The harbor is a chaotic mess of shouting voices, gulls, and creaking wood. Perfect for disappearing. “Cast off,” I shout as I stride across the planks toward my ship. The sails hang ready, the wind is in our favor. Just a few more minutes and this city will be nothing but a gray smudge on the horizon, along with all its problems.

I set my foot on the gangway. “Captain!” Of course. I stop, close my eyes briefly, and exhale through my nose. Slowly, I turn around and signal my men to keep working. None of them argue. They know that look. And they know her.

She’s coming towards me fast, determined, cheeks flushed from running, hair tangled by the wind. No pampered city girl now just raw determination. And anger. A lot of anger.

Her gaze hits me like a thrown knife. Accurate. I look her up and down slowly. On purpose. Not kindly. “What?”

She stops a few steps in front of me. Too close to ignore. Too far to push away. “My brother.” No greeting. No hesitation. “He’s been missing for days. And you know that. I asked you yesterday if you’d help me look for him. You said yes. And now you’re just leaving?”

I raise an eyebrow slightly. “Did I?”

“Yeah!” She hisses. I nod and turn away. “Then the rum must’ve been better than I thought.” Her hand closes around my arm. Firm. No shaking. No begging.

I stop. Look at her fingers first, then back at her face. She’s closer than I expected. I can see how fast she’s breathing. “A promise is a promise!” She says quietly. Hard. “You owe him. For everything he did for you.” There it is again, that accusation that always lingers when she looks at me.

“Your brother knew exactly what he was getting into when he came on my ship.” I hiss. “Because he trusted you!” She snaps back, stepping even closer. I laugh softly. “Then he was naive.”

Her eyes flash. She steps closer, her hand still gripping my arm. Now we’re close enough that I just have to lean down towards her, for our lips to touch. “So you just let your people disappear?” She asks. “That’s how you lead your crew?”

My voice drops. Dangerous. “Watch how you speak to me.”

“Then act like a captain.” She hisses. For a moment there’s nothing but wind between us. And that crackling tension that has nothing to do with the weather.

I can see it in her face, she’s afraid. Cold, panicked fear. But she’s still standing here. In front of me. Alone. Challenging me.

Damn brave. Or damn stupid.

“You have no idea what’s happening out there. If your brother is gone, then he’s either dead…or with people who wouldn’t even need you as a hostage.” Something flickers across her face. “Then go there." She says quietly. “You know the way well enough.”

“And why should I do that?”

Silence. Her fingers slide a little higher on my arm, like she’s looking for support without realizing it. “Because you like him.” She says. The word hits harder than any insult. I stare at her. Too long. “Liked.” I mutter.

I slowly lift my free hand to remove her fingers from my arm, but when I touch her, I pause. Her skin is warm. Real. Not some trembling porcelain city girl.

She holds her breath. So do I. A moment too long. “If I change my route, lose time, and put my men in danger…it won’t be out of kindness.”

“I don’t care why." She whispers. “Just find him.” I can see her pulse beating in her throat. “You want me to search for your brother? Take risks? Make enemies even I avoid?” Her eyes shine. Fear. Hope. Defiance. “Yeah.”

I study her slowly, like I’m evaluating a trade. “Then you’re coming with me. You stay close to me. And you do what I say. No arguments.” A brief battle in her eyes. Then a quiet “Fine.”

I release her hand. The loss of contact feels colder than it should. “If I find him. Then we’ll talk about my price.”

Her breath catches. “Price?” I take half a step back, just far enough to be captain again, and not just a man standing too close to a problem. “I do nothing for free.” I say.

"I don't have money." She says quietly. My gaze stays on her. "That's not what I meant."