Page 61 of Escaping Pirates
And maybe, just maybe, Harlan would too.
And that was worth every blister.
CHAPTER 22
The morning wind tangled my hair and stung my eyes, though I wasn’t sure if the sting was more from the wind or from the tears that threatened to fall. The shore was fading away, and I was still aboard theFortune Hunter.
There had been no flare.
Not last night, not this morning. That had to mean either that Tyrone had been telling the truth and my cooperation had kept Harlan alive…or else that the entire thing was a bluff and there had never been a plan to have him killed.
Either way, I couldn’t gamble his life.
I had left the note, and for the time being, that was the best I could do to help both Harlan and myself. If only it were more.
A shout and scuffling came from below deck, followed by more shouts. Tyrone came out of his quarters, adjusting his hat and coat as he did so.
Dex and Croy, the first mate, came up, hauling a red-headed young man between them that I didn’t recognize. Hewalked between them without any resistance. There was a glint in his eyes, like mischief bottled up, and an eerie calm in the way he held his chin high, as if this were his ship and we were all the intruders.
“Captain!” Dex called out. “We found a stowaway! He was hiding belowdecks, but we spotted him.”
“A stowaway?” Tyrone asked, eyeing the young man up and down. Gil appeared at my shoulder, bright-eyed and eager as ever, staring at the young man with avid interest.
The stowaway met his gaze without a shadow of embarrassment or shame. “Guilty as charged. Add it to my lengthy list of crimes.”
“Any reason you’re here?”
“I needed a ride.”
“I’m not a ferry service,” Tyrone said coldly.
“Are you headed to Berkway?”
“I don’t give information to stowaways. What’s your business in Berkway?”
The young man smirked. “I don’t give information to pirates who participate in human trafficking, smuggle illegal cargo, and blackmail innocent women.”
A sharp silence fell over the deck.
Tyrone stepped forward slowly, eyeing him with newfound suspicion. “What did you say?”
“You heard me. But if it makes you feel better, then sure, pretend I’m the villain for stowing away. I’ve been accused of far worse.”
I saw Tyrone’s jaw tick. “I’ll ask again,” he said. “Why are you here?”
“Believe me, it gives me no pleasure. I don’t like the ocean in the slightest.” The boy spread his hands. “But based on what you’re planning, I figured I could trust you toact in your own best interest, which means I can temporarily trust you to get me to Berkway.”
Tyrone’s voice lowered. “And just what is it that you think I’m planning?”
The stowaway’s smile widened, too sharp to be harmless. “That’s the thing—I don’t care. It doesn’t concern me or anyone I care about, so do whatever you want.”
“I’m wanting to throw you overboard about now. You’re more dense than I thought if you assumed I’d just let you stay on my ship, free of charge, until you reach your destination.”
“Throwing someone overboard wouldn’t be very entertaining for long. A few minutes until they’re out of sight?” He clicked his tongue. “You could have so much more.”
“Like what?”
“I’ll fight a man a day for your entertainment in exchange for passage to Berkway,” he answered, so confidently that concern lurched in my stomach. The red-headed young man couldn’t be much older than Gil, and I’d seen how quickly Gil lost even when the others were going easy on him. “Pick anyone. I put on a good show.”
