“You! Stop!”
The gruff words only fueled her steps as she raced down a busy street, weaving around carts and people. One quick glance showed the man a few cart lengths back, pushing through a couple and spilling their goods on the street. Shouts and exclamations continued as she sped down an alley stinking of human waste.
Several blocks later, she finally slowed her steps. Her chest rose and fell as she sucked in heavy breaths. Sweat trickled down her skin, causing her clothes to stick. No shouts arose behind her. She couldn’t spot the pirate or Peter, but she was far from safe. If there was one, there were more, and now they knew she was here. TheKrakenhadn’t been docked in the port this morning, but neither was theJolly Roger.
She swallowed and ducked down another alley. Hook needed to know. They all did. She glanced at the sky. And Merrin’s teeth, she needed to find her way back to the inn—quick.
Hook and his crew lounged in the inn’s common room, eating an early lunch, when Tink barged in through the main door. She’d never been so happy to see pirates in her life.
The captain set down his fork, looking at her with an expression she couldn’t quite place as she made a beeline for him.
“I need to talk to you. Now.”
“I’m all—” he started.
“Upstairs. Quick.”
Sage nearly spat out her soup.
Tink groaned. “All of you.” She glanced between them, lips pursed. Leave it to pirates to think without their heads.
Hook pushed back his plate and rose. Others grumbled, but Tink didn’t wait for them as she bolted up the stairs.
No sooner had the door closed behind them, sealing them all in Hook’s freshly cleaned—thank all the elders—room than Tink spilled her news. “I saw one of Captain Blackbeard’s men. Here. In town.”
Smee nearly dropped the bowl he’d carried upstairs.
“Already?” Francis groaned.
Hook slammed his fist on the table. “Bloody hell.”
Conversation flooded the room, filling it with the same thoughts that had chased her back to the inn.
“TheKraken’s in port?”
“Not that I saw.”
“Where are they hiding?”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. I recognized one of them, and—” She ducked her gaze. “He recognized me too.”
“Shit,” Sage replied.
Hook said nothing, emotions flickering across his face that she still couldn’t place.
“That’s not the worst of it,” Tink continued.
That had them all sitting up straighter.
“Peter, the kid who stole my treehouse. You know, the one you bargained with to hand me over in exchange for a few coins?” She stared Hook down.
“The hell?” Sage said.
She could have sworn he flushed before he looked away.
“Well, he’s here too, with Captain Blackbeard’s men. And he saw me. If he tells them about our little encounter on Tortuga, then he’ll know you’re all here too.”
