“I don’t know. I guess because women should stick together.”
She scoffs so hard she almost chokes. Once she’s swallowed her cheese and chased it with water, she wipes her mouth with the back of her arm. “That’s a load of bullshit if I’ve ever heard it. Women don’t stick together. We all have to do what’s necessary to survive—man or woman.”
“It can be that way, yeah.” I nod. “Or we can try to be better and help each other.”
“Fat chance.” She kicks the plate out of her cell. “Thanks for the food. Now get the hell out of here before the rats eat you.”
I lean forward, catching her gaze in the low light. “I misjudged someone. I thought she was my enemy, but really, she was just doing what was necessary to survive—as you said. She was cunning and clever, and she might have been the only chance we had at defeating Peter.”
“Tinker Bell,” Anne says quietly. “I heard you done her in and took her power.” She leans closer, eyeing me. “You certainly look better. Wings are nice. Last time I saw you, your face was like a dog turd left to dry in the sun. Chalky shit.”
“You really have a way with words. You know that?”
“I’m even better with a sword. How about you bring me one of those next time instead of food?” She grins.
“Not a chance.” I stand. “But I hope you think about what I said. I know you wanted to avenge Calico Jack, but I promise you he wasn’t worth your time or trouble. Maybe he wasyours, but you deserved better.”
“Girl, if you had any clue about what I deserve, you wouldn’t be down here talking to me. You’d be jumping over the side and swimming for shore. Never you mind about my personal business. Pirates don’t have much of a code except one. If it’s mine, don’t fucking take it. Simple. Because stealing from another pirate is the one sin none of us will forgive.”
“Even if what was stolen was a horrible person who had it coming?”
“Even then.” She gives me a stiff nod.
I sigh. “I’ll be back with more food later.”
“Don’t waste your time.” She scoots back until I can’t see her eyes for the shadows. “I’m going to die down here. Either that or I’ll find a way to kill your captain and take his crew for myself.”
I pause, my spine straightening as fiery anger licks along my soul. “If you did that, I would hunt you down. I wouldn’t stop until you were dead, Anne.” I mean every word.
“There. Now you understand,” she says from the dark.
I stare at the gloom for a while, then realize I’m not going to get through to her. At least, not today. But I’ll keep trying. I grab her cup and plate, then climb back up, stop by the galley, and peek in on Cecco. He’s lying on his stomach reading a book, the wounds on his back covered with some sort of salve that Skylights cooked up.
“Ciao.” He waggles his fingers at me.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like a chewed-up piece of gristle, but it could be worse. At least my new tattoo remains untouched.” He glances over his shoulder at the skull Bill did for him. It barely escaped being stripped away, because a large swath of his back is still in tatters. “Sky found some special ingredients at the village, put a few in his pack. He made me a magic pill, andpresto, I’m feeling just fine.”
“I know the pills you mean. I’m glad he was able to whip something up for you, because I’m going to be honest, it looks really painful.”
“Oh, it is.” He sighs. “I hope this stuff doesn’t wear off for a long time.”
“What are you reading?” I point at the book.
“Just some novel I found stuffed under Bill’s mattress. I skipped to the good part.” He holds it up, and I catch the words ‘torn bodice’ and ‘turgid rod’ before my cheeks begin to heat.
“Looks like a classic.” I give him a thumbs up.
“I’ll let you borrow it when I’m done.” He turns to the next page. “Thanks for coming to see me.”
“No problem. You want water or anything?”
“I’ve got Clarita and Dom Antonio, star-crossed lovers who were never meant to fall in love, especially not when their parents forbade it. They’re all I need. Them and their fiery love affair.Molto caldo.” He focuses on the book, and I close his door.
I head to the upper deck. The breeze is a relief as it caresses my skin. I’m not particularly claustrophobic, but any time spent below decks can change that rather quickly.
It’s darker now, the moon hidden behind roiling clouds overhead. A rough wind blows past, pushing my hair back from my face and snapping the sail above me tight. The sea is an inky black, no stray light glinting off the tips of waves.
