Then a voice that sounded vaguely familiar said, “And just where did you think you were going, Gabby, my dear?”
She gasped out, “Avery? Avery Dobs? What are you doing here? Let me go. We have to—”
“You aren’t going anywhere except into Pierre’s waiting arms,” he cut in. He eased his grip on her so that she could turn to face him.
His wet clothes, the smirk on his face, the conclusion hit her hard. Horrified, she said, “My God, what have you done?”
“My job.”
“I don’t under—You can’t mean that you take orders from Pierre?”
“Why does that surprise you?” he asked. “You forget that I was on that pirate island with you and witnessed the same things you did.”
“What are you talking about? We were captives!” she exclaimed.
“Yes, but there were bars on the hut where they kept us men, and I had nothing better to do than stare out of them. I became very melancholy.”
“You were a hostage. Of course you would—”
“No, it had nothing to do with that. Do you know I watched them carry a chest to the main building while I was there? It was so heavy they dropped it and it broke, spilling gold coins all over the ground. They just laughed. Wealth was stored in the huts right next to us, trunks of fine woolens and silks, crates of tobacco and rum, all stolen, all stored until it could be sold.”
“They were pirates! That was their business.”
“Exactly,” he said. “But it wasn’t just the wealth to be had. It took me several months to figure it out. It was also the laughter I’d witnessed on that island, the joking, the bonds of friendship. Those men were enjoying themselves. When I thought about going back to my career on a staid English ship—where a simple mistake could get you flogged—I couldn’t do it.”
“You merely sailed under the wrong captains. It’s not like that on all—”
“How the deuce would you know, Gabby? Not that it matters. I made my choice soon after my release, before I even reached England, and sailed directly back to the Caribbean. It took me another month to find one of the pirate captains. The first one wouldn’t take me on, but he saw how determined I was and allowed me to catch a ride back to that island. Pierre was there and short on men, having barely won his last sea battle. He was willing to take a chance on me, and I haven’t disappointed him yet.”
“Then what were you doing back in England?”
“Can’t you guess? I was sent to make sure your friend Bixley didn’t delay in reaching you. I have my own ship now. It was priceless, Gabby! I’m the one who took him to England. He didn’t know me from Adam. He had no idea he was sailing on one of Pierre’s ships. So it was easy enough to trail him when we docked, straight to his friends, and listen in when he apprised them of your father’s dilemma. Heard from them where you were staying. I wasn’t going to reveal myself, but then I heard that rumor circulating about you.”
“And you just had to rub it in?”
“Not at all. I figured, just in case you didn’t know about it, that it would give you even more incentive to head back this way. Which it did. And then I followed you back. I lost you in that storm, but I had a feeling that Anderson would dock in Anguilla before you set out to rescue your father, since it’s so close to here, and he didn’t disappoint me. I was able to overhear most of the plans you made tonight at the inn. While you foolishly wasted time resting, I came straight here to warn Pierre and earn my reward.”
“I thought you were a good man. I was so happy to see you when you came to the Malorys’,” she said with all the contempt she could muster. “But you’re just a two-faced bastard, Avery.”
Unfortunately, the insult rolled off of him. He even laughed, though only for a moment. Then he stiffened. But when he spoke, it wasn’t to her.
“Put it down.”
She tried to turn her head to see whom he was talking to, but it wasn’t necessary. Avery turned them both to place her between himself and Richard, who was pointing the pistol he held at Avery’s head.
It was an excellent time for her to get out of the way. She steeled herself for the pain, then let her legs crumble so she could fall to the deck. It did hurt, but it didn’t work. Avery must have been expecting her to do something of the sort, because the arm about her neck dragged her back up to cover his chest, and the point of a dagger was now pressed against her cheek.
“Nice try, Gabby,” he sneered. “But don’t try it again.”
“You won’t kill her,” Richard said.
“No, but I don’t care if I scar her up some. And this is your last warning. Put it down!”
But before Richard could decide either way, he was hit from behind and fell to the deck. And Pierre Lacross stood in his place.
Chapter 48
PIERRE HADN’T AGED WELLin the three years since she’d last seen him. His black beard was still just as matted as before, but there was now a lot of gray streaking through his shoulder-length hair. However, it was the deep lines in his face that made him look so much older now. The life he led, the things he’d done were taking their toll on his appearance. In fact he was extremely thin now, almost emaciated. It made her think she wouldn’t be completely helpless in his hands. She could fight him. She might even win. But on the way to his fortress wasn’t the time to try, with his men all around them.
