Theo ordered her to dress up for dinner that evening. He picked her dress for her and she grudgingly obliged because of two things: one, she was not willing to test his patience the second time that day, and two, she had to eat a proper meal.

His eyes roamed over her when she reappeared from the bathroom wearing the layered dark blue chiffon dress and Desiree suddenly grew conscious of the kind of tension between them that she didn't want to experience. She pushed and locked it inside the deepest part of her mind, reminding herself that the man she was with on the night Jamaica was killed was nothing but an idea. He was not Theo, the man who bought her to use for his own personal gains.

Just like tonight.

There was no doubt in her mind that their dinner would not only be spent chewing expensive meat.

"I won't be surprised if someone ends up dead tonight," she muttered under her breath as he opened the door.

His dark eyes looked at her for a few seconds, flicked toward her lips and back to hold her eyes once more, and said, "Why? Planning to stab someone in bed again?"

Desiree's jaw clenched and her nose flared. She squared her shoulders and walked out the door. "If you really believe I killed Jamaica, you should have just given me to your disgusting brother because I think I am better off dead right now," she spat out, walking ahead to end their conversation. She couldn't help the tears that rolled out of her eyes and she angrily wiped them with the back of one hand.

Focus. You have to focus and be alert. You're on your own now. You have to survive. She talked to herself because if she didn't, she might just take her chances overboard. And she was at the brink of doing just that.

*****

Theo had to be extra cautious that night. Not only because it was his first time to do this kind of job, but also because Desiree had the tendency to cause quite a bit of trouble. She had already done so earlier and she could very well do the same thing again.

There were quite some people on the deck that night, all dressed nicely for the dinner. A live jazz band was playing at one corner while everyone made acquaintances with their fellow cruise goers. Theo had never been on a cruise because he never found it to his liking. To be trapped on a ship for the most part of the journey was a total social disaster for him. He could be charming to clients, but he had his limits. He couldn't stay on a ship with the same people for weeks.

But this one he had to do because his stupid brother had been reckless in the past and now he was a hunted man again.

Desiree turned toward to him with a questioning look when they reached the entrance of the dining place. He didn't know where they were supposed to sit so he just took her hand and guided her to the concierge who, by some unknown protocol, recognized them and pointed them to their table.

He noted Desiree's cautious state and he ignored it. His eyes scanned the deck for the person he was looking for. He easily found him because of his companions. The two young white boys looked exactly alike. They both looked like any normal eight-year-old twins by the way they were dressed, but their actions told Theo otherwise. Their movements were out of the ordinary as they observed everything with awe. For a moment, he thought the man should have used a different cover, one that could easily be believable and natural-looking. But then, nobody on the deck seemed to care at all. Everyone had their own things to worry about at the moment and the most pressing one was the selection of food.

The man sitting with the twins looked up from his menu and caught Theo's eyes. He gave a small nod and Theo answered with one. He noticed the man's gaze involuntarily wander to the left and he followed its trail. Theo's eyes landed on a Chinese couple sitting across each other, both smiling and talking without a care to the world.

"Who is that?" Desiree asked from across the table. Theo shot her a look. "What? It is obvious you know that guy," she said under her breath.

He chose not to answer and pretended to scan the menu.

"Is he your target? Are you going to kill him and his kids?"

"No one is killing anyone," he bit out through clenched teeth. "And they are not his kids."

Desiree looked surprised.

"They are his cover."

"To do what?"

His eyes went to the Chinese couple behind her without answering her question. He saw the man's eyes flicker toward the American and the twins and back to his lady companion again. Theo's eyes went back to look at Desiree's again. "Do you want to know what we are really doing here?"

She shrugged, pretending not to care though her curiosity was clearly painted on her face. "Since I don't have a lot of entertainment tonight, I'd take your story for now."

Theo considered it for a second before he spoke, "We are here to make sure that a very important package for one of our clients will be delivered on time and intact to where it is supposed to be." He let his words sink in before he continued. "And that man with the twins has the package. The kids are his cover. They are supposed to be his brothers and they are taking this tour after their parents died a year ago. It's a fresh start for them. Well, that's their cover story, anyway."

Desiree did not say anything but kept her eyes fixed on his as she waited for more.

"The package has been delivered to Peru a week ago and now it's my task to make sure that it doesn't meet any trouble before we dock back to where we came from. From there, I'll get the package and deliver it to the client."

