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Never in my life did I think I'd end up here. Retirement does crazy things to the mind, especially when you are not at the end of your life. At thirty-seven, I still have a lot of life left to live; the Navy just didn't agree with me. While in the service, I didn't require much money, so I invested most of my pay. That, coupled with the inheritances I got from my both sets of grandparents, is how I find myself on the Surrender Thy Booty, the mega yacht my paternal grandfather, also called Bronn, had commissioned in his last years. Booty flies the flag of the Island of Skye as well as a Jolly Roger. He was fond of telling some of the raunchiest jokes I’ve ever heard. Raunchier than the jokes my fellow SEAL’S would tell in our rare downtime. The boat’s name says it all. I can’t bring myself to change it though. It's two hundred and ten feet from bow to stern. It's my pride and joy. I hired a crew and began a charter service to the rich and famous. I also run an interesting side business. There are people in the world that have too much and others who have too little. I donate all that I can, but somehow, it's not enough. I smuggle contraband to those who are oppressed. It’s hard to believe that in this day and age there are still places that aren’t exactly free. I know it's criminal and a bit dangerous, but I thrive on danger. I always have, and retirement hasn't done a damn thing to dampen that. My crew knows what they are getting into. The moment they are hired, I sit them down and tell them what the deal is.
"Hey Boss," Jenny-Rae Valens, my chief steward, says, coming into my small office.
"Valens, what can I do for you?" I ask, knowing that this isn't going to be good. She's married to my bosun, Johnny, and they fight and make up like the world is ending. Everyone can hear them, and they don’t give a fuck. The other crew members pretty much steer clear of them outside working hours. Hell, I do too. It’s not that their love makes me uncomfortable, it’s that I’ve never been in love myself and I am not likely to fall into it anytime soon.
"Julia quit," she says, mentioning the second steward.
"Shit," I mumble, instantly worried about the huge charter we have coming up.
"I've made inquiries in Corsica, but nothing. I need to go wider."
"Of course, do whatever you need to. Rush Bennett and Courtney South will be getting on board tomorrow afternoon. We'll need a full staff as they have seven guests traveling with them, one of which is a toddler."
"We’ll be ready,” Valens promises, and I have no doubt that we will be. The crew of Surrender Thy Booty is well-prepared.
“I’m sure we will be. Out of curiosity, why did Julia quit.”
“I’m not sure you want to know,” she says, laughing.
“I do. How can I correct a problem if I don’t know what it is?” I chide, really needing to know.
