It wasn’t Honey. The man was familiar, but his name slipped past her memory. He was one of her father’s old crew members. Her heart dropped.
That could mean only one thing. She was being brought to Storm.
Sweeney dropped into the boat and sat in front of her.
“Why are ye doing this? Honey will have yer head for this,” she spat.
Sweeney scoffed at her words. “Have ye no’ spoken to him recently? He wants nothing to do with ye after yer betrayal.”
“Then why the secrecy? Why take me away under the cover of darkness?”
There it was. She saw the fear cross over his face in the faint light of the lantern hanging at the side of the boat. Honey didn’t know she was being taken. She opened her mouth to scream out to him but swiftly Sweeney clasped a hand over it.
“Make any noise, and I swear to ye, I’ll cut yer pretty little throat and throw ye to the sharks.” She felt cold steel against the skin of her neck and stiffened.
His eyes were pure evil as he spat the words, his vile spittle spraying her face. She had no doubt that he was telling the truth.
Tears threatened, but she needed to stay strong. Now was not the time to cry. She refused to show him any weakness.
Seonag’s mind raced as she tried to come up with a plan that would get her back toThe Hellaand Honey.
The full moon lit up the dark night and its reflection bounced along the surface of the water. With each stroke of the oars, they got closer and closer toHades Revengeand her father’s killer. This was what she had wanted from the first time she’d heard Honey mention he was going after him.
It was the whole reason for her dressing as Sean and trying to fool Honey and the rest of his crew. Now she was being delivered to him on a platter. She thought of the small dagger tucked into her boot that Peggy had given to her.
Imagined the satisfaction she would feel if given the chance to sink the cold blade deep into Storm’s black heart.
“What are ye smiling about?” Sweeney asked.
She hadn’t realized she’d let her feelings show. She glared at her captor across from her and behind him, the looming form ofHades Revengeappeared.
What was Storm’s plan? Yes, he’d recognized her, but what did that mean? He had her father’s ship. Was the self-proclaimed captain of his crew.
According to Honey, he also had the gold coins her father was transporting. What more could he possibly want?
The thought of everything he had made her seethe. Shake with anger. He’d never worked for anything a day in his life. Her father had taken pity upon him. Gave him a position in his crew because he wanted to give him a chance. In doing so, he’d unknowingly signed his death warrant.
Her fists clenched on her lap. They coasted to a stop at the side of the ship, where men were waiting for them to take them aboard.
Sweeney pulled her roughly to her feet and shoved her toward the arms of one of the waiting men. The man unceremoniously threw her over his shoulder and climbed up the ladder, depositing her on the deck with all the grace he would a sack of dirt.
She stumbled and almost fell before she found her balance and straightened. Storm stood in front of her, arms crossed in front of his wiry chest. His dark eyes bore into hers.
Scared to death and trembling inside, she refused to look away. Refused to show him how frightened she was. Silently, in her head, she kept repeating to herself, stay strong. Stay strong.
“Seonag. ’Tis been a while since last we’ve seen each other.” He dropped his eyes to her booted feet and slowly drew them up her body until he met her eyes once again. “My condolences on your Da. I’m sure it was a difficult time for ye and yer mother,” he said with a sneer.
How dare he? She launched herself at him. He was lucky her hands were still bound. She’d have gouged his eyeballs out if they weren’t.
Sweeney caught her around the waist and pulled her back as Storm threw his head back and laughed.
“Honey must be both daft and blind if he truly believed ye were a lad.” He stepped closer and ran a rough calloused finger down her jawline. “I’d never make that mistake.”
She pulled away from his touch, but that just put her flush against Sweeney’s chest. With her chin held high, she warned, “Dinna talk about him that way.” Her voice came out a low growl.
With a raised brow, he assessed her once more. “If I didna know any better, I’d think ye are soft on the louse.” He set his attention on Sweeney. “Ye proved yer loyalty. Welcome toHades Revenge.”
“Thank ye, Cap’n,” Sweeney said as he made his way around Seonag.