Desiree frowned. "That's all? You made such a big fuss over it because of that simple task?"

Theo smiled at her mockingly. "You don't know a lot about this business. The packages we deliver are very priceless that our clients get a lot of competition. No one can be trusted, including the delivery man himself."

Realization hit her and she started to move her head to scan the deck but Theo stopped her by grabbing her hand and pulling it toward him. "Don't look anywhere. Smile and pretend like you really enjoy looking at him." He waited until she did so and he continued, "Now that you know what I mean, I want you to do something."

She was already shaking her head before he even finished. "I am not doing anything for your fucking business."

Theo sighed and leaned back against his chair, letting go of her hand. "As you wish."

She remained quiet for a long time until they made their orders. When their wine was served and she had a sip from her glass, she cleared her throat and said, "I guess I can do something for you if you are willing to let me go after we dock back home."

Theo smiled at her and shook his head. "Nice try, but I guess I can handle this one on my own." His eyes went back to the Chinese couple and again to the American and the twins. "I can find a way."

Desiree was silent for a while again, probably thinking. She cleared her throat again and asked, "Are those kids going to be in trouble if things don't go as planned?" Her voice was wary as she looked at him.

Theo shrugged. "They might be, if things go against my plans."

She took a deep breath and tried again, "And if I do what you want me to do, we can all go home safely?"

"There is a big chance we all might, yes."

She brought her wine back to her lips and took a big gulp. "Okay, since you are not letting me go and since I cannot do anything for you without anything in return, I am willing to offer another bargain."

He raised his brows and waited, his lips twitching in amusement.

Desiree's eyes held his strongly. "I want you to tell me what you are planning with Vernier."

It was his turn to frown. "What do you mean?"

"I want to know what you are planning to do to me with Vernier. I want the specifics. I want to know." He saw the fear in her eyes before she blinked them away.

Theo considered it and nodded. "Okay."

"You'll tell me?"

"Yes. I promise. And I keep my promises."

She obviously didn't believe him because she said, "You will tell me something every day. If you don't, I will not continue with whatever you want me to do here."

Theo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I fulfill my promises, Desiree. I will tell you everything I am planning for you with Vernier once this thing is over. Either you take my word on that or you stay in our cabin for the rest of three weeks."

Desiree looked over to the twins who were eating their food with so much gusto. When her eyes landed back to Theo, she said, "What is the package?"

"An electronic device that contains our client's organizational information among other things you don't want to know while you are alive."

Desiree nodded and swallowed. "Okay. Fine. What do you want me to do?"

*****

Marco drove her to the station as fast as he could. He didn't say anything to her while in the car. Not that she wanted to have small talk with the man, but she was not just used to being treated this way.

Gian hadn't shown up since he left the apartment, but he was at the station when they arrived. Marco immediately locked her inside the room with just him and Gian inside and told her to watch the footages very carefully.

"I can't do that with an empty stomach," she snapped at him. He gave a frustrated sigh and left to get her some donuts.

Gian was looking at her pointedly when Marco closed the door, leaving the two of them alone.

"What?" Khaye snapped at her brother.

"We are not playing some games here, Khaye. Marco wants this case over with once and for all. We are all tired. Not just you, but everyone else in this building."

She scoffed. "For all I know, he only wants to use me to catch Petroff and this Karlsson guy and their blasted organization, the Liaisons or whatever it is."

Khaye cried out in shock when her brother suddenly kicked an empty chair across the room in anger. "I don't have time for this, Khaye. If you think being a bitch will save your life, then be my guest. But I am not letting anyone hurt your or make a fool of our team because you are holding out a lot from us."

"I am not—"

"And you keep on telling lies that not a soul in this building believes. Get your act together and stop fucking with us." Khaye suddenly saw Gian not as her brother but as someone like Marco. He was seriously pissed.

Her gaze wavered and a tear fell from her eye. "Has anyone ever asked me what I am feeling right now? Has anyone even considered that I am so fucking scared shit here?!" she screamed at him. "I just want my old life back! I just want this shit to be over as much as you all do!"

For a moment she thought Gian would give in but he didn't. He leaned down on her and faced her squarely. "Then do the right thing and tell us everything. I don't even know why you called me for help if you only tell us fucking lies." Her brother left the room, slamming the door behind him.

Khaye was left confused and in shock. She wanted to tell them the truth but she wasn't sure who to trust. She trusted her brother, but she couldn't trust him to trust the right people.

