“You don’t need to come.”
She shook her head. “Of course I do. Besides, I’m hopeful we canintercept Christian before we catch up to Thorne.”
“Lieutenant?” Silas frowned from the wheel. “She’s not responding.”
Isaac’s jaw clenched. He charged up the stairs and wrapped his hands around the spokes. Sure enough, the wheel spun freely, as if detached from the ship.
“Son-of-a-bitch.” He twisted, dragging a hand through his hair, wincing when he hit the raised bump there. “The rudder’s been sabotaged.”
He strode to the railing. “All hands, BELAY! BELAY!”
Samantha’s face had tightened with unease when she caught his eye. “Repairs will take hours. We’ll never catch up to him with that kind of lead.”
“We need another ship.” Mind racing, he gazed down the docks. Of course, no suitable warships were docked.
“There.” Samantha pointed to a patrol schooner.
He squinted. Smaller than he would have preferred. At least she had a row of cannons gleaming on the main deck. Her size would make her agile and give them the speed they needed to overtake Thorne. At the same time, he would be able to fit fewer than half his men. Would it be enough to win a skirmish with the pirate?
Doubtful. But it might be their only chance. So, he would take it.
“Silas, I need a lean and capable crew. Only the best and most experienced. Quickly.” He pointed to the schooner and his first officer nodded.
A few minutes later, they filed from theTempestand made their way down the dock. Isaac’s boots clicked along the dock’s weathered oak planks, his stride purposeful as Samantha broke into a jog to keep up. As they approached the schooner, a man wearing a crisp navy jacket strolled to the railing and crossed his arms as the group approached.
Isaac didn’t stop at the bottom of the gangplank. He boarded thevessel, Samantha and Silas flanking him.
Now, the man frowned. “What’s all this?”
Isaac extended his hand. “Lieutenant Caldwell. Commander, I need this ship.”
The man glanced between Isaac and Samantha, his brows lifted. “I’m afraid you’re mistaken, Lieutenant. This schooner is on patrol duty. She’s not yours to take.”
Isaac’s hands curled into fists. “I’m not asking.”
The commander laughed. “And I guess you’re expecting I’ll just hand it over?”
“I’ve been tasked with capturing Captain Thorne. He’s just left Norfolk, and sabotaged my sloop-of-war. Time is of the essence. He’s kidnapped the daughter of a foreign national as well.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’ll still need to get it approved. You can’t just take any boat you please from the yard. Until you produce orders, you’re not taking this vessel anywhere.” With chest puffed, the commander looked down his nose at them.
Isaac groaned. That could take longer than repairing theTempest. “You don’t understand—”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “I understand you don’t seem to be capable of listening to a superior.”
He grimaced. “I didn’t—”
A flash of blue skirts passed him and before he could react, Samantha held her dagger to the Commander’s throat. “We don’t have time for approval.” Her voice rang with authority.
Oh God. He should have known she’d do something reckless. The sailors around them jumped to attention, drawing swords and Isaac’s men responded with their own weapons.
Shit.
“Call your men off, Commander.” She lifted the blade until it dug into the soft skin below his jaw.
Sweat beaded on his forehead and a few tense seconds passedbefore he nodded. “Arms down.”
The sailors backed away, but Samantha kept her dagger pressed to his skin. “Lieutenant, make sure your men are ready to board.”
