Romancing the Pirate 01 - Blood and Treasure (31 page)

Shock, anger, hatred played across Bennington’s distorted visage. He raised his rapier to strike. Zane pushed his cutlass in further. Face to face the men stood. Words were exchanged. Bennington dropped his sword, grabbed Zane by his collar. They moved from Lianna’s view.

Blade rushed beside her. “Are you all right?” He loosened the noose, pulling it over her head.

All she could manage was a nod.

“Zane cut the rope just in time. You’re one lucky lady.”

Blade worked to remove the binds from her hands. She continued looking up through the opening for Zane. He peered down the drop, relief in his smile.

“Round ’em up, men.” Blade shouted at the scallywags and hooked his arm around her waist, lifting her to her feet.

With their leader fallen, the British soldiers abandoned their fight. The rogues had them corralled to the middle of the square. Cheers of victory filled the night sky as they triumphantly pumped their swords and guns skyward.

Weak from exertion, she leaned on Blade for support as they ascended the scaffolding steps to where Zane waited. She wanted to collapse into her captain’s protective embrace and sleep wrapped in his arms like a down coverlet forever. She knew where she belonged now.

The minacious Gallows Point reverberated with the raucous cheers. Zane stood enjoying the revelry and the weight of his burdens disappeared. It was over. The mission, the dogging, the dangers to his woman, it was all over. All that was left to do was to turn The Serpent over to Governor Abbott and whisk Lianna away to fulfill her dreams.

She shimmered in a vision of beauty, his angel of mercy sent from the heavens. The swing of her hips, the lush curves of her bosom, the flow of her burnished hair, these were accentuated in the golden glow of firelight. She was all grace, even as she tripped on the last step of the scaffolding stairs. Her smile wrapped around his heart, lifting him higher than he ever thought possible. But then her smile faded.

“Zane! Look out!” Lianna ran for him, shoving him.

Zane whirled around. In his last burst of life, Commodore Bennington grabbed for Lieutenant Trent’s cast aside piece. He fired off a shot before choking in his own blood. Lianna jerked, falling backward into Zane’s chest. Her eyes were wide and glassy with shock.

“Lianna!” Zane grabbed her arms, turning her around.

Lianna squeezed her eyes shut, her lips tightened into thin lines. He’d taken a bullet before and knew of the pain wracking through her body. She suffered and with all his heart he wished he could ease her agony. “Lianna!”

Taking a deep ragged breath she looked to him. “I’m not afraid of dying, Zane.” She bit her lip and held very still for an excruciating moment. “Not now. Not here in your arms.”

Horror devoured Zane. It all happened too quickly. Frantically he held his hand to her wound over her heart in a tight compression. “Hold on, dove. Just hold on.”

Blade raced forward, ripping his shirt from his body. He placed the balled fabric into the wound to staunch the bleeding.

Smiling, she lifted her mouth to Zane’s, whispering, “I love you,” in a kiss. Her body relaxed, falling limp in his embrace. He threw his head back roaring in rage, pulling Lianna into a tight squeeze. Sobbing, he sank to his knees, no longer able to hold their weight.

“No, no, no, no.” He rocked back and forth, refusing to believe, his head buried in her neck. She just couldn’t be gone. He had just gotten her back. She was a part of him now. This just couldn’t be. Was this some acrimonious punishment? A twist of his own fate?

The square had grown silent. Many removed their hats. Blade kneeled beside him, bowing his head, joining him in his grief.

With great effort, Zane recovered his composure. He faltered on the brink of total madness. But he would refuse to let her die.

“The Serpent,” he rasped.

Blade looked up. “What?”

“The Serpent! Where’s The Serpent?”

“Captain Fox,” Lieutenant Trent called. He dragged himself over to his captain’s corpse and rifled through his pockets.

Skeptical, Zane eyed him. Did the lieutenant mean to do something foolish? Would Zane stop him should he try?

“I had always hoped you’d prevail,” Trent confessed. He pulled out the medallion from Bennington’s breast pocket. “He was such a bastard.”

Lieutenant Trent tossed The Serpent to Zane. Snatching it midair, he inclined his head in appreciation to the officer.

Blade wore a look of apprehension, but he nodded at Zane. “I’m with you, brother.”

Zane laid Lianna down on the platform. He brushed her hair away from her forehead. “You lied to me,” he whispered. “You said you wouldn’t leave.”

He lifted her right hand to his lips and kissed the inside of her palm. Placing the medallion in her hand, he folded her fingers around the golden charm. Relinquishing her fate,
their
fate, to the lore of the medallion and its magical healing powers, he laid her hand across her chest to rest over her heart.

Waves breaking on the rocks below Gallows Point mocked Zane. The merciless murmur of the sea beckoned louder than it should. He yearned to silence her.

