My face drooped, and I leaned back to take in his full features. “They still think I’m bad luck?”
“Didn’t Ramaro tell you about their oddities?”
“Cook told me something about it. I guess I was just hoping everyone was joking.”
He guided me back down the path that had led us to the memorial. “Let’s just say you should treat everything we say as truth until you learn it’s a lie.”
I frowned at him. “That doesn’t sound like a good policy.”
He tapped the tip of my nose as we neared the open gate. “But it may keep you out of trouble.”
Torvus spoke too soon as shadows appeared in the exit. Unfriendly shadows.
Chapter 22
One of the shadows, the one in the middle, stepped forward and revealed himself to be a rough customer. He was short with a pot belly and appeared to be about fifty. The man wore a soiled shirt that revealed his distended stomach, and his pants were in the same ill-fitting condition. His greasy hair was slicked back, but a few loose strands were attached to his dirty cheeks. His beady eyes lingered too long on me before they fell on Torvus.
“What a surprise to see you around here, Torvus,” the man mused as he sneered at my companion. “I thought Baba threw you out for good.”
Torvus stretched out his arms on either side of him. “You can’t keep a pirate from stealing his share.”
The man scoffed. “You’re not a pirate, Torvus. You’re just a rat that got lucky with a piece of cheese.”
Torvus’ smile remained as he folded his arms over his chest. “A wharf rat like you shouldn’t throw around personal insults.”
The man’s lip curled into a snarl. “I’m no rat.”
The captain shrugged. “I guess that’s true, Barreto. A wharf rat would actually be at the wharf doing his job with the loads. You’re just standing here stinking of drink and like you haven’t bathed in years.”
Barreto balled his shaking hands into fists at his sides. “Shut up, you worthless sail boy. You think because you left this hole and sailed to a few other docks, you can look down at us.”
Torvus tilted his head to one side and studied the man. “Not everyone. Just you, Barreto. You’re the one who’s still trying to pick street fights with me, even after all these years.”
Barreto sized him up. “Just because you still look good for your age doesn’t mean you can flout that boyish look. It won’t last forever, and you’ll look like the rest of us.”
The captain’s eyes lowered to the man’s gut. “I don’t think I’ll ever have that impressive physique of yours, Barreto.”
The man narrowed his eyes, but those eyes invariably fell back to me. A lecherous glint slipped into their depths. “Why don’t you introduce your new friend to your old one, captain? Or are you going to keep her all to yourself?”
Torvus turned his face to me and used a hand to gesture to the fat man. “Miss Larkin, this is Bruno Barreto. He’s an old ‘friend’ of mine.”
“The oldest,” Barreto added as he took a step toward me and held out his slimy hand. The undersides of the fingernails were covered in dirt, and a stench of alcohol rose from his palm. “Torvus was always a sharing man, lady. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind sharing you with the rest of us.”
Torvus stepped between us, blocking most of me from the man’s view. “That’s enough, Barreto. Get out of the way.”
Barreto snapped his fingers. The two men stepped forward, flanking him. They were about twenty with impressive muscles and stood a head taller than their fat protege. “You may look young, Torvus, but you’re still as old as me. These two will be more than a match for you.” He set his gaze on the eyepatch. “Maybe then I’ll find out what’s underneath that little cover of yours.”
Barreto wagged his finger at Torvus, and the pair of gorillas marched toward us, evil glints in their eyes. Torvus turned his face far enough so his right eye caught my attention. “Get back.”
I reluctantly withdrew as the two men advanced. One of them stepped ahead of his compatriot and swung his huge fist at Torvus’ head. The captain deftly ducked and slammed his fist into the man’s stomach. The man’s eyes bulged out of his head, and he slid down in a wheezing mess. The other man let out a guttural growl and lunged at Torvus. He dropped the same way and joined his companion in a heap on the ground, making noises that made my skin crawl.
The captain shook his hand loose of his fist and turned his attention to Barreto. The pudgy man stumbled back, sweat sliding down his brow. Torvus grinned. “I hope you didn’t pay too much for them. They wouldn’t last ten minutes against a child.”
Barreto’s whole body shook as he narrowed his eyes at the captain. “Someday I’ll get even, and then you’ll be talking out of your ass.”
“Why not today?” Torvus suggested as he strode toward him.
Barreto’s eyes bulged out of his head. He turned tail and raced out of the graveyard, and soon vanished down the street.
