Page 83 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

“Where’s your key?”

“Vane took it. He threatened to kill me unless I gave it up. I used the story about the treasure so he’d keep me around. Said he’ll give it back to me after I take him to the loot. I can’t leave. Sasha’s on theLarkwith?—”

“Mortas.” Ace finished.

“TheLark?” I paused. “I thought she was on this ship.”

“She was disguised as a cabin boy. They keep me chained down here except for twice a day when I get to, you know.” he meant relieve himself topside. “Before I could free myself, Vane snagged my key and Sasha got moved to crew with Captain Crunch. Can you believe that’s the name he’s using?” Marco swallowed hard, like he’d somehow failed Sasha.

“We’ve seen him,” I said. “We just left him at the pirate council doing bro’ stuff with Captain Vane. He’s searching for Sasha.”

“Man, I want to kill that asshole”

“Take a number.” Ace straightened, glancing around the hold. “We need the key to the lock on your chains, or a bolt cutter.”

“There’s more.” Marco bit his lip. “Vane has a piece of the map, and?—”

“How’d he get a piece?” Ace butted in.

“I think it belonged to Sasha’s mother.” Marco dropped his head. “I need to find Sasha. I’ve got something to tell her.”

I placed a hand on Marco’s shoulder. “Her mom is dead, isn’t she?”

“Blimey,” Ace said when Marco nodded.

“You can fill us in later. Right now, we need to get you off this boat. We’ll figure out a way to get your key later.” I looked for something capable to cut the chains but came up empty.

“The fat guy with the permanent scowl holds the keys to my cuffs.” Marco nodded toward a man securing a crate of cannon fodder.

“You know, calling him fat is a bit insensitive.” Ace glanced over at the obese man oozing flesh between his shirt and the top of his pants. “On the other hand, it can be a correct body composition descriptor.”

We didn’t have much time. I marched up to the man. “I have orders to move the prisoner to another location.”

“Oi?” The man glared at me. “I didnae hear from the cap’n.”

“We’re with Captain Smith’s ship, theSea Storm. Captain Vane wants the prisoner on that ship. It’s got more…” I glanced around for something. “Cannons.”

“Oi.” Guns, the guy understood. He handed me the keys.

I snatched them from his grubby fingers and tried not to run back to Marco. Bending down, I reached to unlock Marco’s wrist cuff. He yanked them away.

“Only unlock my feet so that I can walk. If you unlock my wrists, they’ll know you’re helping me.”

We marched Marco up the ladder onto the top deck, me holding the rifle on him and Ace scouting for Vane.

The men, busy as a swarm of hornets sharpening their stingers, loaded their weapons, checked the riggings, eyed the enemy, and failed to pay a lick of attention to the aft end of the ship. We were steps away from the rails and climbing down to our rowboat. My heart beat a taps of victory.

I reached for the rails to swing my leg over when someone jerked me back and held a cold blade against my throat.

“You’ve traded yer lace for much less desirable attire, Miss Jennifer.” Vane slid up next to me, wrapping me into his body and grasping tight to my rifle-toting wrist.

His hooligans, swords drawn, surrounded Marco. Rackham leveled his pistol at Ace.

“Where are ye takin’ my prisoner?” Vane hissed like a snake set to strike.

“I can’t help your effort to outsmart Captain Rogers in ruffles and frills. Silver is valuable. I have foreseen the outcome of this battle and thought to move him to theSea Storm, until I had the chance to enlighten you.” I spoke confidently, surprising myself since my knees knocked together.

“Another vision, witch?” His anger stewed dangerously close to the surface of his cool demeanor.

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