“I pray this works.” He closed his eyes and recited the Latin words written on the pendant. “In extremis orior oriri ortus iterum vivo, amo, futurus fidelis.”

How ridiculous to utter the words, like he had been some preposterous soothsayer. All eyes were upon him as if only he could produce the miracle he himself didn’t even believe possible. Yet he had to try, test the fabled legend of the apocryphal magical Serpent.

Lianna looked beautiful in death and he had no doubt she would remain that way forever. Her angelic face shrouded in sweet, peaceful slumber. The bloody stain on her gown had ceased to flow. But still, she showed no sign of life.

“Maybe you didn’t say it right,” Blade said.

Blade may be right. He needed to try to believe in the talisman and hope her spirit lingered near. Zane repeated the words, this time with more conviction.

Again, nothing happened. Of course. He was a fool to believe in an outrageous myth.

“I’m so sorry,” Blade whispered.

Zane sat back on his heels, his hands slack in his lap. He stared up at the waning sliver of crescent moon. She drifted on her last leg of her lunar journey across the sky, to hide away from the world before she fully returned to her throne among the stars.

“You can’t have her.” His declaration seemed to catch in the wind. He imagined his words swirling up into the night like the thistle of dandelions. “I won’t let her go.” Zane didn’t know why he talked to the moon. He only knew she listened. “She’s mine! Do you hear? Mine!”

The world withered away. He was bare, stripped clean. For once in his life he could not see past the moment. He could not envision a future for himself. He was unable to move forward. There wasn’t a tomorrow without his precious Lianna.

“Please. I beg of you. Please. Return her to me.” Bowing his head, he closed his eyes. “Please.” He whispered one last plea in a silent sob.

“Zane! Look!” Blade incredulously stared at Lianna.

Her head slightly lolled. Could it be? Did he dare believe it?

“Zane?” Lianna tightened her grip on the medallion and her eyelids fluttered open. She smiled up at him. “Zane.”

Laughing in disbelief, he scooped her into his arms. “Welcome back, sweetheart.” He held her as if he would never let go. “I thought I lost you.”

“She says I don’t need her anymore, Zane.” Lianna looked to the sky before settling her serene gaze back on him.

“She’s right, Lianna. You don’t need her. You have me and I love you.”

She cupped her palms to his cheeks and he crushed his lips to hers in a passionate embrace.

Cheers erupted throughout the square.

Blade laughed. “Perhaps you two should get a room.”

*****

The lucent amber morning light bathing Lianna left Zane in a drowsy languor. They lay tangled within each other while he watched her smile in her sleep. His whole world rested wrapped in his arms. He felt exhilarated; it was in the very air he breathed. He lazily rubbed her supple back as she stirred.

“Mmm.” Lianna hummed, perhaps returning from a dream.

“Morning.”

“Good morning.” She tilted her head back to stare up at him.

“Hope you slept well.”

“Better than I ever have in my life,” she said.

He planted a kiss to her forehead and inhaled her clean, fresh hair. Aye, he could stay like this with her bundled close for all eternity.

“Zane?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you think The Serpent really worked?”

Zane, sliding his gaze to the bandage secured on her chest, internally winced. He had asked himself the same question dozens of times, mulling the events of last night over and over.

“I’m not sure.” Zane sighed. “Blade said by the looks of your wound ’twas nearly impossible to tell if the bullet struck your heart or missed it entirely.”

He feared talking too much about it would send her back to teetering on the banks of the river of death. Lianna must have noticed how uncomfortable he felt discussing their frightening ordeal. Her splayed hand on his stomach sent curls of warmth to all points of his body as she stroked his ribs before reaching for his hand. She gave him a reassuring squeeze.

“I can certainly relate to The Serpent’s appeal,” he added. “But I don’t ever want to test its power again. I intend to keep you tethered to my side and out of trouble.” He grinned at her.

“You sure you want to do that? I can be a bit clumsy,” she teased.

He whistled, pretending to reconsider. Then, smiling, he raised his eyebrow. “I’ll take my chances.”

Lianna laughed and snuggled deeper into his embrace. “I can live with that.”

EPILOGUE

One month later

Lianna stood on the grassy crest of the cliff at the tip of a peninsula rounding a glittering bright blue bay. The glorious sun warmed her upturned face and she inhaled the sweet fragrance of wild flowers mingled with the salty sea breeze that rustled in the canopy of the lush trees behind her. She adored this place. The peaceful beauty of nature and her mysterious moods tantalized and refreshed the mind and soul. She could spend her entire days in this spot, suspended between heaven and earth.

Opening her eyes, her gaze fell upon the lone ship in the bay slipping into open waters. A small tinge of sadness gripped her heart. She would miss the
Rissa
and the memories she had made with her mighty captain in his quarters. But then she trusted she would see the insuperable brigantine again.

