Page 99 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

To my horror, the crew stared at me like this might actually happen.

Vane pointed out at the open ocean. “Silversuggestswe sail towardCayo Hueso. The treasure is near Bone Island.”

“Bone Island,” passed through nervous mutterings of the crew.

“Do ye trust Silver speaks the truth?” Rowan asked Vane. “No one has returned from Bone Island and lived to tell the tale.”

“Aye, I persuaded him to be forthright.” Vane made a fist and displayed his swollen knuckles. “This time weel keep a close eye on ya until we reach the treasure.” He turned and crossed the planks that connected the two ships, followed by Mortas and his crew.

Rowan waited until they pulled the planks back onboard, then barked orders at the crew. The crew untied theRangerfrom theSea Storm, tossing thick ropes across open water separating the two ships.

Marco’s eyes, make that the eye that hadn’t met Vane’s fist held mine as the ships separated. Rackham yanked him to his feet and took him below decks.

Once the vigilant shepherd had secured his flock and theSea Stormwas underway, Rowan returned to me. “Ye need to stay oot of trouble, healer. Take yer manservant, mend his wound.”

“What about Captain Kirk?”

“Kirk isnae yer concern.” Rowan’s blue eyes turned to hard slits. “Ye weel mend the cook and return him to the galley.” Those fiery blue slits focused on Ace. “Dinnae be like the slug, or I’ll return ye to Vane.”

“Aye, aye Cap-i-tan.” Ace saluted with bound hands.

Rowan removed his knife from its sheath and cut away Ace’s bindings.

In a flash, Shrug was at my side, poking me in the ribs with his rifle.

Ace oinked at Shrug, and he immediately dropped the rifle to his side.

I stepped in front of Rowan before he could stomp away and motioned at Shrug. “Is a guard necessary? I’m sure Mister Shrug has more important duties.” When Rowan didn’t comment, I added, “Where am I going to go?” I waved my hand at New Providence Island, now only a speck on the horizon.

“’Tis for yer safety, Miss.” Rowan bowed, turned on his heel, and ascended the stairs toward the bow.

Shrug lifted his rifle to nudge me, thought twice, and splayed his palm toward the aft of the ship. “Be on yer way, witches.”

“At least I’m part of the coven,” Ace mumbled as we headed for that damn ladder.

* * *

Back in my cabin,Ace slouched in the chair while I unwrapped the dirty bandage around his arm.

“So how did Max sneak around Vane and then outrun him by a day’s chase?” Ace wanted to know.

I filled him in on Max’s abilities.

“Blimey, jumping a vessel of this size, truly amazing.”

“What happened to your arm?” I poured rum on the bandage to loosen it from the wound.

“Ssssshit, that burns,” Ace hissed. “Vane slashed me when I couldn’t lift another log for his fireship. I mean bloody ’ell those logs weighed a ton, and I’d already quartered three of them with a saw older than Moses.”

“The fire was spectacular.”

“It was, wasn’t it?” Ace beamed. “I told ’em we didn’t need more logs because the whole bloody ship’s made of wood, but he insisted he needed to kindle the fire. And then he sliced me arm. That one has anger management issues. He could use a good therapist.”

“Where is Cayo Hueso?” I asked.

Ace’s brows lifted. “You’d know it better as Key West, but I’ve never heard of Bone Island, and based on the rumblings from the crew, it sounds like the land version of the Bermuda Triangle.”

“If we’re sailing to the Florida Keys, how long do you think that will take?” I washed Ace’s cut and rummaged in the medical bag Rowan had dropped off earlier for something that might prevent gangrene.

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