Page 85 of Crossbones
“Maybe you shouldn’t go around kidnapping people!” Caspian exclaims. He runs a hand through his dripping hair sending water droplets everywhere—including a few that slide down his neck. My attention snags on them.
“It’s not like I make it a habit,” I scoff.
“No, you just kill first—ask questions later.” He looks me up and down slowly. Despite his words, there isn’t anger in them. Caspian meets my gaze with a sly glimmer. “If you don’t normally kidnap people,” he says slowly. “That means I was special from the beginning.”
Caspian steps towards me.
“Don’t change the subject,” I growl.
My words only make the gleam in his blazing blue eyes deepen but before he can answer, the door creaks open and I see Harrison’s head pop into view. Caspian halts his advances, but doesn’t take his eyes off me.
“What?” I snap.
“It’s Lan,” Harrison says, his eyes bouncing between us. “He says he needs to talk to you.”
I give Caspian one final glare before following after Harrison. Lan looks beat to shit and I wish I could kill those men all over again. I crouch down next to his hammock. He sees me and tries to give me a smile but it’s strained.
“Captain, I heard them say they’re working with Anders,” he says immediately.
“Anders?” Van asks.
“The same one we had the pleasure of meeting earlier?” Caspian asks.
“Anders is here?” Harrison barks.
“Who is Anders?” Van asks again.
“He’s trouble is what he is,” Harrison says.
“I feel like I’m missing something,” Caspian looks back and forth between us.
Harrison ignores him and gives me a pointed look like it’s my problem.
“Drop all sail—I want this ship flying,” I order with a scowl. “And find out if I’m going to have to worry about a mutiny,” I snap over my shoulder. “Did you finish the resupply?”
I wait to see Harrison nod.Thank God for that.
I head back towards my cabin. I can feel Caspian on my heels. He waits until the door closes before he speaks.
“Okay, I thought you said Anderswasn’tgoing to be a problem.” He shakeshis head. “And a mutiny?”
I pour some rum into a glass, throw it back and immediately pour another.
“Anders has a fleet. If he decides to wait for us outside of the Stormwrack, we could have issues,” I grimace as the rum burns going down.
“A fleet,” Caspian states.
“Aye—the coalition may not have a crown we sail under, but we certainly have politics,” I grumble. “Anders rose quickly and spent most of his time gaining control over as many ships as he could.”
Caspian sighs and pushes an empty glass towards me. “Pour me some of that.” Once he has a glass in hand, he perches on the edge of the table. “How come you don’t have a fleet?”
I scoff. “I don’t need all that drama. It’s stressful enough keeping all these fuckers happy.”
“Speaking of—why do you think there might be a mutiny?”
“There are a few men here who have sailed with Anders before,” I toss back another rum. “No telling what they’ll do once we have the gold in hand.”
Caspian rubs a hand over his face at the implication and throws back his own rum.
