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“He won’t get you. You’ll stay here. I’ll protect you and your baby. This is my ship, and nobody comes on board without my knowing.”

She stared at him and then frowned as if she had just realized something. “Is Seyed trying to get me back? Is that it? He could find a way to get on board. You can’t put anything past him.”

“Abby, we don’t know anything about him, really. My ship is so secure that an army couldn’t get on if it wanted to. As soon as the doctor says you can get up and move around, I’ll take you around the ship and show you how secure you really are.”

“You never really answered me. Is there some reason I should be worried about Seyed?” she asked again, and she stared at him with such big, imploring eyes that he couldn’t lie to her, but he didn’t want to scare her, either.

“Our sources have confirmed that someone fitting his description returned to Kish Island a few days ago.” Eric watched her face pale, and she let out a gasp as she turned away. He cupped her chin in one hand and looked down into the distress in her face. “I will protect you. He will never get his hands on you again.”

Her eyes were swimming with tears when she looked up at him. “I want to believe you. And I do trust you…it’s just…”

“I know, Abby.” Eric slid his arm around her shoulder, and this time she leaned into him. He rested his chin on top of her head, realizing how much this woman needed him. For the first time ever, a fragile woman had somehow found a way inside a tiny corner of his heart. For the life of him, he didn’t know how she had managed to sneak in and hold parts of him he never believed could feel anything in her tiny hand, and he needed her, too.

Eric didn’t know how long he held her, but she relaxed so much that he could feel her breathing even out. When he looked down, he realized she’d fallen asleep. Just as he eased her head down on the pillow, he took in her image, which was so much that of an angel.

He’d just reached for the phone to call Petey when the door flew open, and Gail Carruthers stepped in and closed the door behind her. Eric just held the phone and flicked a wary glance at Abby, who was breathing deeply, her eyes closed. He did not want her disturbed or to witness whatever this unstable woman was about to unleash on him.
Where the hell was the guard? He was supposed to be standing right outside the door. How had Gail gotten past him?

Gail gave him an expression as if she was goading him. At any other time, he would have lost it on
her and yelled and watched her cower, but he could feel Abby’s peaceful energy behind him, and it was only that which got him to the door.

He yanked it open, startling the guard who was standing post. “Kaskin, why did you allow her in here? I personally heard the doctor order you to keep her out.”

“Sir, she said—”

“I want you to escort Carruthers out of sickbay, and until further notice, she stays out.”

“Yes, Captain.” The guard stepped inside the room, in front of the captain, and extended his arm, gesturing for Gail to precede him through the door. They both nearly tripped over the doctor, who now stood in the passageway.

“This way, please.” Seaman Kaskin gestured again when Gail wouldn’t move any further. When he grabbed her elbow to move her, she yanked it away and moved down the passageway with the doctor and captain following.

“Carruthers, you’ll take yourself and report to the XO. You will be put on report. This conduct is unacceptable, and it will not be tolerated.” The captain gritted his teeth, doing his damnedest not to lose it on Kaskin. “See that she gets there and doesn’t get lost along the way. Then return to your post. Tomorrow, I’ll deal with you for disobeying orders.”

“Yes, sir, Captain.”

Eric dismissed Kaskin and turned to Larry. “What was she doing here? I thought you assured me—”

“I ordered her to the personnel office this morning and told her sickbay was off limits.” Larry was quite defensive.

Eric narrowed his eyes on Gail Carruthers’ retreating backside, wanting nothing more than to toss her overboard. “Well, it seems that Miss Carruthers has decided to balk at all authority. Just so you know, Joe has just ordered a female guard to be with her at all times. Why she is not with her now, I will find out. I will personally see to it that these orders are followed through. No more disregard for authority on this ship by anyone. I don’t understand what the hell’s going on. It’s as if everyone has lost their minds.” Never in his experience of commanding a ship had his authority ever been questioned or orders so flagrantly disregarded. Why weren’t orders being followed? He needed to have a serious discussion with Joe. This would be addressed first thing in the daily department head meeting; he would clamp down on everyone and bring firm reign to this ship, seeing to it that every sailor knew their role and who was in charge.

