With absolutely no desire to stick around a millisecond longer, I take a quick step back and close the door. I only came to collect a bottle of washing liquid to replace the one I’d used up yesterday, and now I have that fresh trauma seared into my hippocampus.
My heart is threatening to break out of my chest as I walk away, with no real destination. It’s not just the fact I’ve seen Benson’s bare arse or heard the noise he makes when he’s getting off…or Grey’s startled expression. It’s the impact of what it means.
Benson might not be an officer, but he is a higher rank than Grey. Fraternisation is banned for a reason, and rightly so. Thank fuck Cleo is a private citizen, and therefore not in breach of the rules. I’ll be in the shit if we’re found out, but nowhere near the shitstorm Benson and Grey will face if they’re caught. Which brings me to my next problem. What the hell do I do with the knowledge?
As far as Benson goes, he deserves whatever he gets, but Grey? Shit, this will affect her entire career going forward, and let’s be honest, she’ll be raked over the coals way more than Benson by her peers, simply for being a woman. The Navy isn’t perfect, and yes, there are still some outdated views. God, what a fucking mess.
Oh Jesus, what do I say to Cleo? She’s on the warpath to expose whatever is going on with Benson. If she finds out I had knowledge of this and I didn’t tell her, I can only imagine how pissed she’s going to be.
There’s only one thing to do. I need to rally my troops.
With it only being eight in the morning, all three of them are still sleeping soundly. Racing towards our bunk, I try to slow my breathing, because at this rate I’m going to have a panic attack. Plus, I’m slightly worried Benson is going to come after me, so I want to be in the company of other people.
I’m not quiet or subtle when I fall through the cabin door, slamming it shut. Cheddar jerks upright and slams her head on the bunk above her.
“Fuck,” she cries, rubbing her head.
“Romeo, what the actual hell,” Boot calls before burying her head under her pillow.
“Up, now!” I say with authority. “Seriously, this is code red, ladies.”
Kit scrubs her face and sits up, swinging her legs over the side of her bed and looking at me bleary-eyed. “This better not be about you and Cleo. No offence but I can’t deal with your love life this early in the morning.”
“It’s not. I wouldn’t wake you up for that. Kit…this is bad.”
All three women climb out of bed and look at me. I’ve never enacted a code red before, so they understand I’m not dicking about.
“Rome, you look like you’re about to shit yourself. What the hell’s wrong?”
Sweat has formed at the base of my neck. “I caught Benson…” I begin. I trail off because I don’t even know how to make the words leave my mouth.
“Benson?” Boot asks, looking at me and then the others. “What about him?”
“River?” Kit asks, stepping forward and placing both hands on my shoulders. “What happened?”
“IcaughthimfuckingGrey,” I say in one rushed expulsion of air.
“Whoa, slow down and repeat,” Cheddar says, also taking a step towards me. They all look very worried, which is fair.
“Benson…fucking Grey. I caught them,” I choke out.
Kit’s eyebrows disappear, and Cheddar lets out a soft but heady “Fuck me.”
“You’re…you’re sure?” Kit croaks out.
I nod frantically. “Oh, I’m very sure. Grey over a box of washing supplies. Benson imitating a jackrabbit. Very,verysure, andverydisturbing.”
“Did Benson see you?”
“No, but Grey did. I got the hell out of there sharpish. What the hell do I do?”
Boot snorts. “You report the bastard. He’s abusing his power, and we all know it.”
I shake my head. Even though I understand her reaction, and I owe Grey nothing whatsoever, I can’t do that to her. “Grey will be crucified,” I reply, looking them all in the eye. “We all know it.”
Cheddar goesback to her bunk and sits down. “As much I detest the woman, Romeo’s right. Her career will never recover.”
“Pfft, maybe she should have thought about that,” Boot scoffs. “Are we forgetting who she is? This is our so-called ‘crewmate’ who would and has dobbed people into the brass for her own gain. Maybe she is sleeping her way up the ladder?”
