DAMIEN POV...
I should've walked away the second I saw them.
Should've turned around.
Should've pretended I didn't notice her.
But Daisy…
She makes logic bleed out of me.
There she was — standing by the railing, hair catching the fading sunlight, skin warmed golden by the ocean breeze — and some uniformed stranger was leaning in like he had earned the right to breathe the same air as her.
And she was smiling.
Smiling in a way she had never smiled at me.
That alone made something inside me crack.
Not the normal kind of crack — not irritation or sibling dislike or any of the lies I tell myself.
No.
This was the kind of crack that lets the devil crawl out.
I stood there, hidden in the shadow of the stairway column, watching her talk to him.
Every time he said something, her eyes softened.
Every time she answered, his damn smile grew.
And when he reached out and brushed her hair off her shoulder?
I almost stepped in.
Almost.
My hand twitched. My jaw locked so tight it hurt. My lungs forgot how to work.
Because he touched her like she belonged to the world.
And I wanted to touch her like she belonged to me.
Sister.
Stepsister.
Off-limits.
Untouchable.
Words, rules, boundaries — all the things I'd built around myself — they didn't matter in that moment.
All I saw was Daisy's flushed cheeks.
Daisy's parted lips.
Daisy leaning in like she could… fall.
Into him.
And I—
God.
I came undone silently.
I felt it in my bones:
I can't lose her.
Not to him.
Not to anyone.
Not ever.
When she looked up and saw me watching, her eyes widened, pupils tightening like she felt something too.
That look burned right through me.
And then that idiot — that officer — leaned closer to her and said she deserved someone who "chose her."
Like I hadn't been choosing her in every moment, every breath, every messed-up thought since the universe cursed me by making us family.
If choosing her were allowed…
I'd choose her so loudly the world would shake.
But wanting her is a sin I can't confess.
And yet it eats me alive.
When the officer finally noticed me and asked if I was her boyfriend, I swear I stopped breathing.
Because the denial she gave was too fast.
Too sharp.
Too true.
No.
Not even close.
Those words stabbed deeper than they should've.
Because that's right — we're not close.
We're not allowed to be close.
I should've left.
I should've turned away.
But I stayed rooted there, staring, drowning in a jealousy so potent it made my hands shake.
And when Daisy stepped toward me, asking why I could look at her but not speak to her, my mouth betrayed me by opening—
Then closing—
Then opening again like a dying man gasping for water.
I wanted to say everything.
I wanted to say nothing.
What came out was the only truth I could manage without shattering:
"Because I can't."
And then I walked away.
Because if I stayed one more second, I would've done something stupid.
Something forbidden.
Something permanent.
---
Later That Evening…
I thought I'd escaped.
I thought avoiding her until dinner would help me reset.
But the world hates me.
I arrived at the dining hall — early, for once — only to freeze at the entrance.
There he was again.
That officer.
Except he wasn't in uniform anymore.
He was in civilian clothes — dark shirt, sleeves rolled, hair tousled like the sea wind personally flirted with him.
And seated across from him…
was Daisy.
Her dress soft and simple, but she glowed.
Not the harsh glow of anger or frustration she usually wore near us.
A gentle one.
Almost… happy.
A muscle in my cheek twitched.
I walked closer without meaning to.
Like gravity itself belonged to her.
She looked up at him, a shy little smile playing on her lips — the kind I've never seen directed at me.
"What's your name?" she asked.
My heart stopped.
He leaned back, smiling like he already knew he had her attention.
"Decker," he said, voice smooth as polished steel. "Decker Hale."
I memorized it instantly.
Every syllable.
Daisy nodded softly, repeating it under her breath.
Like she liked the way it tasted.
And that—
That was the moment something inside me snapped.
But before I could interfere, my mother appeared beside them with the biggest smile she'd worn all vacation.
"Oh dear!" she gushed. "You must be talking to our Daisy! I'm her mother."
My body locked.
Mother?
Introducing herself?
To him?
Decker stood politely, shook her hand.
"Hello, Ma'am. It's a pleasure. Daisy is… remarkable."
My throat tightened.
Mother beamed like she had been waiting her whole life to hear that.
"Oh, isn't she? You two look wonderful sitting together."
I nearly choked.
Wonderful?
Together?
Mother leaned closer, lowering her voice but not enough.
"The cruise ends tomorrow night. You two should exchange contacts. No need for a little two-night fate to end early."
My vision tinted red.
I gripped the back of a chair so hard it nearly splintered.
Daisy — blushing like she couldn't help it — nodded.
"Um… okay."
Okay.
She said okay.
She said okay to another man.
To another man having access to her.
Choices.
Attention.
Possibilities.
My chest tightened painfully.
I didn't know rage could feel like heartbreak.
I didn't know heartbreak could feel like… panic.
I stepped closer, unable to stop myself — every nerve in my body screaming to drag her away.
But Lola got to them first.
She practically threw herself between Decker and Daisy, her fake smile wide and venomous.
"Hi! I'm Lola," she said, flicking her hair. "What do you do, Decker?"
He smiled politely.
"I own this ship, actually. And a few other maritime lines."
Lola froze.
Her smile faltered.
Her eyes cut to Daisy — who wasn't even trying — then back at him.
"Wow," Lola choked. "That's… impressive."
But Decker wasn't looking at her.
His gaze was locked on Daisy.
Only Daisy.
"Actually," he said, ignoring Lola's hand when she tried to offer her contact, "I prefer to keep my circle small."
Lola's face cracked.
"I just wanted to be friends," she said defensively.
Decker smiled.
"I'm sure you'll find many. But my focus is elsewhere."
His eyes dropped to Daisy again.
Her lips parted, cheeks warm, fingers gripping her napkin like she didn't know what to do with herself.
My stomach twisted.
Decker stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"Meet me on deck three tonight," he murmured to her.
My pulse thundered.
He leaned in, pressed a soft kiss to her cheek — gentle, respectful, but far too familiar.
Daisy froze.
Lola gaped.
Mother clapped her hands like she'd just witnessed divine matchmaking.
And me?
I burned.
With jealousy.
With possessiveness.
With fury.
With something deeper, darker, more dangerous than all of them combined.
Decker walked away, leaving Daisy stunned and glowing.
And I stood there, glaring daggers into the back of his skull.
If looks could kill, they'd be fishing his body out of the ocean by midnight.
Because no matter how hard I try to deny it—
No matter how wrong it is—
No matter how forbidden—
Daisy is mine.
And tonight?
I realized I'd rather burn the whole damn ship down
than watch another man make her feel chosen.