Page 68 of Devil of the High Seas
“We will save Josephine and Sam. But ifyouaren’t careful, you could get them killed, or yourself killed. That’s what this Beauchamp fellow wants. If you are unbalanced, he has the advantage.”
Griffin was right. Gavin drew in a deep breath and stared at the distant shape of the dark island. The skies were black and the scent of approaching storms filled the air. Whatever sea winds swept across this part of the ocean also stirred up frequent storms around the Black Isle. Soon a blanket of mist would shroud their ship just as it cloaked the island. Dominic and Lord Camden joined them at the railing.
“What’s our plan when we reach the island?” Dominic asked. “You know Beauchamp better than any of us.”
Gavin continued to stare at the isle. “Brianna and Nicholas need to keep most of the crew here. If we need to beat a hasty retreat, I want theSerpentready to sail.”
“Fair enough,” Dominic agreed. “And the rest of us?”
“We hunt Beauchamp and his men down and kill every last one of them. No mercy,” Gavin said, his voice hard enough that it hid his fear for Josephine and Sam.
As theSerpentsailed into the mist and drew closer to the pirate haven that also housed the Brethren’s shadow court, a hush descended on theSerpent’s crew. Orders were given as hastily and quietly as possible. Each creak of wood, every splashing wave could signal their arrival to their enemies. When they entered the cove, they glimpsed only one ship floating there.His ship.But seeing theSirendidn’t bring a rush of joy with it. It was too still, too eerily quiet in the pale, cold sunlight that bathed the Black Isle when the mists cleared. Three other ships in the cove had been sunk, their wreckage nearly swallowed by the sea. Only the tips of their masts stuck up from the water.
“I’ve never been to a pirate haven before, but I imagine those ships shouldn’t be sunk like that, should they?” Griffin asked.
Gavin stared at the remnants of the ships. There was no sign of dead bodies or the crews that would have been left to tend to the ships while the others were ashore. What the devil had Beauchamp done? Had he sailed into the harbor and opened fire on the ships docked here? That was what it looked like.
“No, they shouldn’t be. Someone attacked these ships.”
TheSirenappeared entirely devoid of life, which meant Beauchamp and his men were somewhere on the island... possibly lying in wait.
“Send a small armed crew to theSiren. Search it for men.”
Lord Camden scowled. “Do you think they want to draw us into a trap?”
“Most likely,” Gavin said. He checked his pair of pistols and the sharp blade that was tucked through the belt around his waist. “Be ready.”
As the landing party boarded the longboat, Gavin pulled Brianna aside. Her sharp eyes saw straight into his soul, the way they always had. The years between them and their friendship had created trust and had been transformed into an understanding between peers.
“Be ready,” he whispered. “I don’t trust any of this.”
“Aye, we will be.” Brianna nodded solemnly, a fierceness to the tilt of her chin. “Gavin,” she added as he turned away from her. Her eyes softened on his face, and then she pressed a kiss to his cheek. It was a soft, quick kiss between old friends. “Be safe. Bring Josephine back.”
It made him so very grateful to have these people who were willing to risk their lives and their families for the sake of the woman he loved and a small boy.
“You risked everything to be here, to help me, but if something goes wrong, you and Nicholas must leave the island. Your son needs you.” He held on to her shoulders, his gaze locked to hers.
She swallowed hard and nodded, pulling herself away from him.
“Thank you.” The words came out ragged as he fought off another wave of emotion.
“Go. Save Josie and the boy,” Brianna urged and returned to the helm to take charge of her ship. Nicholas gave Gavin a nod of silent farewell before Gavin jumped in the longboat as it was lowered into the water.
They wrapped cloth around the oarlocks to muffle the sound of their rowing as much as possible. Everyone almost held their breath and tried to soften their grunts as they rowed. Damp cool air settled around them, addinf to the nervousness each man felt the closer they got to shore. Once they reached land and stepped onto the beach, they kept a wary eye out for Beauchamp and his men. The heavy jungle that covered much of the island was unusually silent. No calls of birds, no howling monkeys. The island felt...dead, and a chill raked down Gavin’s spine. No one said anything as they used their blades to hack their way through the underbrush to reach the heart of the island.
At the center of the Black Isle two rows of houses formed a small street where the pirates gathered during the large meetings of the captains, or where pirate crews came to rest between long voyages. But now the little village was silent. There were no pirates celebrating the capture of their latest prizes. The small group of men and women who lived permanently on this island were nowhere to be seen. The tavern workers, the innkeepers, even the prostitutes who dwelled here were absent.
“Something isn’t right. This island shouldn’t be... empty. There were at least three ships sunk in the cove. Where the devil are the crews for those vessels?” Dominic muttered and glanced at Gavin, who shrugged. He didn’t know the answer either.
“Perhaps they are hiding? Check the tavern,” Gavin suggested.
Dominic crept up to the tavern door and eased it open. He halted abruptly, his body going very still. Then he slowly backed away from the open door, his face pale as he turned toward the group. Gavin had never seen his friend so shaken before.
“I found the villagers... and most of the crews from those ships. They’re scattered all over the tavern. Even the children...” He choked hollowly on the last word.
“Children?” the vicar, Henry Sheridan, repeated, his look of horror making everyone else flinch.
The children... there were always a few children running about the island, usually the offspring of pirates and prostitutes and the occasional lad wanting to become a powder monkey on a ship. They’d always been safe here, looked after by the townsfolk... A metallic taste filled Gavin’s mouth, and his stomach clenched as he fought off the need to empty his stomach.
