His hand grabbed her, hauling her down so her face was inches from his.
“Run, Dorrie.”
“You are safe.” she kissed his lips softly.
“Quiet now,” Cam said.
Dev pulled her to her feet, and James and Gus helped Ash to rise.
“How could you bring her here?” He glared at Gus through a swollen eye.
He was battered and bruised, and she wanted to storm on that ship and make someone pay for his pain. But he was alive and Radcliff would not be allowed to hurt him again.
“Baron?” Ash tried to move, but he was unsteady on his feet and staggered. Dorrie moved to his side.
“Rescued and on his way to Essie as we speak,” James said.
“I can’t believe you let her come here,” he muttered, looking at the wall of men before him.
“I tried to stop her but she elbowed me in the stomach,” Dev said.
“You would think that past experiences would have warned you she would.” Warwick appeared. His hair was wet.
“How was the water?” Cam asked.
“Frigid, I am extremely happy to be out of it and dressed once more. Baron and Nicholas are on their way home now.”
“I must finish this or there will be no peace.” Ash backed away from them. From her.
“Like hell,” Gus whispered. “If you go back up there, you die.”
“I must,” Ash hissed. “It will never end if I do not.”
“Radcliff now knows you and Baron are free,” Warwick said. “One of his crew has just notified him.”
“I must finish this.” Ash started forward.
Dorrie threw back her head and screamed Radcliff’s name. She kept doing it until she felt a hand settle over her mouth.
“What the hell are you doing, woman?” Ash glared down at her.
“If you are to meet him, then you will do so with us at your back.” She lifted her skirts and pulled out her pistol.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
He wanted to strangle her and hold her at the same time. Ash heard the thud of feet coming down the gangway.
“Excellent work, sister,” Cambridge said, pulling out his pistol. “I wish I had thought of that.”
“Excellent work?” Ash growled. “She should not be here! We are outnumbered.”
“And yet here I am,” she said, “and we are not outnumbered. Mr. Dillinger’s crewmen are looking on.”
Ash found the sailors all milling about below their ship nearby.
Hands pulled him back and into the line of his family. Ash shot Dorrie a look and saw her hands were shaking as she held her pistol before her.
“Please, Dorrie. Leave now.” He grabbed a handful of her skirt and tried to push her behind him; she evaded and pushed away from him.