Eric let out a groan that sounded more like a growl. “Just so you know
, the guard will be dogging her every move from now on.” He offered a conspiratorial wink, his lips twitching in amusement all the while. “You know, for her protection, of course.”

“Leave it to Joe to come up with something like that. Just don’t underestimate her. I think that was my first mistake,” Larry said.

Eric met Joe in the wardroom for a late dinner. When the last officer left, Eric threw down his napkin and pushed the plate away. “So, did Gail find her way to you?”

Joe was across from him, and he choked and coughed before leaning back and chuckling. “Oh, yeah, she found her way, escorted by the good Seaman Kaskin, who looked as if he’d have just as soon tossed her in the brig. From the glare she gave him, it appeared that he may have had to drag her along at some point.” Joe wiped his mouth with his napkin. “She’s a piece of work, that’s for sure. I spoke with her and gave her a choice between reassignment to headquarters or a female guard. She refused both, of course, so I assigned Chief Petty Officer Cindy Hawkins to her. I made her wait while I sent for Cindy.” Joe shoved his plate away with a flick of his fingers. “Don’t worry. I had a chat with Cindy, and she’ll stick to her like glue.”

“Joe, what took so long to talk with Gail? I understood when we spoke in my cabin she was your next stop.”

“Sorry, Eric. She was off duty and asleep last night after we finished speaking. She was first on my list this morning to deal with, but an emergency from home came up for one of the new recruits. It’s been handled, but it took longer than expected. Some of them are having a hard time adjusting with the extension in deployment.”

Eric could tell by the frown on Joe’s face that there was more of a problem with the crew than he was letting on. He knew that taking care of the sailors was such a vital part of Joe, something he lived and breathed, because he really cared for these sailors. Life at sea wasn’t easy, especially for new recruits, and Joe was always pushing his way into whatever personal conflicts popped up.

“We’re a team here, Joe. We bond together or we all die. I know you’re the one to keep the peace here. This is no place for dissension and petty conflicts, so you look after everyone. Just make sure you look after you, too, my friend.”

Joe laughed and then wiped his hand roughly over his face.

“Larry lost it on her, you know,” Eric said. “He confronted her about her accusation and tried to get her to confess. Then he sent her off for reassignment, banning her from sickbay. Joe, from now on, I want a daily report of her actions. Keep it unofficial, though, so it can’t be used against me.”

Joe pushed away from the table and walked across the room to the coffee urn. “Do you want one?” he asked as he poured a cup and stirred in some powdered cream.

“Sure.”

Joe poured a second cup into a large white mug and set it on the table in front of Eric. Joe took a swallow as he walked around the table. “I checked, and Gail never arrived in the personnel office when Larry ordered her there.” Joe continued, “I did make sure her behavior and misconduct has been written up, and she’s been put on report.” Taking another sip of coffee, he appeared lost in thought as he frowned. “You know, Eric, there’s one thing I’ve wondered about. I did a little checking this morning. Gail had help getting that report off this ship without anyone finding out.”

“I forgot to tell you, and it slipped my mind, too. When I spoke with the admiral, he told me it was filed by Petty Officer Jennifer Hampton. Isn’t she in the administration department?”

“She is, a nice girl. Quiet, never been any problem. I am stunned.” Joe gestured with both his hands.

“Why the hell did she do it? Did you talk with her?”

Joe winced and glanced at the door and back to Eric. “You may not like hearing this, but your barbaric views on women have earned you somewhat of a negative reputation. She said Gail convinced her that you would block this if she went through regular channels. She begged her for help.”

Leaning his head back over the plush high back of the leather chair, Eric gazed up at the mottled gray pipes, shaking his head in disbelief.

