“It was a rhetorical question,” I said, fighting against the smile that threatened to expose me.
“I understand why she took the deal, and in truth, I would have done the same for Oscar.” She confessed. “If anyone can achieve this impossible task, it would be her.”
I nodded, taking a long breath.
I’d told myself that countless times, but I hated the voice that whispered it was an impossible task. That I would lose her.
We stood like that for a long time until I felt familiar eyes land on me.
“Aren’t you supposed to be below deck–sleeping?” I asked.
Inu chuckled and dipped away, leaving me alone with the boy who crept behind us like we wouldn’t see him.
“It’s hard to sleep in the quiet,” he stammered.
I expected that was true. It was a struggle I’d endured recently as well. As terrible as Newgate was, one got used to the constant noise.
“Aren’t you scared to be aboard a pirate ship–on the Sea Wraith of all ships?” I asked.
He shook his head, dry curls bouncing.
“No, sir–Captain. My belly is full, and no one has hit me, and Rose even gave me my own bed. Val says she’s got my back and that you’ll try to scare me off, but not to believe a word you say.”
Amusement pulled at my chest. A man spends a little time in prison, and his ship gets overrun with pirates with soft hearts. Though if I ever said that part aloud, Val would make me regret it.
“You’ll have to work just like everyone else,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him.
He flashed a smile with several missing teeth, and it was a punch to my gut. I’d never seen him smile before. It made sense–there was nothing in Newgate to smile about.
“Yes, Sir!” he beamed.
A boy who has just found a purpose.
Somewhere–wherever the dead rested–Billy was laughing.
“Whenever there is trouble, you go below deck, and you wait for one of us to come get you–do you understand?” I said, voice stern.
He swallowed hard, nodding vigorously.
“Yes, sir, what sort of trouble?” he asked.
“Any,” I said.
And with that, my peaceful melancholy was laid to rest for another night. I turned and found Rose watching us, her lips pressed together in a thin line.
Standing from the table, Rose made her way over. She was breathtaking in tight black pants and a loose dark blue blouse. Lantern light flickering over her skin in a way that made me jealous.
“How grumpy is he tonight, Kit?” she asked with a smile.
Kit wrapped his arms around her waist, and she ruffled his hair. A boy who never knew a friendly touch readily took to a notorious pirate captain in her own right. Maybe his sense of self-preservation was deficient.
“Not as bad as you said he might be,” Kit said.
Rose winked at him. “Always prepare for the worst-case scenario. Now go find Val, and she will show you where we hide the dessert as long as you keep it a secret.”
His eyes widened, and with that, he was barreling toward Val.
“Children don’t belong on ships, Rosamund,” I said.
