Page 3 of Pirate's Intent
“IT IS GOOD TO BE ONdry land again, Brother.” Thomas clapped Luke on his shoulder and eyed the brothel, playing the role they had discussed earlier. A role that made sense. “I am too long without a woman.”
They had just arrived on the sandy shores of Nassau with a very specific mission.
One that would change everything from this day forward.
Luke nodded in agreement and yanked a wench against him in passing. He kissed her hard, murmured something in her ear then set her aside. “She and her sister will see us taken care of when we are ready.”
“Sister?” Thomas snorted, praying his brother remained vague. He skirted far too close to why they were here. “How convenient.”
Luke winked. “It’s good to live the fantasy on occasion.”
Though he said it nonchalantly, Thomas knew Luke enjoyed that fantasy above all. Not the taking of both sisters, but the one.
“I wonder how they fare,” he had murmured earlier, remembering the sisters from their youth. The very ones they were here to rescue now.
“Married off,” Luke had reminded, treading carefully around the sore subject. Because in truth, neither were married anymore. “Hard to imagine mine making anyone a good bride, though. She would require too much taming...and patience.”
With their fetching beauty, the McCullen sisters had turned many a head. One was haughty, the other withdrawn and sweet. Naturally, the haughty one appealed to Luke’s inherent need to conquer every woman he met. Mainly because he had never managed to conquer her.
The scent of brine and sea salt turned to the pungent smell of sweat, sex, and heady perfumes as they entered town. Grunts of pleasure mixed with boisterous drinking. Wenches with painted faces and ample cleavage leaned against buildings reeling in their next customer where others were already servicing blokes.
“They are here,” Thomas’s quartermaster, Charles said softly, falling in alongside them. He spoke louder for the benefit of their fellow pirates. Best that no one be suspicious. “There be biddin’ happenin’ soon in the center square.” He flashed crooked teeth in a lecherous smile. “Blackbeard got himself a good take just out past the breakers.”
Formerly known as Edward Teach, Blackbeard was not only infamous for his fearsome exploits but magistrate in these parts. That meant he was in command of Nassau’s republic, enforcing law and order as he saw fit.
“He’s selling off some loot then?” Thomas acted surprised. In this neck of the Caribbean, they lived by the pirate code. They ran their ships democratically, sharing plunder equally. So why was Blackbeard selling something?
“Not loot but a single woman.” Charles rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “A real looker, I hear.”
Thomas tensed. Which woman? Who was being put on display in front of this lot? Worse yet, was she still dressed?
“Why is he selling her?” Luke frowned. “Usually, wenches end up in the brothel.”
“Seems one of ‘em did.” Charles tapped his temple. “The other ain’t so bright. Deaf, dumb, and mute they say.” He shrugged. “So he’s seein’ what he can get for her.” He shook his head. “They didn’t even have a chaperone, so the crew might’ve already had a run at ‘em.”
“Bloody hell, let’s hope not.” Thomas refused to entertain the idea. He would never be able to forgive himself. “Better to have ‘em fresh.”
That damn uncle of theirs, leaving them unchaperoned. Yet it was not surprising in the least. Without a shred of decency, the man was a louse. That said, however, it was safe to say if the crew had wanted the women, a chaperone would not have stopped them. Which was neither here nor there considering there were crew members aboard protecting them until they were safely delivered into Blackbeard’s hands.
After all, this was by no means as simple as their ship going off course.
They continued through the crowd and kept to rowdy talk of bidding. The pleasure of claiming such a prize. Which was a flat out lie, of course. The life of piracy suited them well enough, but they steered clear of slave trading. It was a dirty business, and there were plenty more opportunities elsewhere. Or at least there had been after Queen Anne’s War first ended and piracy thrived. Over the past few months, though, things had started changing. The Royal Navy was bearing down, and their way of life was coming to an end.
Something, quite frankly, they were ready for.
“We're goin' to see ‘er, aye?” Charles said when they stopped off for a tankard of rum at the tavern. “Worth the sight alone. Bound to fetch a good price.”
“Like a ray o’ sunshine she is,” a random pirate slurred.
“Think she’s as sunny between those soft thighs of hers?” another grunted.
Thomas clenched his mug and took a hearty swig before he said something he regretted.
“What say ye, Brother?” Luke gestured at a woman’s trunk being carried by the door. “Should we go enjoy the show? See what sort of fine lady owns that?”
He nodded, spying the familiar crest on the trunk. One that verified the rumors were true.
The McCullen sisters had been captured.