“After Master Chief Bud Hansen was through with her, I kind of felt sorry for the girl,” Joe said. “It was a bad decision on her part. You could tell she sincerely regrets what she did. She
’s been put on report for her actions. Even though she has no previous record, Bud said he would like to bring charges if possible against her for misconduct, to use her as an example.”

Eric winced. “Wasn’t she due for promotion?”

Joe took on a hard look Eric had only seen a time or two before. “Yes, spotless service record, too. Stupid move on her part. Could be a career ender.”

Eric didn’t know why he did it, but he said, “I want to talk to her. Set up a meeting for tomorrow. Tell Bud to be there, too, and tell him to hold off possible charges until after the meeting.”

Joe appeared surprised but then downed his coffee and left the table. “I’ll let you know what time we’re meeting tomorrow.” Joe let go of the handle and pressed his hand against the door as he turned to face Eric. “I realized I forgot to ask: How’s Abby doing?”

“She’s doing fine, but she picked up on the problem with Gail. And she’s…” He almost told Joe about her nightmare, what she had shared with him, but it was too personal. It would feel like a betrayal of her if he shared it.

“And what?”

Eric just shrugged. “Nothing, she’s good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He watched the back of the steel door and allowed the ship’s rumble to soothe his anxiety. He realized this was the first time he’d ever kept anything from Joe.

All the commanding officers from each department were present in the wardroom for breakfast. Although everyone was well aware of the unsavory accusation filed by Gail Carruthers, almost every man present was uncomfortable. Maybe it was the fear, so much like a poison, that it could happen to them. Eric was no fool—he sensed deep down that some of
them needed to keep their distance for their own peace of mind. This was the deepest, darkest worry of every man in the military, that it could happen to them, too. It took something really bad to see who stuck by you and who’d let you get pulled down and crushed in the quicksand.

A few of the officers had been barely able to control their outrage. They’d yelled curses, and he’d seen in each of their eyes that Gail Carruthers
would forever be burned. One day, she’d be brought down.

“Everyone knows the charges are false. I know some of you are scared shitless that it could happen to you. Let me be clear: The woman lied.”

“Yeah, she’s got the face of a toad. Fat chance she’d have of getting some guy to fuck her in the back room.”

Another of the officers barked out, “Only in her dreams.”

Everyone else laughed. Eric gestured to Joe to rein the guys in.

Joe stood up. “Okay, everyone, listen up. I’ll be meeting with all relevant
crew members to investigate this incident and to question Gail’s credibility. As many of you may not be aware, I’ve assigned a guard to shadow Gail until further notice, for her own safety, of course.”

A resounding boom of laughter shook the walls of the wardroom.

When the laughter died down, Eric spoke over their shouts. “Listen up. Everyone is to give full cooperation and to send anyone with firsthand knowledge directly to Joe. Follow protocol to letter on this one, boys. That’ll be all.”

Each of the officers either patted Eric’s shoulder or offered some words of support as they passed. It was very much an old boys’ club. Most would help him beat this, he was sure of that, but even in a boys’ club, there were those who lived and breathed survival of the fittest, and if it
wasn’t in their best interest to support Eric, they’d throw him to the wolves. As each officer left, he started putting each one of them into categories: those who would hang him out to dry or those who would stand by him for whatever it took. Unfortunately, the latter category was less than half of the officers.

“Bud, stay behind. Joe?” He gestured to his XO, who shut the door after the last officer left. Bud was a large, stocky man in his early forties. He had worn his hair in the same crew-cut style in all the years Eric had known him. His large arms and chest resembled a barrel, and he walked around with a perpetual scowl on his face, which always made any new sailor wary of him. When he was angry, he had a terrible temper, and Eric could almost visualize the upbraiding that Jennifer had received. With his set of lungs, when he yelled, you would swear you felt the walls shake. He had a propensity to get right in someone’s face when he was angry, within inches, noses almost touching, just waiting for the other person to flinch.