She still had no idea why Storm even bothered to bring her onboard. They’d never really gotten along and he would be daft to think that she would support him in any way. Especially over Honey. If he had any brains in that thick head of his, he’d know that she wouldn’t do anything to assist him after he killed her father.
Beautiful blue eyes pierced her memory. A wide smile with a dimple that played peek-a-boo and only showed when he smiled a certain way. She prayed that she got the chance to explain, but right now she needed to get the handsome pirate out of her thoughts.
She paced the room. Her dagger was still tucked in her boot. In that, she couldn’t believe her luck. The room she was in was familiar. She’d been in it many times before. It was where she would always spend her time as a child when the ship was docked near home. Her mother had hated that her father took her onboard, but she loved every minute of it.
God had heard her prayers by placing her in this room. Her father’s old study of sorts while he was at sea. And while the room brought back painful memories and reminded her she would never see her father again, it also brought back pleasant memories. Seonag sitting on Sean’s lap as he told her tall tales of sea monsters.
It was also the room where they kept a small box of treasures. In that box was an extra key to this room. But had Storm found that small box and removed it? She listened for the sound of anyone near and when she heard nothing she went over to the far wall. A tapestry of a bird in a gilded cage hung there, flanked by two wall sconces.
To the casual observer, they looked exactly the same with nothing amiss hidden in their depths. And that was the desire. She approached the left sconce and carefully slid it to the right. Behind it was a hollowed-out space in the wall. She reached in and with a sigh of relief pulled out the small, covered box hidden inside.
Storm hadn’t found it. He probably hadn’t even searched for it. Didn’t know the small treasure existed.
Carefully sliding the sconce back in place, she walked to the door and held her breath, listening again for any movement outside.
Dead silence greeted her ears and she was thankful once again. Her good fortune could only be attributed to her father’s spirit. This was him watching over her. She could feel his presence all around her.
Lifting the cover off the box, she studied the contents. It had been a while since she’d seen them. Years actually. She grabbed the key and shoved it into her pocket. The other items weren’t worth anything, but held plenty of sentimental value.
Small shells she’d collected from walking the shore with her father, their bare feet sinking into the wet sand.
Her heart ached as her fingers ran over the shells’ surfaces. Some were smooth, some rough. “I promise ye, Storm will pay for all he’s done to ye and our family.” A lone tear left a thin trail of wetness on her cheek as it wound its way down her face until finally falling off her jawline and onto her hand.
Chapter Sixteen
TheHades Revengeloomed just ahead in the distance, slowly limping along the water in front of them.
“The coward was tryin’ to outrun ye, Cap’n.” Peggy remarked.
“Aye.”
“Looks like the knave underestimated the wind and the quickness of his ship.” Colin couldn’t hide his smile at the thoughtless fool. “Ready the cannons,” he yelled.
A chorus of “Aye, Cap’n!” answered him.
They drew closer, the distance between the two ships growing smaller. They were well within range of a clear shot. Colin wanted to make sure the heathens could see what was coming.
“Ready. Hold.” He waited until they were perfectly aligned. “Fire!” His ears rang as the cannonballs flew through the air, crashing through the wooden sides ofHades Revenge.
The screams of men carried on the wind as they scattered, some falling over the side into the water.
His crew were lined up at the rails. Ready to cross over and board the other ship. Colin stood with them, his hand on his sword. Anticipation thrummed through him at the thought of piercing Storm’s heart with the tip of his blade. He’d stare him straight in the eye as he took his life. And the bastard would know why he was doing it.
In the name of Sean, he would avenge all the wrongs done to him and his family.
The two ships were so close to each other. Peggy maneuveredThe Hellawith the expertise worthy of a captain. “Lay the planks,” Honey commanded as his crew hurried to make a bridge between the two ships and then scrambled across. “Take no quarter!” He yelled and followed his men onboardHades Revenge.
He ducked the blade of an enemy and sank his sword into the man’s gut. His cry of agony was a beautiful song to Colin’s ears. He slashed his way dockside. He needed to find Storm. The coward wasn’t even fighting with his men on the front lines. He had to be hiding below deck.
Colin would find him. “Storm is mine,” he called. “If ye find him, bring him to me.”
Chapter Seventeen
Asudden boomrocked the ship and the box shot from Seonag’s hands as she fell to the floor. The whole room shook around her, splinters of wood falling from the ceiling.
They were under attack. Had Honey come for her?
She scrambled to her feet and fumbled around in her pocket for the key to the door. She’d be damned if the ship was going down with her locked in this room. Jabbing the key into the slot, she said a quick prayer and turned her wrist, and thanked the Lord above when she heard the click and was able to turn the knob and open the door.
