Page 119 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

Caiyan ran fingertips over the map, and goose-pimples rose on my skin.

“Miss Jennifer,” Max stammered, trying not to stare at my exposed butt cheek.

“Sorry,” I felt my face heat. “It was the only place I could think of that no one would look.”

Marco took the quill and quickly mapped out the islands of Bahamas and Nassau, the bottom half of the pirate insignia, and the strange symbol resembling the petals of a flower.

“Thank ye to yer Aint Elma.” Rowan rumbled a chuckle at my bare backside and I felt Caiyan tense beside me.

I quickly lowered my dress and bent to examine the map. I stifled a smile when I heard Max’s disappointed sigh.

With our maps combined, we had the location. But the final X marks the spot remained on the map Vane held.

“I saw the skull, except it’s this way.” I took the quill and drew it sideways. “See how the eye sockets stack on top of each other. They might be caves.”

“Aye, we need the center of the map.” Caiyan tapped the table in defeat.

I blew out an irritated huff. “We need Vane’s piece.”

Depression filled the room. We wouldn’t find the key today. The island was too big to dig everywhere, even if I felt some sort of connection.

“Mayhaps, I can help.” Max stepped forward. “Ye see, that map didn’t belong to Captain Vane. It belonged to my mum.” He produced the small, rolled paper between his thumb and finger. “I took it off his person in the scuffle.”

“Max! You have the map!” I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed. I couldn’t believe our luck.

“Miss Jennifer, I can’t breathe,” Max squeaked.

I let him go. He unrolled the paper and placed it in the center.

“Way to go, you little pickpocketing thief.” Marco gave him a knuckle bump.

“Like taking milk from the fat cow.” Max’s lips split into a grin.

I waved away looks of concern from the others. Caiyan slid the pieces together. It formed a pirate ship, a compass, the last part of the pirate insignia, and half of a flower.

“Is this native to the island?” I pointed to the flower that now made up part of the skeleton’s eye.

“’Tis a pool,” Rowan said, as if it should be easy to recognize and not written in disappearing ink only he could read.

Everyone looked up at him. “These pools are common on the islands. I used to swim in them as a wee one.”

“I remember,” Max said. “Da and Mum used to take us there.” The connection held for a moment, and I felt they were a part of something that shouldn’t be broken up, like a favorite rock band.

“I see it now.” I tapped the pool. “It’s in a cave, inside the eye of the skull.” With the skull lying on its side, we’d need to climb down the temple and drop into the cave at an angle.

“Let’s roll, people.” Sasha motioned toward the door.

“We need to beat my underhanded half-brother to the key,” Max said.

“As if the jerk could find it without the map.” Marco bent to scoop up the pieces, but Max stopped him.

“I have one condition.” Max covered the map with his hand. “If there is any treasure with yer key, it belongs to Rowan.”

“Max,” Rowan scratched the back of his neck. “Ye know I didnae need?—”

“That’s my condition, or ye may stay on the island and wait for Rogers to pick ye up.”

I chewed on my lip. Rowan was supposed to die. His pregnant wife left a penniless farmer. Only in the alternate timeline was she given treasure from Long John Silver. Alexander Hamilton didn’t come from money. His humble roots drove his assertive and ambitious political aspirations.

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