“He left out the part that his mother was—”
Christian drew his sword and started across the clearing and Isaac dropped the chest. “Don’t listen to him.” The officer reached out as if to clap his hands over her ears, but she twisted from his reach.
“My wife.”
It took a moment for the words to sink in. Christian slid to a stop and his face went pale as a ringing filled her ears. Thorne, his father?
Impossible.
But the look on his face said it all.
“Red.” Her name tumbled from his lips in a strangled whisper.
She shook her head, slowly at first and backed away. “How?”
How could he have kept it from her? How long had he known? How could she have not recognized the similarities between the two men? Their hair color. The intense green of their eyes. The same damn nose and chin.
The little lines of pain in her chest exploded outward and she fell to her knees. His father murdered her parents.
Christian stepped toward her but Thorne’s voice cut through the clearing. “Not so fast, son. Your pretty little piece here isn’t any ordinary pirate.”
She pressed her eyes closed.
“You’re looking at Captain Remington’s niece.”
Her muscles tensed. But Christian didn’t say anything. After several moments of tense silence, she opened her eyes to catch a glimpse of sodden boots twisting away. He left the clearing without so much as a word.
Spots filled her vision as her chest went tight. Her uncle. If shedidn’t get back to Savannah before the navy, he might very well face the noose. She pushed to leaden feet and stumbled down the path. “Christian!”
He turned and she stopped short. “You were right, Red. We are enemies. I was foolish to forget.”
“Please.” The brush blurred around her in a swirl of green. “My uncle.”
He laughed, the cold sound extinguishing the day’s heat. “Let me guess. You want amnesty for him as well? Tell me, what exactly do you have left to offer?”
The words cut through her.
“He’s all the family I have.”
His face twisted. “Family? How lucky you know of such a concept. Up until last week, I had no family. And look where I am now.” He jabbed a finger back toward the clearing. “Don’t cry to me about family when I’ll be hanging my father by the end of the week.” His voice broke and he turned away once more. “I’ll give you and your uncle one week to disappear.”
She caught her breath. “You know that’s not possible.”
“It’s the only grace I’m willing to offer.”
Those broad shoulders held a rigid stance, his breaths coming ragged. He was hurting. And damned her if she didn’t want to reach out. Her own breath shuddered. He wouldn’t accept any comfort from her. Not anymore.
“The favor.”
He didn’t move.
“You said you owed me a favor. This is what I want. Don’t come after my uncle.”
His fingers curled into fists. “I think we’re even after today.”
A tightness closed around her throat. “I’ll talk to him. Tell him our pirating is over.”
Silence pressed around her as he shook his head.