The door opened and Marco came in. He must have heard the commotion from the room earlier but he didn't make any comment. He went to pick up the chair her brother kicked to the wall and dragged it beside hers. He handed her some donuts before he sat down and reached for the button. "I hope you can watch this without popcorns. That's all we have," was all he said.

Khaye kept her mouth shut and focused her eyes on the screen.

*****

"His cover name is Mr. Berkeley. He is an American whose parents recently passed away. He and his brothers got quite a lot of money from their parents' insurance and their own trust funds. The twins had depression and this is Mr. Berkeley's way to help them deal with their loss."

"They didn't look depressed to me. They looked more like they haven't eaten in days," Desiree said with a scoff.

They were inside their cabin having breakfast. She looked refreshed while he had to massage his neck for having to spend the night in the couch. Desiree made it sure that she got as much from this task of hers as she could.

He was fine giving up the bed as long as the package was safe and would reach their client's hands in three weeks.

"And that's all I have to do? Find out anything fishy?"

"You don't have to find out. Just make sure that he doesn't do anything stupid. I'll keep an eye on the Chinese couple. If Mr. Berkeley as much as double crosses us, he'll be in trouble."

"How do I do I make sure he doesn't do anything stupid?"

"Distract him. He knows you're with me but give him an impression that you hate it."

"That will not be very difficult," she uttered as she buttered her bread.

He ignored her comment and continued, "Make him think you are willing to jump in his ship if things go south. That way he'll trust you."

"And if he doesn't?"

Theo blinked before giving her a small smile. "Let's just make sure that he does."

*****

"Well? Is it her?" Marco asked after the last footage turned black.

Khaye was certain it was Desiree and she nodded her head. There was no point lying now. Sooner or later, they would find out. Anyone from their agency could point out it was Desiree walking out of that hotel.

"Are you certain?"

"I am very familiar with her movements. That's her."

Marco shifted in his seat to face her with a serious look. Khaye brushed her hair with her fingers and looked away.

"It's about time you tell us the truth, Khaye. We are all losing our patience. You should know that we would rather go back to one than stick to an unreliable source."

She suddenly felt threatened. The thought of the police turning their back on her was unimaginable. Gian was angry at her and Marco basically told her they didn't want anything to do with her. Was that what she wanted at this point? Could she go back to her old life now?

"It was Petroff who took me," she blurted out before she could stop herself. The tears fell from her eyes as the words crammed behind her throat, wanting to spill out all at once. "He told me to lie to you. He told me I'll get killed if I tell you anything."

Marco did not show any reaction. He just patiently and quietly sat beside her, gauging her words. "Did he do it?"

"They took, me didn't he? He must have done it!"

"They?"

"Petroff knows this Richard Karlsson guy. He's the one on that footage. I am sure of that. His tattoos are gone, but they can easily be covered with makeup. I swear to you, I am telling the truth, Marco, so please don't let them get to me. They'll kill me now that I told you. They'll kill me once they know I talked."

It was now apparent on Marco's face that he had a lot of questions for her but he was taking it slow. She appreciated his silence as she cried. He didn't offer any comfort but it was enough that he didn't say he didn't believe her.

At that very moment, Khaye was desperate for him to believe her. Everything from this moment on could end up wrong for her, but she had done it. She said the words and there was not taking them back. She broke her promise to Petroff and Marco better give her a better one before she ended up dead.

*****

Desiree thought that she should have asked more from Theo but ensuring the twin's safety was her first priority. The bastard knew how to play his cards right and he found her weakness. He didn't have to tell her what could happen to the two kids if she didn't cooperate. She would rather die than see anyone on this ship die for the sake of a crazy electronic device.

She walked out of the cabin in a strapless maxi floral dress with Theo not far behind her.

"Don't overdo it," he warned before he let her walk further away from him.

She began her hunt for Mr. Berkeley and succeeded in finding him lounging on a chair beside the pool. The twins were playing in the water along with the other kids and she found it ridiculous. No one would ever guess what those kids were going through. They looked innocent yet wary at the same time.

She wondered if the kids had any idea what was happening or if they went with the American on their own will. But however they got hold of those kids, Desiree was certain it wasn't far from how she got to be here.

Her heart began to hammer when Mr. Berkeley's eyes landed on her. She forced a small smile on her lips and continued walking toward him, closing the distance between them.

