The storm rocked Dom’s pirate ship, swaying the lanterns so their shadows danced against the walls of his captain’s quarters. The shifting lights made everything seem a little trippy, less real, kind of like a dream. 

It was like the sea itself was rioting. Dom kept calm, the storm would pass. It was good for the crew if he kept a level head. At least, that’s what he told himself. Outside, a wave hit the ship so hard it sounded like an explosion.

“You can’t keep living in denial.” Yadira, quartermaster of the pirate ship, tossed her long black braid over her shoulder. She was as right as she was attractive, and she was really hot. Her dangling jewelry shook with the motion of the ship. Otherwise, she stood firmly in front of Dom’s chaise. She was so tough that not even the storm outside could shake her.

“I’m fine,” said Dom.

“You keep saying that, but I don’t believe you.” 

Dom’s relationship ended just a day ago, when the ship’s doctor dumped him at the docks. Thus why Dom headed out to sea in the middle of the storm. He couldn’t bear to be on the same island as Javier if they weren’t together. 

Dom ran his fingers through his blond mustache as he remembered Javier. Water dripped through the ceiling, landing in front of the couch. 

“I’m fine,” Dom repeated. 

“You are not fine.”

Dom leaned back against the threadbare chaise. His shirt parted, revealing his the Spanish tattoos on his chest. A cluster of jewelry rested around his neck. A delicate strand of pearls was a contradiction next to his heavy gold chains. It was as much of a contradiction as he was, a big scary pirate who liked delicate pearls and spent hours styling his moustache. 

Pirates were notoriously vain. 

“Domenico, I’ve known you since you were a kid…”

“You only call me that when you’re being serious.”

“I am serious!” Yadira playfully kicked the chaise. “Forget Javier, that prissy doctor was just a rich jerk who wanted to play pirate. It would never have worked between you two.”

“He was the love of my life.”

“Everyone you date is the love of your life.”

At two months, it was Dom’s longest relationship. When Javier told him he wanted to break up, Dom asked him to marry him. 

“You’re too reckless,” Javier responded. Dom wasn’t sure if he was referring to the sudden proposal or two days prior, when he’d been the first to board a merchant vessel, knife between his teeth and eyes glowing with…well, recklessness.”

Yadira kicked the chaise again. “Stop thinking about him.”

“Ugh, what do you want from me?”

The ship rocked in such a way that water passed through a new leak in the ceiling, splattering on the other side of the room. This was a big leak, it deserved its own pail but they were all being used.

“You need to get your roof patched,” said Yadira. 

“It’s not that bad.”

“It’s fine, you’re fine. Is that all you have to say?”

Dom laced his fingers together. “Quartermaster, please see to the repairs of my ship as soon as the storm is over.”

“That’s more like it.”

“We need to do repairs anyway. We’ll need to be in fighting shape for our next adventure.”

That got her attention. “Oh? And where are we going, Captain?”

“I’ve already figured out what our next score is going to be.”