“Hey, I thought you two wanted to practice with Widow and me. We just finished.”
“Oh, I um, I had some things to do. Sorry I missed it. I’ll get the next one.” Shiner hurries away.
“What was that about?” I ask Skylights.
“Nothing.” He steps past me, and when he walks directly beneath one of the lanterns, I gasp. “You’ve got a hickey!”
“What?” He turns to me. “A what?”
I tap my neck. “Right there!”
He reaches up and pops his collar. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Looks like you two have been practicing all on your own.” I cross my arms over my stomach. “Don’t you dare deny it.”
He gives me a wry smile. “I don’t deny it, but Shiner might.”
“You’re her sneaky link?”
He cocks his head to the side, clearly confused.
“Her booty call?”
His head turns even farther, like a German Shepherd listening to its owner.
“Never mind. You two have fun.” I turn to walk away, then stop. “But be careful. If you cross her, it won’t end well for you.”
“I’m aware. The danger is just a bonus.” He strides away whistling, a strut in his gait.
Here I was thinking Skylights was the standup guy on the crew. He’s a doctor and the quartermaster, respected and smart. But he’s still a pirate—and when he sees something he wants, he takes it. But Shiner isn’t a treasure to be won, she’s a lot more. I think I’m going to enjoy watching her put him through his paces.
I keep going farther toward the back of the ship, then climb down a ladder to a lower deck. The air is close down here, and the smell isn’t exactly pleasant. But I suppose that’s true of any ship.
“Come for a social call, have you?” Anne sits on the floor of the brig, which is nothing more than a metal cage bolted to the floor of the deck.
It reminds me of where Peter kept me in the cave, but if I think about that, I’ll run out of here and never come back. Instead, I slide the plate of food through the grate in the door, then hand her the cup of water.
She takes it, drinks some, then spits it out. “This is water!”
I roll my eyes and sit down, crossing my legs. “I’m not bringing you alcohol. It’ll only dehydrate you faster.”
“I knew you were a bitch the moment I laid eyes on you.” She pulls the plate over to her and sniffs the bread, then takes a ridiculously huge bite, working the piece into her mouth for a while before swallowing and continuing to chew.
“Has Cookson been feeding you?”
She just stares at me.
“Hook told him to let you starve. I hope Cookson doesn’t take that to heart.”
She scoffs. “What sort of captain would your loverboy be if his cook didn’t follow his orders?”
“It’s a good point, but I think Hook was a little blinded by rage when he captured you, what with you trying to slit my throat and all. I figure he’ll cool off … eventually.”
“Then you don’t know him as well as you think you do. ‘Cool off.’” She rolls her eyes. “Hook lives for vengeance. That’s it.”
“Maybe so, but I’m not going to give up on you.”
“Why?” She rips off a piece of cheese, then puts the whole slice in her mouth.
