Romancing the Pirate 01 - Blood and Treasure (24 page)

“No. No help from me.”

Sadie stepped in close and spoke into his ear. “You like me, don’cha Bull?”

He stood very still, staring forward.

She took Bull’s hand from the door jamb and placed it on her arse. She will get what she came for, one way or another. With or without Zane, she
will
captain the
Rissa
and see the ship live up to her daunting reputation. She
will
avenge her father’s death. She
will
live like her father had promised. Sadie remembered well those nights Papa sailed to port. He came bearing glittering gifts of gold and shiny jewels any girl on the cusp of womanhood would covet. He never outright gave her the gifts. Instead they’d live in fancy hotels and dined like kings until the money was spent, and then he’d be gone again. Aye, she missed Papa. Wouldn’t he be proud of his little pirate princess, now? Before the space of a year, all of the Caribbean will know of Sadie Greene.

“Do as I say and I’ll make it worth your while,” she said. “Would you like that?”

He squeezed and slowly looked down into her face.

“Of course you would.”

He returned to gazing frontwards.

“Spread tale. The winds will return when that bitch is gone. Do this,” she returned to his ear, put her lips to his lobe, “and you won’t be disappointed.”

Blackened teeth peeked beneath his evil smile. Men, all too easy to manipulate with a few minutes of knocking. An act they both could enjoy. Take no notice of his filthy smell and his ugly mug and she’d come off just as he.

“Good. I’ll leave you to your task.” She took a step back, but he snapped up her wrist.

“No. We fuck now.”

“Very well.” She let him pull her through the door to the deck below. An alliance shall be forged and soon another seed in her plan would take root.

*****

Henri slapped his cards to the table as Lianna fanned hers out for the little man to see. “I’ll be damned.” He shook his head in astonishment.

They sat in Zane’s cabin, unaware of him as he leaned, arms crossed, against the door jamb. Henri’s leg rested propped on a chair. A vessel of ale sat between them, two more lay empty on the floor. Lianna had been keeping Henri company since after breakfast. His throbbing leg he incessantly complained about wasn’t near the amount of pain he’d been causing in Zane’s backside and she offered to entertain the grumpy, snarling navigator and keep him out of Zane’s way.

“That’s eight in a row.” Lianna smiled wide. “Good thing we’re not wagering. I’d own your soul with the way you play.”

“If’n I didn’t know better, I’d say ye be cheatin’.” He winked at her.

“To what purpose?” She shuffled the cards. “A game isn’t a game if you have to cheat your way to win. The loss is usually much greater than the stakes when the ruse is up. No, I prefer the challenge of winning square.”

“Not many share in ye thinkin’.” He gathered up the cards she dealt across the table.

“That I know to be true. But, I have a knack for spotting a cheat.” She arranged the cards in her hands, putting them in order of relevance. “Whether I call the rascal on it or fold is a matter of the stakes. Just like now.” She glanced over her hand. “I haven’t anything to lose by calling you out with the ace you are hiding in your shirt sleeve.”

“Wha’? Ye? But how?” Henri’s cheeks flushed as pink as his beard bows. “Aw, criminy.” He fished the card out and flicked it onto the table.

“How despicable to cheat a lady.”

Startled by Zane’s booming, angry voice, Henri flinched and swiped at the cards in effort to conceal them.

Zane caught the two conspicuously gambling, a leisure not tolerated on his ship. Banning such games of chance kept peace among his crew. Without the vice of gaming, quarreling and fighting remained minimal.

Still, there was something very attractive about Lianna not only knowing how to play but nonchalantly catching Henri cheating as well. Another tidbit he would add to her growing list of endearments. She sat twisted in her chair facing him with her arm resting across its back, a colorful vision to behold. A handsome woman of grace peppered with the spices of sinful, epicurean life. Not to mention her prowess in his bed last night. She made him ache.

“My apologies, Captain Fox. Henri told me the laws of your ship regarding games. I admit coercing him to play.” She wore an unapologetic smile. She didn’t seem affected by his commanding force, or threatened by his anger. He was a tad annoyed by that, for only a moment, until her sensual smile heightened his heat, honing him to her energy.

“Don’t be angry with him. No wagering took place.”

“’Less ye be meanin’ me pride,” mumbled Henri.

“Be that as it may, I will not permit cards, dice or any other betting on board.” He tried to sound stern and maybe he did, but he wasn’t really perturbed with them.

“Of course, Captain Fox. No more gambling.” She gathered up the cards and stacked them neatly.

’Twas a nice change of pace seeing Henri be amicable, not snappish. Lianna had taken his mind off his painful leg and Zane hadn’t had to listen to the crabby goat whine and carry on about his near death experience. That in itself was worth every grain of salt.

He almost hated to ask his next question. “How’s your leg, man?”

“I’m sufferin’ somethin’ awful.”

“Good. The fog is clearing. The winds shouldn’t be far behind.” He walked over, handing Henri his crooked cane. “I’ll need you at the helm when they do. We’re under heavy pressure to cut through to Jamaica before nightfall.”

Zane took the ale from Henri just before he put it to his lips, handing him an apple from a nearby wooden bowl instead. “I also need you sober.”

Henri grumbled as he shakily grabbed his cane and hobbled out the door.

“Thank you for putting up with him. I know he can be impossible,” Zane said.

