For Loreena.

Society may group us together as sniveling pirates, whose lives weren’t worth a red cent. But I knew better. I knew good could be found in strange places and evil was everywhere, even in rich doctors’ London homes. But there was no place for evil aboard The Black Otter.

We might all hang in the end, but I wouldn’t let myself dangle from the yardarm without knowing full well I’d fought my hardest.

Better to fight like a man than hang like a dog.

My forearms connected with Dark Water’s fist. His dagger flew from his hand and clattered away.

I dared a glance at Rusty. Sure enough, she’d jumped on Charles’ back and had him pinned to the deck. Dark Water, seeing his nearest and dearest in such a predicament, charged her.

“No!” I roared. I reached for his booted foot as he momentarily forgot about me. But I wasn’t quick enough. “Rusty, watch out!”

Her pretty eyes widened as the tall mutineer sprinted toward her. Something flickered across her freckled face, but it wasn’t fear. Not by a long shot.

Red Legs burst from nowhere and banged Dark Water in the chest with his shoulder before he could close in on Rusty. Dark Water Williams’ feet caught air before he hit the deck with a resounding oomph.

Tommy, sensing his time had come to be a hero, thundered across the deck with a yell and plopped down atop Dark Water, a proud smile on his pudgy face.

Chest heaving, I pushed myself to my feet. As I stood, I picked up Solo’s sword from where it lay. I set my jaw and held the blade to Charles’ neck.

“Red Legs,” I growled. “Tie them up and lock them in the jail below decks.”

I stood on deck, staring, as Red Legs lashed the arms and legs of the would-be mutineers before me. Both stared hotly at the woman who’d bested them. As Red Legs dragged them away, I could see in their eyes they would make good on any chance of escape—and this time they wouldn’t fail.

The time for mercy was over.

“Rusty.”

My adopted daughter straightened her back and stared at me.

“Mama?”

“You saved us all.” I flickered a smile at her. “Again.”

“Of course I did.” She flung her hands up in exasperation. “You’re my family.”

“In the cargo hold are bolts of cloth. Find all the red you can and sew us new sails. Blood red sails.”

“Yes ma’am.” She disappeared like a streak of lightning. There one minute, so bright and tangible, then gone.

I held Solo’s sword in front of me and scowled. “Tommy. Poison Lightning. Also in the cargo hold is paint. Find all the black you can. It’s high time that my husband’s flagship lived up to its name.”

“Consider it done, because we’ll do it, we will.” Tommy led Poison Lighting to the cargo hold with a jovial bounce in his step.

I planted my feet and stared at the remnants of my crew. “Now that the more innocent among us are gone, only us killers are left.

Solo groaned and rubbed his head, and Red Legs’ face was scarlet and unsmiling.

“I want to add two articles to The Black Otter.” I shifted my gaze from my men into the distance. “I-if you’re married, you’re faithful. To the end. To death. No matter what.”

“Aye,” Solo gurgled. He cleared his throat and squinted at me. Red Legs nodded a stiff nod.

“I-if you’re not faithful, you die.”

“Aye aye, Cap.” Solo smiled, like a big brother would smile when his little sister threw her first punch at a boy who unwelcomingly tried to kiss her.

Red Legs scowled, but nodded, the fire still not gone from his face.

“Till Rusty gets the new sails sewn, we’ll set these here to catch every wind. We will catch Jack—and bring him back home to his ship.”

“Aye aye, Cap,” Solo said again. I knew he meant it.

Chapter Fifteen

Swansea, Wales

Jack let his fingers dance down my backbone. Even through the fabric, his touch left me craving more of him and longing for the familiar caress of his skin against mine, without the cumbersome dress to get in the way. I inhaled his exotic scent as I lay against his chest and listened to the steady thud of his heart.

Rum.

Spices.

Sweat.

Sea.

My eyes closed on their own.

“If I’d have figured any way to save your life, Jacky,” I began. “I would have right then.”

Emotion clogged my throat and threatened to choke me like it had choked my elderly fiancé. “But I couldn’t figure a way, not even with Rusty’s help, to get through the trap.”

Jack tangled his fingers in my hair at the back of my neck. “I know you would have, Back from the Dead Red. Defying odds is what you do best, it seems.”

I was careful to keep my voice soft. “I did try, you know. Later. But it didn’t work.”

His fingertips on the nape of my neck were intoxicating. “So I heard.”

I tightened my arms around Jack’s middle.

“How did you get away?”

“I’m afraid you won’t believe me,” Jack said. “To be completely honest, I’m still not sure how she pulled it off.”

My eyes sprang open. I pushed back from his grasp. “She?”

His arms fell away from my body like dry leaves in a winter wind. Jack’s face was soft and his eyes steady, despite my sudden fervor.