Page 113 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

Caiyan grimaced and immediately disappeared below the water.

Vane whistled, and my heart sank. His men scaled down the side of theRanger,bucket handles and sacks looped over their arms. They reached the end of the ladders and dove into the sea. So much for not allowing your crew to learn to swim.

The boatswain, Ned, I think, stomped toward me and stopped. “We must find the treasure before Vane. He’ll take the lot.”

I agreed, but for much more complicated reasons.

Max looked up at me, a crooked smile pulling at his mouth. He was such a handsome kid. I hoped I hadn’t ruined his life. Rowan’s forehead wrinkled with worry lines that mirrored mine.

The water was so clear I could almost see the bottom. Thankfully, the waves splashing against the ships disrupted the view. Caiyan swam toward the aft end of Vane’s ship. He was going for the chest. Vane rowed after Caiyan. Rowan cut across his path. The men exchanged harsh words that I had trouble making out from my place on the ship.

I glanced over my shoulder at the open sea. No sign of Rogers. I turned back, shaded my eyes with my hand, and took in the shadows that played along the terrain of Bone Island. A mysterious grasp tugged in my gut. Like hands pulling me toward the land. Was the King’s key beckoning me?

If the protector of the key had buried it on the island, we’d never find it without all the pieces of the map, or a metal detector.

Vane stared down at the water, waiting for his prize. Mortas stared at the island. Did he feel the pull too, or had he made a lucky guess it was there?

Luck. My stomach rolled with the waves. I could use some luck right about now.

A shadow fell over my shoulder. I trained my eyes upward. Sasha squatted on the lines above me, watching the treasure hunt.

At least I knew she was still on theSea Storm. She frowned at me. I pointed at the island, covering my finger with my hand. She cocked her head like she didn’t understand. “The island,” I mouthed, making a key turning in a lock gesture. If the prophecy was true and I was the one who found the King’s key, she needed me. I assumed Caiyan and Marco were the other two lucky ones. Telling her my thoughts on the key’s location ensured she’d have the eye there for us when and if my plan worked.

Sasha rolled her eyes and almost fell off the ropes. She regained her balance and slid down the rails. The men in the rowboats didn’t see her. Their backs were to theSea Storm,focused on the swimmers. She disappeared over the side of the ship, I imagined making her way toward the island.

Shrug stood at my elbow, his eyes on the men in boats, licking his lips, likely at the thought of treasure.

“Gosh, I’m hot.” I fanned my face and wiped the sweat from my brow. “I’ll go below and satisfy my, um, hotness.”

Shrug ignored me. I scuttled below and found Ace stirring a pot of something. “That actually smells good.”

He cringed. “It’s potatoes and shoe leather.”

“Sasha just did a swan dive toward the island. We need to find a way to get over there.”

“We?” Ace scowled at me. “I’ve got a pot on the stove.”

“Put it on simmer, Betty Crocker. We have a key to find before Vane discovers he’s been conned.”

Ace doused the flame under the pot, and we maneuvered topside in time to see one of Vane’s men hand over a sack filled with treasure.

Vane held up a bronze cup.

“Bloody ’ell.” Ace sucked in some air.

Vane examined it like,hey, maybe he’d seen it before, but then he returned the cup to the sack and announced he was hungry and they should give the men a rest.

I exhaled a huge breath of relief.

Our plan to outsmart Vane with his own treasure had worked. At least until he wanted more of the treasure. But damnation. Where was Rogers?

According to Gertie, Captain Woodes Rogers was supposed to be here. Vane would turn into a chickenshit and run, leaving Marco behind, who, accidentally I presumed, killed Rogers. I wasn’t sure how. Or how Rowan had also died, but I planned to get all my favorite guys and theSea Stormout of harm’s way as soon as Vane fled.

I shielded my eyes and scanned the blue sea for sails. Gertie told me it had happened here at noon, but there was no sign of any navy ships. Did we screw up the timeline again? Had I screwed up Max’s life?

Vane had Marco hauled into his boat and returned to theSea Storm, followed by Max, Caiyan, and Rowan. His other boat returned to theRangerwith theSea Storm’scarpenter/local hired assassin, Logan O’Malley—the traitor.

My stomach was in knots between the weird pulling sensation and the fear Vane would recognize his treasure.

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