“There is no plan, this is for me to deal with alone. I am going to board now, as Radcliff said within the hour, and I will not have Baron harmed. Stay here,” Ash said.
“We will be near, brother,” Gus said. “You are not alone.”
“I won’t have any of you hurt. Keep your distance.”
Ash walked away before any of them could say another word, to where theRobbinwas moored. It was a larger ship than his and would move through the water a great deal faster. He cared nothing about that. He cared about getting his friend back, even if doing so got him killed. He owed Baron that much.
Dorrie slipped into his head. He’d allowed himself to believe tonight when she said she loved him. Now he did not know if he would live to see the dawn. He wished he’d told her he returned that love.
He reached the gangway and climbed. Men were waiting for him above when he stepped onto the deck. His hands were forced behind his back and bound. His pistol and knife were then taken.
“Ash, imagine how delighted I am to see you alive.”
The man who stepped out of the shadows was tall and carried no spare weight. His hair was gray, and he had aged. His looks, which he prized highly, were fading.
“I see your evil personality is finally showing on your face,” Ash said. He would show this man no fear. He’d tried and nearly succeeded in breaking him.
The smile slipped slightly.
“You have done well for yourself. It is a shame I shall have to take it all from you. Even your brother.”
He didn’t flinch.
“My brother is protected by a marquis, duke, and baron, and those are only the titled among my family. You cannot harm him.”
Anger flashed across the face before him. He’d always hated that Ash would never cow to him.
“Your brother is not always protected. I can wait.”
Ash smiled. “You will not get near him, and if you did, there will be nowhere in this world they will not find you.”
He knew the words he spoke for the truth, and now knew they included him also. He was one of them. They wanted him, and he wanted them, just as he wanted her.
Not now, Dorrie. He pushed her back out of his head.
“Where is Baron?”
Radcliff turned and began to walk. A nudge in the back had Ash following. They reached the bow and stopped.
“You want me to jump?”
“Look at the figurehead, Ash. Do you see anything?” Radcliff waved to one of his men who held a lamp.
Ash moved until he saw it, and there he found Baron lashed to it.
“I am here, friend!” he roared, struggling to get free.
“I’m sorry, but he can’t hear you, I’m afraid the crew were a little overzealous in their attentions toward him. Oh, he’s alive,” Radcliff said as Ash advanced on him. “But for how long, I am unsure.”
“Let him go. You have me!”
He laughed when Ash started to move. “You and Baron tricked me. I’m afraid I cannot allow that to go unpunished.”
“I should have known you wouldn’t release him. You’ve always been a lying, gutless bastard.”
Hands grabbed him, and then he was being dragged backward and forced to his knees. His ankles were bound and then a gag stuffed into his mouth. Next came a hood, plunging him into the dark.
They would come for him, he knew that; he just prayed they were not harmed trying to rescue him.His family.The thought eased some of the coldness inside him. Dorrie. He let her into his head then. Focused on her sweet face.
