Page 90 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

Eesh.“Never gonna happen.”

He shrugged. “Stay with your Scot, then. That is, if he makes it out of 1718 alive.”

“Oh, he will. And I’ll get the King’s key before you ever lay eyes on it.”

Another laugh, but it wasn’t as confident. “I accept the challenge of tangling with you in future adventures. It will make my life…interesting.” He walked away, leaving me shivering in the warm tropical breeze.

TheLarkmoved closer to the target. I squinted at the figure of a man on the top deck of the naval ship. Woodes Rogers, I presumed. He stood like Christopher Columbus, spyglass to his eye, watching theLark.

Closer. Closer. Closer.

Fire ignited from below decks and worked its way upward, snaking up the masts and catching the sails. I recognized Vane as he dove from theLarkinto the water, followed by a figure I knew well. Caiyan. Another with Ace’s build jumped cannonball style, holding his nose.

My heart gave a swift beat, and I heaved out a sigh of relief.

A bell sounded from Woodes Rogers’ flagship. Shadows of men rushed around the deck, illuminated by lanterns and the crackling burn of the fast-catching decoy.

In one fabulousKaboom!theLarkburst into a fireball. I flinched at the sudden explosion and covered my face with my arm to protect it from raining embers.

Rogers’ guns opened fire. Cannonballs rocketed at theLark, first splashing into the water, then correcting and splitting its foremast. TheLarkcontinued sailing toward Rogers’ flagship.

“Blow me down!” A mate near me stared wide-eyed at the fire. I didn’t think they actually said that, but he proved me wrong.

The crew waited for Max’s signal. I scouted the harbor, searching for the rowboat, watching for Caiyan and Ace to board theRanger. The smoke thickened the air, making the ships anchored nearby appear and disappear like ghosts in the night.

Rowan stood next to Max on the upper deck. Jacob, the helmsman, had his hands on the wheel. Ready for Max’s orders to steer the ship to safety. The entire scenario resembled a scene from thePirates of the Caribbeanmovie. I crossed my fingers and hoped for an easy escape, like Jack Sparrow and theBlack Pearl.

I spotted Mortas standing near the bow. A crewman was moving toward him, skimming the lines overhead. Inching his way down. The crewman moved with the stealth of a panther. A panther I’d tousled with personally. Sasha. She motioned toward another pirate. The man angled his body, blocking Mortas from the front.

I speed-walked toward them as best I could on a swaying ship. A man climbed over the railing, intersecting my progression and giving me the fright of my life. I reared back, grabbed my chest and squelched a scream when I realized it was Caiyan.

He had climbed aboard theSea Storminstead of theRangeras planned. He shoved wet hair off his brow, saw me, and frowned. “I told ye to go home.”

“Not now, Caiyan.” I pushed forward to reach Mortas.

“What are ye doing here?” He grabbed my arm and wrenched me toward him, dripping seawater on my dress.

“I’m on a mission.”

“Yer no on a mission. Ye should be back at headquarters.”

“Why, because I’m not as good as you at catching a brigand?”

“Yer reckless. Ye dinnae think before ye act.” His eyes focused on the red welt on my forehead. “What happened to yer head?”

I jerked my arm away and pointed at Sasha spider-walking down the ropes. “I’m saving Mortas.”

“From whom?” His gaze followed my pointed finger. Sasha jumped Mortas from the lines. Blade in her hand, she plunged it into his back.

“Shite.”

We rushed to Mortas, who lay face down, bleeding. Sasha kneeled on top of him, his arms pinned to the deck by her knees. She yanked her knife out of his back. Raised it overhead to strike again.

“Sasha stop!” Jeez, she took stabbing someone in the back to a whole new level. “You can’t kill him.”

“I know that, you stupid bitch. I’m going to gut him up the middle like the pig he is, but O’Malley here will give the final stab through the heart.”

I glanced at O’Malley. He was the carpenter, I think. Or maybe the sailmaker. He looked purposeful and excited about a kill.

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