I gingerly move to it, careful not to rock the boat too much. We’re in deep water now, the shore far behind us. The mist surrounds us, covering everything with a milky haze.
I pull on the ladder, testing it, and it holds as pirates clunk around on the deck above me. It takes more effort than I thought I had, but I manage to climb using mostly my good leg. When I pull myself onto the deck, I look back over to find all three pirates in the boat staring up at me. That’s when I realize they’d been looking up my dress.
Yanking my dress over my knees, I catch my breath as I sit with my back against the side railing. Pirates mill around, all of them eyeing me suspiciously, some of them whispering to each other. When the captain pops over the top of the ladder, he takes off his ridiculous hat and tosses it to one of the men. “Hang it up.”
“Aye.” The pirate limps off, one of his legs a wooden peg.
“Welcome aboard.” The captain takes my arm and pulls me along with him toward the front of the ship. “You’ll be plenty comfortable. I’ll even be so kind as to keep you in my private quarters.” He turns to me, a smile on his lips. “Seeing as how I’m a gentleman.”
There’s nothing about this man that’s remotely gentle. I glance back at the island, but I can’t see it through the fog. My misgivings are growing by the second, but I’ve made my stupid bed, so now I have to lie in it—stupidly.
“In here.” He opens a narrow door that leads into his quarters, the ceiling low and only one window along the back. It smells like stale laundry with extra muskiness. I want to cover my nose, but I’m trying not to be rude.
“Get underway, you dogs!” The captain’s shout makes me jump.
I look around the sparse room and realize Hook’s quarters verge on nice. This is more like a cellar than anything, musty smells included.
“Nice, eh?” He closes the door and leans on it, his hand behind him as I hear the lock turn over. “Let it never be said that Calico Jack doesn’t know how to treat a lady.”
Calico Jack? Isn’t that the one Blackbeard kept joking about being his enemy?
“Have a seat.” He points to the bed. “It’s mighty comfortable.”
The ship lurches, moving through the sea toward Neverland.
“I’m good.” I back against the wall and glance out the window. “When will we get to Neverland?”
“Already wanting to leave us?” He steps toward me, his gaze raking up and down my body.
My heart drops into my stomach, and I glance at the door. “I just know Peter’s worried about me. That’s all.”
“I’d say so.” He moves closer. “He’s paying me a pile of fairy dust and a heap of gold to deliver you to his doorstep.”
“Then we’d better sail faster.” I stare back at him.
“We will.” His tongue darts out and wets his bottom lip. “When I’m done.”
I tense, my entire body going rigid as he leers at me. I don’t have to ask what he means, not when he reaches for his belt. “No!” I scream and dart along the wall.
He closes the distance between us, and I try to jerk to the right and avoid his grasp. I don’t. His fingers grip my night dress, and he yanks me to him.
“Let go!” I slap at him, but he shoves me back against the wall.
The back of my head explodes with pain, and I see stars for a moment. Then he’s on me, grabbing my arm and dragging me toward his bed.
“Stop!” I fight, yanking against him and trying to free myself. But he’s bigger and stronger, and I don’t stand a chance against him.
He throws me onto the bed. “The bossy twat didn’t say what shape I had to deliver you in, girl. Keep fighting me, and you’ll be a lot worse for wear.”
I kick at him, still fighting as he slaps a hand on my chest and holds me down.
“Quit moving. It’ll be over soon. Just take it and stop your whining.”
“Get off!” I scratch his face, my soul turning into a caged animal.
He roars and rears back, backhanding me across the cheek so hard it makes my ears ring.
I gasp, pain radiating through me as my mind swims.
