Page 117 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

“My savior,” Ace crooned.

“’Tis Rogers, he’s come for me.” Vane wailed. “Prepare the sails. We must outrun them.” Before he swung to his ship, he turned and looked down at his crew on theSea Storm. “Kill them. Kill them all.”

His men, gob-struck at their Captain fleeing instead of fighting, donned their weapons, swords, and pistols, fighting against the skeleton crew of theSea Storm.

I sliced away Caiyan’s bindings. He grabbed the knife from me and sent it sailing through the air and into the throat of an angry pirate, arms outstretched to wring my neck.

Marco put his hand to his key. “I’ll get Sasha and meet you at the helm.”

Caiyan rubbed his wrists. “Weel talk about yer choices later, Sunshine. Get Max to the wheel and jump us oot of here.”

“What about the King’s key?”

“Move around this island and away from the battle.”

Rackham had regained his feet and charged at us. Caiyan fought him until he swung onto theRangerfrom trailing rigging.

Rowan untied Max. One of Vane’s men reached for me as I made my way to them. I dodged left and gave him a swift kick in the crotch. My pointy-toed shoe hit its mark, and the pirate went down with a squeak.

“Are ye well, Miss Jennifer?” Max asked.

I nodded. “We’ve got to jump to the other side of Bone Island.”

His gaze trained on theRanger, and he held up his index finger. “One moment.”

Time slowed as Marco’s gift activated.

Max moved across the connecting boards to theRangerlike a figure suspended in Jell-O. Rowan chased after him, a much bigger and slower character. Max grabbed Vane by the lapel of his leather jacket and punched him in the face. Rowan turned Logan upside down and dropped him into the water. It warped like an old Batman cartoon. I wouldn’t have been shocked if bright, spikey speech bubbles appeared overhead withPow! Smash! Ka-Boom!

There was a brief sizzle to the system. Marco’s gift only lasted minutes. He reset and started again. Max and Rowan returned to theSea Stormand Sasha pushed the connecting boards into the ocean.

With cement shoes, I moved with Max to the helm. Rowan cleared our way, slow motion fighting the swords and pistols of Vane’s confused crew, unaware they’d been left behind.

Having commandeered a sword, Ace clanked metal with a bulky, bearded fellow. Black Bard used the butt of his pistol and clonked Bearded on the head. He went lights out. Ace and Black Bard did a slow-mo complicated handshake.

As time returned to normal, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Mortas rowing toward Bone Island. The coward.

Max stood steady next to Rowan. We made the jump just as Woodes Rogers moved into firing range.

Thirty-Eight

We landed on the opposite side of Bone Island. Cannon fire resounded in the distance. The remaining crew lay unconscious on the deck. Max threw his arms around Rowan’s waist and hugged tight. I assumed Rowan’s responsive grunt meantI love you too.

Marco and Sasha stood arm in arm below us. Caiyan put his hand on my shoulder. “Ye did it, lass.”

I wrapped my arms around him. “Sorry, I didn’t choose you, but I needed Rowan’s muscle to help with Max.”

“Understood.”

“Can you believe that wanker Vane snapped off our flag in his hurry to flee the ship?” Ace pointed where there had once been a flag. Now a broken pole swung in the breeze.

Rowan looked out at Bone Island, then down at me. “I assume since ye had us stay close to the island, yer key is here.”

I glanced at Caiyan, unsure if I was allowed to tell them.

Max held his hands up in offering. “Miss Jennifer, ye have to trust us if’n we are to trust you.”

The crew began stirring. At least those left loyal to Max. To my displeasure, Shrug remained among them.

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