Page 48 of Pirate's Intent
“Enjoy what little freedom you have, tease.” He gestured at the adjustable ropes. Ones designed to tighten and spread her legs wide. He slid dangerous eyes from a chest in the corner to her. “When I get back, we will take a stroll down memory lane, yes?”
Her eyes narrowed on the trunk. “What’s in there?”
“I will leave that up to your imagination.”
Though beyond tempted to linger and finally enjoy seeing her where she belonged, he had things to attend to. So he strode out, slamming the door behind him. She hollered a variety of curses, but he ignored her and focused on the matter at hand.
“Did they see their man then?” he asked Robert joining him at the helm.
“Aye, Cap’n,” he confirmed. Men raced this way and that, readying the ship for departure. “They’ve set to sea.”
“Then let’s get after them.”
Robert nodded and roared orders. A few minutes later, the sails were raised, and they were in pursuit.
“Ye and yer brother planned this well,” Robert said. “It could have gone another way entirely.”
“Aye,” he grunted, not about to claim victory yet. They still had a ship to sink, not to mention Thomas’s end of things. But at least, Big Devil did as they knew he would and kept the information about the brooch to himself. That meant Blackbeard and his men were none the wiser. Nor would Big Devil mention his new prize Rose had been taken out from beneath his nose.
That would just be embarrassing.
Meanwhile, a few of Luke’s men, who were safely aboard now, had purchased ample time with ‘Hannah’ so as far as Blackbeard knew she was still being used well in the brothel. Eventually, he would find out she was missing, but by that time, Luke would be long gone and doubted Blackbeard would risk one of his ships in this weather to save a woman.
Might Blackbeard pursue them eventually? Unlikely if all went as planned.
He peered through the rain, steering the ship into a wave, as unfazed by the conditions as his fellow pirates. “Ye see ‘er then?”
“Not yet.” Robert narrowed his eyes, then on the next lightning flash pointed north. “There she is!”
As Luke suspected would happen, the ship Big Devil had ordered to stay behind on the off chance the brooch was here, had been waiting for its men to return. So, after one of Luke's mates let himself be seen heading back to Abigail's brothel, they had been able to execute their plan.
Lure some rats into their trap.
After the man who had grabbed Hannah was dragged inside, Luke's crew finished off anyone lurking in the immediate vicinity but kept their captive alive. Then they made sure the enemy saw that man captured when Luke headed to his ship. That way, they knew things had not gone well. Nor would it for their new prisoner. A man whose fate was doomed for what he had nearly done to Hannah.
Suffice it to say, the enemy had fled, and Luke was on their tail.
The land rats had been dealt with, now it was just a matter of time before the sea rats were taken out too. “Keep on ‘em ‘til we’re far enough from the island as well as ships that might be comin’ and going.” Staying beyond firing distance went without saying. He shook his head. “I don’t want this gettin’ back to Blackbeard.”
“Aye, Cap’n.” Robert took the wheel again. “I can see this done without ye if need be.” He offered a crooked grin and winked, referring to Hannah. “I’d kill the man who disturbed me with that one tied to my bed.” He shrugged. “Besides, the fightin’ should be fast.”
“But fightin’ nonetheless.” He clapped his man on the shoulder. “Ye know better than to assume a win, aye? Those fleein’ are always the fiercest.”
“Aye.” Robert tossed a lusty look of appreciation in the general direction of Luke’s cabin. “Almost as fierce as the wee hellion waitin’ to spread ‘er thighs for ye.”
He grinned and headed for the cabin, at last relishing the sight of Hannah when he opened the door. She was right where he had left her. Her wet off-white dress clung to her tempting, curvaceous body, making him glad he had not allowed his gaze to linger on her before.
He would never have made it out of here.
“You are...there are no words for you,” she seethed. “Sinful.”
“Sinful?” He chuckled and closed the door, bracing himself against the sway of the ship. “Is that all you can come up with? I thought to hear more of your colorful phrases from before.”
“Sin is the epitome of what you are,” she spat.
“Ah, yes,” he murmured, wondering if she were tempting him on purpose. “You and that word.”
She stilled at his softly spoken reminder, recognizing the warning in it.
