Page 59 of Devil of the High Seas
She smiled, and tears shimmered in her eyes. “Yes.”
He pulled her into his arms, kissing her. No words were needed to show how relieved he felt, but a warning cry soon broke them apart.
“Sail dead ahead!” the lookout on the foreyard above yelled.
Griffin and Vesper turned in the direction the man pointed. A sail was now visible on the horizon.
The next hour was fraught with worry as Brianna’s ship closed in on the other vessel. Dominic prowled the deck like a wolf scenting prey. Lord Camden and Adrian seemed torn between watching him and the ship as they approached.
“It’s not thePixie!” Dominic growled as he put a spyglass to his eye.
“It’s not?” Camden asked.
Brianna took the spyglass and studied the vessel. “He’s right. It’s not thePixie, but I do recognize it. It’s Encino’s ship.”
“Who is Encino?” Adrian asked.
Brianna and Dominic shared knowing looks as everyone gathered on the deck.
“Encino is a member of the Brethren,” Dominic said.
“Pirate,” Adrian added helpfully in a murmur to Griffin. Camden shot a glare at his younger son.
“He is one of the captains of our pirate court,” Brianna said and moved closer to her husband. “Or was. He would never let a vessel like this catch up to him, not without raising a signal flag. Something’s wrong.”
Everyone gazed at the ship as they slowly caught up with her. Encino’s ship’s sails were full, but the ship was empty. Not a single sailor stood on deck or hung in the rigging. The wheel at the helm slowly spun back and forth as the ship glided aimlessly wherever the wind pushed it.
“Nick, Father, you come with me,” Dominic said.
Griffin stepped forward beside Lord Camden and Nicholas. “I’m coming as well.”
Dominic seemed ready to argue, then changed his mind. “Do not forget your promise to me.”
“I haven’t,” Griffin replied.
The men boarded a boat and rowed to the drifting vessel. Adrian kept watch from the railing, along with Vesper, Roberta, and Lucia. The three women who’d dared to brave the long voyage with Griffin and the others, gazed at them with worry. Everyone knew this was dangerous. Brianna stayed at the wheel of theSea Serpent, ready to steer it away at the first sign of danger. Griffin followed Dominic up the side of the ship, catching hold of the wooden planks that formed a ladder.
“Be ready. This could be a trap,” Dominic whispered as they stepped up on deck. Then he cupped his hands. “Encino! It’s Dominic Grey,” he bellowed. No call answered.
“Griffin, you’re with me. Nick, you and Father stay together. We’ll search the ship from top to bottom.”
Griffin and Dominic moved belowdecks. It wasn’t long until they found the crew. Bodies littered the gun deck. Throats had been slit, and most had other wounds or gunshots. Griffin paled. He’d never seen death on this scale before. He placed his palm on the sword that hung at his hip, needing the comfort of steel at that moment.
“Watch your back,” Dominic murmured as he led Griffin deeper into the ship. They reached what Griffin guessed was the captain’s cabin. The door swung ajar as the ship rocked on the waves. It didn’t bode well for whoever might be inside. Dominic pressed a palm flat and pushed the door open.
The cabin was in disarray. A single lamp swung above the table in the center of the captain’s cabin, even though the sun shone clearly through the windows. Griffin guessed that whoever had committed these crimes had wanted this discovery to be visible even in the dark. A man’s body lay on the table, his chest bare and his body carved deep with cuts.
Dominic approached and touched his shoulder. “Encino.”
The man gasped, giving Griffin a shock. He’d thought the fellow to be dead, but that fate could not be far off now.
“Dominic...,” the captain groaned.
“I’m here, old friend. Who did this to you?”
Griffin peered down at the gravely wounded man. Encino’s dark eyes drifted from Dominic to Griffin.
“You... He’s coming for you, Castleton.”
