He rose abruptly, hands clenched tight around the box as the fog around his mind cleared. “We need to get back to the ship. Now.”
A hollow emptiness settled in his gut as he swung open the door, stepping into the blinding sunlight. He hesitated for a moment, staring out into the open street while his heart churned. Before he could takeanother step, a shadow passed over him, slicing through the daylight. He instinctively took a step back into the safety of the house. But it was too late.
Crack!
Chapter Twenty
Josephine screamed. Itwas all she could do as Lieutenant Caldwell fell to the floor and Mr. Burke stepped over him. “Hello, Miss Montclair.”
She stood frozen in place, staring at the lieutenant’s prone body, searching for any sign of life while the seaman bent and picked up the box that had clattered to the floor.
“Many thanks for doing the hard work in finding this.”
Her jaw clenched as his palm flattened on the lid, fingers drumming a slow, deliberate tap, the sound echoing like a gavel in her chest. Her heart gave a hollow drop, sinking lower with each pat. Samantha had been right about him after all.
Run.
Every muscle in her body thrummed. She needed to get out. To warn someone. She pivoted and sprinted toward the back of the house. Heavy footsteps followed as she turned down a hallway. He closed the distance and she flung herself through the nearest opening in the wall.
There.
An outside door.
She fumbled with the lock and jerked it open as his hand closed over her shoulder.No. She twisted, the fabric of her blouse tearing in his closed fingers. It was enough. Her feet flew down the stairs into a small alleyway between buildings. His curse followed her as she forced her legs to run faster than she ever had before.
When she burst onto the street, she didn’t slow and turned right,feet pounding against uneven cobblestones. At the next intersection, she dodged a mule and cart while crossing and making another turn. Each time she turned down a new street, she chanced a quick glance behind her. But no one followed. Still, she pressed herself forward, garnering startled shouts from passersby as she weaved between crowds. Finally, with her side burning, she sagged against a brick wall. She could go no farther. And was lost.
Pressing her hand below her ribs, she struggled to catch her breath. She tipped her head back against the wall, tears welling. She’d left Lieutenant Caldwell. He could be dead. But if she had stayed, she would probably be in the same position. She straightened her shoulders. If she could get to the docks, she could warn his men, get a doctor. Bending, she eased the dagger from its leather binding at her calf.
She stepped from the shadows and lifted her gaze to the sky, trying to get her bearings. The midday sun did her no favors. With a huff she started down the street, the muscles in her legs screaming their protest. At the next intersection, she did a slow pivot.
There.
The glimmer of water shimmered at the end of the street. She hurried that way.
“Not so fast.” A wagon clattered to a halt and Burke jumped down.
She spun, but his fingers tangled in her hair, the sharp tug yanking her to a stop as pain rippled across her scalp. “Don’t think the boss would be too happy to have you running around raising the alert.”
With a grunt, she drove the dagger back, aiming for his ribs. Somehow, he twisted, the blade grazing his side. He snarled, his free hand catching her wrist before she could strike again. She tried to pull away, but he gave a vicious yank and took the dagger.
He clenched his fist in her hair, jerking her head down, and backed up to the wagon, the searing pain forcing her to follow. “You’ll be coming with me.”
A heavy coldness slid through her, and she dug her heels in. “I won’t go with you.”
He grinned and flipped her dagger in his hand. “Then I’ll have to kill you.”
Nausea rolled through her as he lifted the lieutenant’s blade. “Get in the wagon. And don’t you even think of making a noise. If you scream, I’ll slit your throat and dump you in the ditch.”
He let go of her hair and she stood completely still. Surely someone had seen and would stop him. But no one even looked their way. Business as usual. The knife’s point jabbed into the small of her back, and she jumped.
“I’m going to count to three and if you’re not in there…” He pressed a finger to her throat and dragged it across sideways. “One.”
Josephine’s entire body trembled. Getting in that wagon was as much of a death sentence as the knife at her back. The only difference? Time. But time meant hope.
“Two.”
With a heavy swallow, she climbed up. Moments later, he sat next to her and cracked the reins. The mule jumped forward and Josephine dug her fingers into the wooded seat. She stared at passersby, willing someone, anyone, to meet her frantic gaze.
