Liam rubbed his neck, the rope burn raw and stinging.He’d accepted that his life would end this night, accepted that ’twas a fitting end for a young Irish lad who’d grown up poor and unloved, fitting for a man who’d wasted his life with women and game.Even worse, a man who would betray the only person who had given him a chance at redemption.
What he hadn’t expected was thatthatvery man would pay off Liam’s debt, would fight to save his life at the cost of his own.
What kind of man did that?
He couldn’t look at Caleb as they walked through the town back to the ship.The stench of his betrayal joined the odors of spirits, sweat, and salt riding on the breeze.Up ahead, the chime of a fiddle, laughter, and cursing floated atop lantern light flung onto the cobblestone from open tavern windows.
“Get it.”Caleb ordered.
Liam enteredLa Tête de Mort, plowed through the drunken mob, found the table in question, and retrieved the Ring where he’d stuffed it behind a loose plank in the wall.
If there was a God, he thanked Him then and there when his fingers touched the precious relic.
Caleb spoke not another word, nor did his men, until he entered his cabin and spun to face Liam.Alden followed him in and shut the door.
Liam swallowed at the fury simmering in his captain’s gaze.Had he escaped the noose only to be keelhauled?
♥
“I’m going to give you one chance to explain yourself, Liam, before I decide whether to lock you below or leave you on this godforsaken island for those men to do with you as they will.”
“I couldn’t do it, Cap’n.”Liam gripped the green talisman hanging around his neck.
Caleb ground his teeth, waiting.
Liam stared at the deck.“I lost all I owned in a game.They told me to bring the Ring if I wanted to live.”
“Thunder and Flame!”Caleb cursed.“How did they know about it?”
“I don’t know.I swear.I ne’er said a word.”
Caleb pressed a hand on his throbbing shoulder.Rot it!The more he tried to keep the relic a secret, the more news of its power spread.
Liam shuffled his boots across the deck.“Aye, I stole it.But I couldn’t go through with it.”He raised his gaze to Caleb, moisture gleaming in his eyes.“When I got there, I couldn’t betray ye.So, I hid the Ring and vowed to pay off me debt with work.I told ’em I’d be their slave, if they’d only let me live.”
Alden slanted his lips.“Guess we know their decision.”
Caleb narrowed his eyes.“How did you know where to find it?”
“’Twas Ayida.After ye left, I came here to search for it.I heard her coming down the companionway, so I doused me flame and hid in the shadows.She knew right where to go, Cap’n.”
Ayida?Couldn’t be.Yet…the crash of porcelain and a broken teacup outside his door.She was eavesdropping.But why?His heart shriveled.Was there no one to be trusted?He shared a glance with Alden.Perhaps only one.AndGod above.He glanced upward before he skewered Liam with another pointed gaze.
“You expect me to believe she simply gave it to you?”
“Nay.”He frowned.“I am loath to admit that I knocked her o’er the head and took it from the lass.”
Blowing out a heavy sigh, Caleb raked back his hair.
Liam rubbed the red mark around his neck.“I will ne’er defy ye again.Ye have me word, Cap’n.”
Sincerity and remorse rang in the bosun’s tone.But could Caleb trust him?Could he trust anyone?Even, apparently, sweet Ayida.
He’d have to deal with her later.For now—he glanced behind him out the window—he had a meeting to attend.
Chapter 24: The Exchange
“Papa!”Geneviève burst into her father’s study, the salt of her tears tasting bitter on her lips.
