“You don’t have family.”
Blast.
She straightened her back. “I know. That’s why it doesn’t matter.”
He studied her for a moment and she leaned into the shadows along the wall. That piercing gaze cut into her and her stomach sank. She dropped her eyes to the ornate rug on the floor. No way she was getting out of this.
The knife clattered to the table and she flinched.
“Go and get the keys. I’ll mete out your punishment when you return.”
She jerked her head up. He held the wine goblet in his hand and swirled it before taking a drink. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed her.
Tears sprang to her eyes as she dashed out. When the door shut, she slumped against it. Too close. Too damn close. Darkness had fallen and she spread her hands against the wood, letting her feet absorb the almost indecipherable rocking on the gentle waves while her pulse pounded in her temple.
Blowing out a long breath, she steadied herself and ducked behind a barrel. Kneeling so that if anyone passed it would look like she was lacing her boot, she waited. And waited.
The trill of tropical frogs drifted through the air and Samantha’s heartbeat slowed. She leaned her head against the barrel and counted out the minutes as they stretched by.
A soft thud came from the other side of the wall and she jumped to her feet.
Finally.
With a quick glance around, she opened the door and slipped inside. Thorne lay on the floor, the goblet upended at his side. A small puddle of crimson glimmered in the candlelight. Now, to find the map.
She turned a slow circle around the room and stopped when she faced the desk. Moments later, she had all the drawers open.
Nothing.
No false-bottomed drawers.
Wait. There was one false bottom after all. She found the latch and wiggled the compartment open.
And blinked.
“What the . . .?”
She reached out and picked up Christian’s compass. Why in theworld would Thorne have taken the worthless thing? And even more confusing, why stash it in a hidden compartment?
Her hand tightened around the instrument and she turned back to Thorne’s prone body. The map was his most prized possession. So he must keep it close.
Her eyes widened.
Of course.
Dropping to her knees, she let her hands hover above his chest. “More pockets than one would have time to search,” Skip had said.
She ran her fingertips over the fabric, up and down, until she found a stiff rectangle sewn into his upper sleeve. Yanking her dagger free, she made a slit until a corner of waxed parchment popped free. Sliding it out, she held it to the light. Her lips tugged into a grin.
The map.
Thorne’s chest rose and fell in even breaths and she glanced at the blade in her hand. If she killed him, she could end it all. Make sure he never bothered her family again.
Samantha pressed the sharp steel above his heart. One quick thrust and it would be over. Her hand began to shake.
You can do this.
She increased her pressure and the blade cut through the pirate’s shirt. Pierced his skin. A few drops of blood blossomed crimson on the white fabric.
