Hazel’s black hair hung over her eyes like a sheer curtain. “Let. Her. Be,” she spat. “Nobody asked her to come here. To strut about, acting like she’s so much better.” She dragged her hand across her nose and her words dripped venom. “Just because she married up with the only half-decent man on the sea.”

I pushed back from the table. “Keep talking and I’ll shut your mouth for you.”

“Let what go?” Angel-Arse looked like a sea hag set on a fight to the death. “First she took my man, now she’s on my ship.”

“You should have done what the lady said and let it go,” I snarled.

“Pshaw, a lady, she says.”

“You will not like the ending of this story, but you can’t stop writing it, can you?”

Like a woman freed from an asylum, Hazel sprang across the long table, knocking over bowls of gruel in the process. I was ready for her.

Hands snarled in my hair, but before I could be yanked to the ground by a woman who hated me with a pure hatred the likes of which I’d never known, something hit Hazel so hard and so fast, that she flew from in front of me like she’d been swept up in a hurricane. Handfuls of my hair went with her.

Dots of blood cooled my hot scalp. Someone was yelling. I shook my head and rubbed my eyes.

“Nobody’s your enemy here, except maybe me!”

In the corner, Hazel sobbed on the floor and swiped at a bloody nose. Her jaw hung at an odd angle. I studied the long, lean body that stood over her. Unable to see the face of the person who’d intervened on my behalf, I only stood and stared. A canvas shirt hung loose over a pair of black britches. Shoulder-length brown hair stuck out, this way and that, and the air of commanding confidence that came with the mystery sailor’s appearance silenced the women.

“Oh, Red?” Rhodesia, who never moved from her seat, scraped the bottom of her bowl. She didn’t bother to look up. “That’s our captain, Irish Bon.”

“You attack our guest aboard The Molly Maiden, I’m happy to put you back ashore in Nassau.”

Hazel pulled her knees to her chest and hid her face. “I’m sorry Bon, don’t put me ashore.”

“Treat our guests with respect, Hazel. You could be replaced in a minute.” Bon turned toward me. Eyes more purple than blue studied me with a warmness that took my breath. I blinked.

Irish Bon. Sully’s voice was a shout in my ears. Who sailed with Russian Jack before falling out over a game of cards and manning the whoring ship—The Molly Maiden.

“Welcome, Red. I heard the wife of Russian Jack was among us. Stay. Enjoy your time with us, we’re all family on the high sea.”

Bon’s rollicking Irish voice, harsh when chastising Hazel, softened like warm butter as it met my ears. A shiver danced down my spine as the captain of the sloop that saved my life stepped over to me. Lips tilted into a sly smile, Bon stuck out a hand. “Come on.”

“Excuse me?”

Violet eyes sparkling, Bon spoke again. “I say, come on. I have something you need.”

My stomach churned as I took Bon’s hand. It was softer than I imagined it would be. Bon’s fingers closed around mine in a gentle squeeze. Heat raced up my arm and I fought the urge to squeeze back.

Without a word, I let Bon lead me from the galley onto the deck. The prison ship approached from the distance and the men lolled about, watching and waiting for their ride with satisfied smiles on their faces. Still, our hands were interlocked.

“Lean up against the rail, there,” Bon instructed.

I did as I was told.

Bon moved closer to me until our bodies brushed one another. I was powerless to tear my gaze away from the enchanting purple eyes that stayed locked on mine. My breath came faster as Bon finally released our grip. It wasn’t until then that I realized how sweaty my palms had become on the short walk from the galley.

I felt Bon’s hands on my legs as they tugged at my britches.

Why am I letting this happen—I should step away—

But I didn’t.

“We have to hurry, we don’t have much time.” Bon’s breath was warm on my neck. I gasped as Bon’s mission was accomplished with a final yank.

Chapter Ten

Aboard The Molly Maiden on the high seas

Johnny,” Bon called. “Come ’ere.” The prison ship pulled up along the port side of The Molly Maiden and lowered a plank bridge. “Hurry, Johnny!”

Bon’s fists gripped my pantalets and had them hiked up above my knees. A strange sensation coursed through my veins and settled into my belly.

A large guard ambled over. “Ye Cap?”

“Remove my friend of her unwilling adornments, Johnny.” Bon’s fingers strummed my exposed legs gently as Johnny got to his knees with a grunt. “Seems whoever locked her up pulled a fast one on who made him lock her up.”

Bon looked up at me.

“The chains were broken at the ends. The cannonballs fell off. Whoever ordered this, Lassie, thinks you’re dead.”

“You’re exactly right.”

Still, Bon’s hand was on my thigh. I ignored the heat that throbbed within me and focused instead on Johnny. “How will you get them off? The key is no doubt aboard The Black Otter.”

Johnny studied the irons a moment then produced a black key from his guard’s uniform. “These be prison shackles, Miss,” he began as he shoved the key into the lock. He had the first ankle clasp unlocked in a moment. “Don’t tell the prisoners, but all the irons answer to one master key.”

Johnny clicked open my second shackle and held up the key for inspection. He kissed it before letting it drop back into his pocket. “If’n ye won’t be requiring anything else, it’s time to lock up my sheep for the long ride to the New World.”

Bon let the legs of my britches drop and offered me a wink. I ignored it and straightened my clothing. “Thank you, Cap.”

“Want to see something the likes of you’ll never see again?”

Words escaped me.

“Look there.” Bon gestured to the prisoners. “Never happens on dry land.”

Johnny meandered sleepily across the plank that bridged the sea between the ships. No words were exchanged as the prisoners dutifully lined up and followed him. No resisting. No fighting. Not even any fanfare as they left the ship of dreams. Once each reached the transport vessel, the chubby guard leaned and clicked their leg irons into place.

My jaw went slack. Of all the sights I’d seen and experiences I’d had, this one was the most abnormal of them all.

Bon looked at me knowingly. “I told you that you were like never to see anything of these sorts again.”

“And you’re right again.” I met Bon’s violet gaze. “I haven’t.”

The plank creaked as Johnny pulled it back onto the transport ship, which moved away from The Molly Maiden without elaboration. Almost as though they hadn’t even stopped at all.