She faced him.“Why would he do that?”
“Because I haveyou,my sweet.”One side of his lips curved.
“What makes you think Cadan cares enough to come after me?”She gave a ladylike huff.“He used me as bait to trap you.”
Damien ran two fingers down the side of his mouth and eyed her with suspicion.“Ah,ma douce, you deceive yourself.I saw the look in his eyes when he came to your rescue.How gallant!”He snapped his fingers.“The hero coming for his lady love.”
Look?What look could Cadan possibly have had aside from anger that he’d been bested by his enemy.“I assure you, he only cares to get his revenge on you.”
“And now.”Damien’s eyes brimmed with joy.“I have stolen yet another woman from him.”
“I am not his woman!”Gabrielle stomped her foot.“Besides, he has your son.’Tis enough to satisfy his revenge for now.”
The truth of that statement rang loud within her.Perhaps doing harm to Matthew or selling him as a slave would be enough to satisfy Cadan’s vengeance.
“You do not know him that well.”Damien fingered the jewel on his finger.“He will come after you.Of that I have no doubt.”
Gabrielle frowned, frustration rising.Part of her wanted Cadan to come to her rescue, part of her wanted him to stay far away where Matthew would be safe.
Gripping her hands together to stop their sudden tremble, she met Damien’s gaze head on.“So, you will set a trap for him?”
???
Cadan stared out the stern windows facing the island of Saint Thomas oscillating in his vision with each rock of the ship.Rays from a setting sun turned sand into gold and the wooden buildings of the town of Charlotte Amalie into amber as men, women, servants, and slaves strode across the busy streets.An occasional carriage or horse drawn wagon parted the mass of humanity as they went about their work, shopping or doing the bidding of their masters.Muscled slaves hoisted crates from docked ships onto the wharf before loading them into wagons.Hawkers sold their wares as chickens clucked about unhindered.Doxies draped over upper balconies of punch houses called to lusty sailors below.
If his intuition was right, this port would be the most likely place for Allard to stop after the storm for either repairs or supplies, perhaps both.Hence, he’d sent Durwin and Pell into town to inquire at the various rum houses if anyone had seen the deviant Frenchman.
Cadan’s gaze landed on a tavern he frequented, and he licked his lips.He could use a night of revelry, a night to forget his troubles and drown himself in rum and women.Well, perhaps just rum.He’d lost interest in women since Lady Fox had come into his life.Muddle, for the effect she had on his mind and, more importantly, his heart.He had to find her, rescue her from that madman.
And give her back her babe.He hated children, never wanted any of his own, and now here he was caring for one, a demon babe at that!
The child had done naught but scream and wail and soil all over Cadan’s shirts, enough to torture a confession out of the bravest of men.So much so, he’d had to hand him over to Soot for a few hours of peace.
He had to think.Had to plan.
Had to appease a crew who voiced rather vehemently their demand to go after the treasure and leave the ladies to their fate.All save Pell and Moses.
He ground his fists together.His power to usurp them only came in battle.On any other matter, the majority ruled.
Yet how could he abandon the ladies now?
Who is she to you?She spurned you at every turn.
True words, though where had those thoughts come from?
He rubbed his eyes.He must be going mad.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he glanced at his bed where his coverlets and quilts remained in a tangled heap.He’d spent another restless night, only this time the nightmares returned.He’d been strapped to a wooden post, his bare back to the wind.He could still smell the musky scent of the wood, the sweat of his fellow prisoners in shackles standing to the side, and oddly a salty breeze that brought the scent of flowers.
Slap!Pain tore across his back, spiraling down his legs.He ground his teeth, vowing to not scream out and give the guards the pleasure they sought.Slap!Worse this time.Heat seared across his skin.The prisoners moaned.One of them cheered.The distant bell of a church rang.Snap!Agony wrenched what was left of Cadan’s will.He slumped to his knees, his cheek grinding against the wooden post.The guards laughed.Snap!Rays from a hot sun scorched his raw open wounds.Blood trickled onto his breeches.
Cadan had woken with a start, breath huffing and sweat covering his chest.That fateful day when he’d been hanging onto the post for dear life, suffering the most torturous pain any man should feel, he’d vowed to get his revenge on Allard.
The sound of a baby wailing grew louder, snapping him from his memories.His first inclination was to hide and pretend he was not in.Crazy notion!He’d commanded men in battle, boarded and captured over a dozen merchantmen, defeated both captain and crew with blade and musket.He would not be disarmed by an infant.Especially not Allard’s brat.
Someone rapped on his door.
“Enter!”Cadan shouted over the din, and in marched Soot, a screaming Matthew in his arms and a look of abject horror on his reddened face.“Cap’n, I can’t.I can’t.I can’t stop ’em from screaming.”
