superficial,” he said calmly. “A bandage and some antiseptic will suffice.”

“Shoot him!” Sally demanded, stomping her foot in frustration. “He’s getting away!”

Ignoring her outburst, Nathan turned to his aide. “Cole, see to her injury.”

Sally could only watch in silence as the speedboat vanished into the horizon. When she turned back, she saw Nathan already heading toward the ship’s cabin, his team flanking him in a tight formation.

“Nate, wait! I almost died!” she called out, scurrying after him with a practiced pout. “I’m still terrified. Aren’t you going to stay with me?”

Nathan continued his stride, his mind already on the next phase of the operation. Lucas leaned in, lowering his voice so only the General could hear. “Sir, how do you want to handle the escapee?”

“Did you manage to plant the tracker?” Nathan asked, his voice a low, steady murmur.

“Yes, sir. It’s active.”

“Good. Have a team shadow him from a distance,” Nathan commanded. “We aren't just looking for one pirate; we’re looking for the nest. We’ll dismantle the entire operation at the source.”

“Understood, General,” Lucas replied, peeling away to execute the orders.

Sally, refusing to be sidelined, caught up to Nathan and locked her arms around his. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at him. “How can you be so cold? I’m bleeding, Nate. Is your work really more important than my life?”

Cole tried to intervene. “Ms. Hoffis, the General has urgent matters to attend to. Please, let me help you with the dressing.”

“Get lost!” Sally snapped, her eyes flashing. “I don’t want a medic. I want Nate!”

Exasperated by her persistence and wanting to avoid a public scene, Nathan grabbed her arm and led her toward the infirmary. “Fine,” he sighed. “I’ll handle it.”

Ten minutes later, the wound was cleaned and bandaged. Nathan escorted Sally to a guest cabin to rest, his patience visibly wearing thin. As he stepped back into the corridor, he nearly collided with Oliver. Despite the tension of the day, the two men acknowledged each other with a brief, familiar nod.

“You’re here,” Nathan noted.

Oliver offered a weary, awkward smile. “Sally was quite insistent that I join the voyage.”

Nathan leaned against the bulkhead, a dull headache forming. “She’s as headstrong as ever. I suppose I have you to thank for how spoiled she’s become?”

Oliver chuckled helplessly. “It wasn't me, Nate. My late brother and his wife treated her like a princess. There was nothing I could do to temper it.”

Nathan looked at the ceiling, his expression somber. “I’m a married man now, Oliver. If you still have feelings for her, perhaps you should be the one to step up. Marry her and give her the attention she craves.”

Oliver paused, a strange look crossing his face. He wasn't sure if Nathan was testing him or genuinely indifferent. “I appreciate the sentiment, Nate. But there’s a complication you aren't considering.”

Nathan’s gaze darkened. “What complication?”

“Your wife,” Oliver said quietly, his voice carrying a weight of shared history. “Suzanne York... she’s my ex.”

The air in the corridor seemed to turn to ice. Nathan froze, a sudden, sharp tug at his heart catching him off guard. He hadn't expected the woman who occupied his thoughts to have a connection to his best friend.

Sensing the shift, Oliver continued. “I’m not Sally’s biological uncle, but we’re family nonetheless. I knew how much you cared for her, and I wasn't going to let a woman come between us. I moved on years ago.”

He leaned back, his eyes distant. “Sally spoke of you constantly while we were in Sunterland. I know she still holds a torch for you. That’s why I pursued a relationship three years ago with Suzanne. Back then, she was vibrant, talented, and easily the most captivating woman I’d ever met. It never occurred to me that she would eventually end up as your wife.”