She took the empty seat beside him and crossed her leg over the other. "It's nice of you to take them swimming," she uttered under her breath, wishing her tone sounded a bit more casual.

Mr. Berkeley looked younger up close. He was quite charming as well, she noted.

He could get away with anything.

"They know how to play, you know."

She forced a scoff. "Nice cover though," she said, trying to sound nonchalant, like it was an everyday topic.

"It's my first time as well. Have always used a woman before," he said, his eyes wandering to her bare shoulders.

Desiree gave him a smile that was intended to be seductive. Theo said not to overdo it so she was doing it. Men could get too shallow. It was better to lay it all out. "Well, you can always have one here. Just take your pick."

Mr. Berkeley's gray eyes looked at her brown ones and a smile crept up his face. She knew that look. She had seen it many times from the men she had encountered in the past. "I just might."

"I'll be looking forward seeing you try."

Desiree returned the smile. Theo should have known this was going to be a very easy task.

*****

Theo almost jumped from his seat when he spotted Desiree and Mr. Berkeley stand up and disappear into the dressing rooms.

She could get herself into trouble, he thought. He shook his head and thought better of it. The man would not be so stupid to jeopardize everything by hurting her.

He checked his watch. He'd give them a few minutes.

His eyes went to the twins playing in the pool. Then he scanned the area for any sign of the Chinese couple from last night. There was none. He checked his watch again.

Five minutes.

He was getting restless.

His jaw clenched in anger. He told her not to overdo it. She should have just talked to him and left.

"Fuck it," he whispered under his breath before he jumped to his feet and stormed toward the dressing rooms.

But before he reached the door, Desiree stumbled outside with a laugh and Mr. Berkeley was right behind her doing the same thing. Theo did a sharp turn and hid behind a potted palm tree, casually checking his phone for nothing.

"That was really amazing," Desiree said in between giggles.

"It was, wasn't it?" Mr. Berkeley asked, reaching for her hand and pulling her close. Theo saw him whisper something in her ear and he saw her stiffen for a second before she giggled again and pushed him away.

"I'll think about it," he heard Desiree say. "For now, I got to go. You know my companion can be very possessive."

"I like that kind of challenge," Mr. Berkeley said in a husky tone.

"Now that is a challenge I want to see," she answered before leaning close to whisper in his ear. Theo clenched his jaw until she stepped back and walked away from their target.

*****

"I just have one question before we take this thing somewhere," said Marco, breaking the silence.

Khaye waited.

"Desiree obviously went out of that hotel room with the guy you saw her with the night Jamaica died and Richard Karlsson and another unidentified lady. Was there any indication that she knew them before the incident?"

Khaye shook her head. "I don't know. I haven't seen Desiree with a lot of men before. And if she was with any, she never talked about them. I am not sure what her involvement is with that guy or with Richard Karlsson."

"Did her actions on the footage seem odd to you in any way?"

"She was a bit nervous, yes, but that doesn't tell us a lot, right?"

She was right, Marco thought.

He heard her sniff and he squatted before her on the ground. "Khaye, I promise that if you tell me everything you know without any lies or made up shit, I will do everything to make sure that you stay alive. Otherwise, we are just going to be pawns in their games. We have to find out who killed Jamaica and bring those people behind bars where they belong. That's the only way you can be safe. Do you understand? I am not going to let anything happen to you. Did you hear me?"

When he saw her wipe more tears off her face, he decided they needed to leave the station. If she had decided to tell him the truth, her life might be in danger now. He didn't know who worked for Petroff in the station and he was sure there was at least one. This was the least safe place for her right now.

He stood up and held out his hand for her. "We have to go."

She gladly obliged by taking his hand and letting him pull her out of her chair.

"Where are you going?" Gian asked, his gaze on his sister, when they stepped out of the room.

"We can't talk here," Marco answered his partner. He pulled Khaye to the entrance, in a rush to take her somewhere safe. He had promised to keep her safe now that she finally decided to tell them the truth.

Marco was exiting the station with Khaye briskly walking beside him, her hand grasping his for dear life.

"Marco, wait!" Gian cried out behind them.

Marco looked over his shoulder to say something to his partner and that was his worst decision that day.

It just took one second of unguarded curiosity before everything went wrong and all hell broke loose.

The shot rang out and before Marco could react to it, Khaye was already falling on the ground.