“Nonsense. He just needs a little fussing over and then he’s as easy as a cantankerous mule.”

Zane laughed at her candor. He held out his elbow. “Would you care to take a walk with me, Miss Whitney?”

“I’d be delighted.”

Zane placed a protective hand over hers, holding his elbow in close once they emerged to walk the quarterdeck. He could feel her ease with him, her confidence, in the way she glided alongside, in their idle chitchat. Her guard was down. She trusted herself with him and that boasted him with higher regard. Her protector, a post with a certain perquisite he relished.

Maybe one more romp before they entered Jamaican waters.

*****

The pistol hanging from Zane’s red sash rubbed against Lianna’s hip with each step. ’Twas a constant reminder her escort was a very dangerous man. The feel of the hard metal flooded her thoughts of something else belonging to him that was solid. Her body reacted, a sensation tingling between her legs, to the hot memory of the night before. What she wouldn’t give for another night with Zane.

But it wasn’t to be. For now, she would just bask in his company and treasure his memory. She inhaled his salted earthiness mingled with the humid air and sighed. Besides, she had far run her course on happiness this voyage.

Chills raced along Lianna’s spine, sensing eyes upon her back. She stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Zane asked.

She turned around and froze, alarmed to see half of the crew banded together scowling at her.
Uh-oh. What did I do this time?
There was no telling.

Zane frowned. “What is the meaning of this?” His elbow dropped and he moved instinctively in front of her. He perched his hand on the hilt of his sword. The gesture was one of command, of undoubted respected leadership. His crew had been a loyal bunch and there would be no need of drawing his sword. But should he need to, she was sure he wouldn’t hesitate.

“The wench.” The weathered sea dog, John, called out. “She be the reason the sea be stilled.”

“Aye.” Another seaman in the back of the mass of rogues agreed. “We be damned for keepin’ ’er.”

“I don’t fancy a poppet sendin’ me to me death,” another called.

Lianna peeked around Zane’s shoulder. She was stunned to hear these men, some of whom she had become acquainted with, deemed her the reason for the lack of wind. She hadn’t anything to do with the doldrums. Being out in the sun too long obviously made them a little cracked. She glanced up to see Zane’s profile. His jaw worked fiercely with tension.

“I don’t reckon I like ’er bein’ here,” said another.

Bull towered at the back of the crowd. His satisfied smirk sharpened her understanding of how thorny the briar patch of her troubles had become.

Jaq stepped forward. “We been talkin’, Capt’n. Seems to us that we need the sea’s bounty. We needin’ to lighten the load.” He cocked his chin in Lianna’s direction. “If’n ye know what we mean.”

Voices of the men rose into unified hollering, calling for Lianna’s removal. Panic assailed her lungs. The mob wanted to toss her overboard. They could overrun Zane. What would they do to him? Would they kill him, too?

“You fools!” Zane snorted, his eyes inflamed, kneading the grip to his sword. “You scurvy, ignorant fools! This woman has nothing,
nothing,
to do with your fate. But
I
sure the hell do! What man aboard this ship has not experienced the uncertainty of the ocean? What man aboard this ship has not suffered the cruelty of a seaman’s life? What man on board
my
ship has been wronged by
my
direction?” He emphasized his words with the pounding of his fist to his chest.

Other crewmen gathered around the disorderly uprising, not to miss the goings-on. Blade joined his captain by his side, as his position and honor warranted him. He, too, poised for a mutiny. The large black man, Sam, stood at the forefront. He locked eyes with Zane and nodded, showing his support should there be an uprising.

“Step forward, I say!” Spittle flung from Zane’s lips. “Step forward, those of you who dare say my judgment, my leadership, has failed you!” His face had become deep red. “STEP FORWARD!”

The men exchanged apprehensive glances at one another. No one was stupid enough to challenge their captain. Almost no one.

Sadie moved to the front, her feet planted wide, her fists on her hipbones. Her chocolate hair had been braided down her back but loose strands matted her damp face. Sweaty from her duties, she still displayed a feminine intensity that would be the envy of any woman or man. Her beauty and courage exuded from her every pore.

Lianna had that nagging jealous feeling again. That was, until Sadie spoke.

“Captain Fox,” Sadie began. “The crew’s grievances are not unfounded. Your ladyship has been a great distraction. Perhaps you should set your pride aside and recognize your duty as master and appease your men. Perhaps place her in the brig until we dock.” She turned to the crewmen behind her. “A compromise might satisfy the sea enough to set us on our way again.”

The men considered Sadie’s suggestion. The thought of an accord between mollifying the sea and their captain bumbled around in the men’s heads. Some shook their heads, others nodded. But most looked to their captain, and he eyed Sadie as if he could will daggers from his eyes.

“You are not a part of this crew, Sadie. You have no voice here.” Zane upturned his lips and growled. A bellicose veil blanketed his already angered temper.

“I know damn well and good that ’tis you behind this little rebellion. You have been using Miss Whitney for your own designs since you boarded my ship. My men would have realized it sooner or later. I have grown very tired of your antics. My mistake. I shouldn’t have offered you my tolerance. But I have none left for you now.”

Sadie twirled around to the crew. “Do you hear that?” She pointed back to Zane. “He would rather see you suffer a fury than to give up his warm spot between her legs!”