Soft fur rubbing against her ankles broke her attention away from the ship. “Chester,” she said. She bent to stroke the cat. “Did you follow me up here?” The orange tabby arched his back for more petting. He had come to be a welcomed pet since she arrived to this piece of paradise in Jamaica.

“What a spectacular view.”

She peered back to Zane climbing the trail to her little haven.

“Aye, it is.” She stood as he joined her.

“I wasn’t talking about the sea.”

The smirk across his handsome face gave away his true meaning. “You’re such a rake.” She rolled her eyes and laughed.

“Just wait until I get you to your room, sweet lady.” His eyebrow cocked devilishly. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing his chest against her back as they both watched his precious
Rissa
on the clear horizon.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked.

“No.”

He was being honest. Lianna knew it was the hardest thing he’d ever done. But Zane insisted on turning over his ship’s helm to Blade.

After that night in Port Royal, Zane had indeed successfully completed his mission. He’d handed over The Serpent to Governor Abbott, receiving the outrageous reward he had been promised. Every crewman on board received their portion of the bounty. Many retired, returning home to their families. Still others, Henri included, opted to continue to call the
Rissa
home. Jason, too, wanted to stay on and Zane promised he could. But not until after Jason received the proper education Zane had insisted upon.

He had given Ben of The Blue Peacock Bull’s share of the wages, which was enough to buy Molly a little cottage just outside Kingston. Zane even sent some money to Lianna’s uncle to help rebuild the tavern that had been destroyed in the fire. He was ever so generous.

“She’s in good hands,” he continued. “Blade will treat her as I did. I’d trust no one else with her.”

“I don’t want you to regret this, staying home with me.” Lianna couldn’t bear the idea of him growing resentful toward her, feeling trapped by her, unable to be master of the oceans.

“’Twas my decision to retire. I love you, Lianna. I want nothing more than to spend my life with you. I could never regret that.”

Lianna rested her head against his chest and let his words course into her heart. “I love you, too.”

Zane had taken her as his wife on this very bluff just three evenings ago. The entire crew had been there to witness their union. A grand affair, to be sure. The blazing sunset had been perfect and the winds stayed calm, only gently cooling the evening air with feather soft kisses. She’d worn a beautiful white silk gown woven with delicate pale pink rosettes. Her hair had been swept up and laced with tiny flowers. By the look on Zane’s face, she’d been as beautiful as she’d felt. Her groom had been breathtaking, too, in his exquisite black damask finery trimmed with gold brocade. Never had a man stood so powerful and proud. Her champion.

The whole event had been arranged by Blade, complete with music and entertainers. Henri had cooked a dazzling feast, proving he could do more than piddle his talent away in a ship’s galley. And Jason, sweet Jason, had given her Chester as a wedding gift. He had saved the poor hungry cat from a butcher’s knife when the feline tried to steal a chop from Henri’s kitchen. Ben and Molly attended their nuptials, too. Everyone ate and drank heartily, and danced and danced. The celebration lasted well after Zane had scooped her off to consummate their vows. Great merriment was had by all and it had taken this long for Blade and the
Rissa’s
crew to recover before they could set sail again.

She couldn’t have dreamed of a better wedding or of a better man to spend her life with. To be wholly in love with someone who completely loved her back, well, she was the luckiest woman alive. If it ended tomorrow, it would’ve all been worth it.

He had bought a plantation house on a large parcel of land along the southeastern tip of the island. Colorfully exuberant gardens and green hillsides surrounded the fine estate. The exotic furnishings Zane had acquired in his travels rivaled that of the Governor’s palace. Yet the home was not imperious, but inviting and comfortable. The perfect place to raise a family.

Impulsively, she placed a hand to her belly. Someday.

A moderate limekiln occupied the edge of the estate. Zane decided to try his hand at running the kiln, overseeing the lime burners. ’Twas a lucrative move. With a port nearby, he was sure to turn a tidy profit off of shipping the commodity. “Time for me to become one with the land,” he had recently declared.

He seemed to have thought of it all, a grand scheme for their future. She couldn’t be happier.

Zane pensively sighed. “My sea roving days are over.”

“Oh, but I beg to differ, my lord,” she teased. “You have taken to plundering me regularly. That makes you a pirate in every sense of the term.”

“If a pirate I am, then a pirate I shall be.” Zane spun her around to ravish her in a deep kiss. She grinned, and then followed his gaze to his ship in the distance.

“Fair winds and following seas, brother.” Zane smiled.

With that, he flipped her over his shoulder and headed down the path leading to the new home they shared. “Time to claim my booty.”

“Again?” She bubbled with giggles. “You’re incorrigible.”

“I know. I’m hopeless. Hopelessly in love with you.”

Of that she had no doubt. But Lianna was not blind. She may have his love but could only claim half of his heart. The other half lay with the sea. And she would be calling.

Better consider taking up sailing.