Page 36

Thirty-Six

“A gain,” Rowan ordered. Caiyan took his empty potato sack and dove again. I wished I had a vat of rum. My nerves were on edge waiting for Caiyan to surface. My fake wedding had gone as planned. The crew for both ships had drunk themselves dry and now looked the worse for it.

Bone Island sat a football field away. It didn’t look like the pieces of the map I had seen. There wasn’t a skull-shaped rock or a big, red X drawn in the sand that hollered come and get it.

I perched on the railing of the Sea Storm —a ringside seat to the show below me.

Max and Rowan manned one rowboat. Vane, Mortas and five crew members sat in another. And another waited with Rackham and two crew members to ferry the potential treasure to the ships.

Ace climbed onto the deck from his station below in the galley. He stood beside me watching Marco, Caiyan, and the one crew member on Vane’s ship who claimed he could swim dive for treasure.

I’d read some captains didn’t allow their crew to learn how to swim so that when they arrived at ports with fruits, wine, and women, the crew didn’t jump ship and swim to shore. Some were keelhauled for learning to swim. The theory was if they fell overboard, the ships were too big to turn around and save them. Not knowing how to swim meant drowning took less time and kept suffering minimal.

I hoped this was true of Vane’s crew. When Caiyan brought up the fake treasure, I didn’t want fifty men in the water searching for more. Caiyan was taking entirely too long to show Vane he’d found a piece of eight. If he didn’t hurry, my plan would get messy.

My inner voice agreed. She’d run every possible outcome of my plan. At least all the ones I could think of. Marco and Caiyan floating in the ocean during a battle didn’t play out well on my mental movie screen.

“Where’s Vane’s treasure?” I asked Ace after Caiyan surfaced again with an empty sack. “They keep coming up empty.”

Ace scowled down at the water. “We had a teensy problem last night.”

I faced him, air suddenly harder to inhale because of the corset under the simple white shirt and blue skirt I wore. At least this skirt had pockets. One of which currently held the knife Max had given me. “What problem?”

“I accidentally dumped the entire chest into the sea.”

“Are you nuts?” I covered my mouth to hide my horrified response. “If Vane’s man pulls up anything but coins, we’re screwed.”

Ace huffed like he wasn’t totally responsible. “It was quite heavy, you see, so we hauled it up to the window. Vane has a nice, large one. Caiyan reached to open the window, but the blasted thing was locked. He used his, you know,” Ace made magician Hocus Pocus hands. “The window flung open, but he forgot to tell me not to let go. The chest toppled into the water before we could catch it.”

“The entire chest?”

“Yes. It’s why Caiyan is not swimming in the direction of the treasure. He’s biding his time, waiting for Vane’s man to tire out. He just needs a moment to drag it away from the coins.”

I smacked my head. “Does Rowan know?”

“I’m not sure.” Ace patted my arm. “Don’t worry, love, your Scot will come through.”

“You there,” Vane shouted up from the rowboat, pointing at Ace. His bloodshot eyes and heavy lids told of last night’s overindulgence. “Yer the cook, yeah?”

“Yes, Captain.” Ace started to salute and then thought better of it.

“This lack of treasure is putting me in need of sustenance. Since my cook is currently occupied—” Vane glanced at the water where Marco surfaced empty-handed. “Go below and make ready a meal. Something edible.”

Ace shuffled away, mumbling that Martha Stewart wouldn’t put up with such disrespect.

My guess was Captain Vane needed food to recover from his hangover headache and queasy stomach. Luckily, Ace couldn’t conjure up greasy fries and a Coke. I wanted Vane weak.

“Did ye find anything?” Max asked from his rowboat. According to the perplexed look on his face, he didn’t know about the missing chest.

“No.” Marco inhaled deeply and went under again.

Caiyan swam to the surface and shook his head.

Vane’s man burst from the ocean and held up a coin. “I found one. And ’tis more.”

“ Huzzah! ” A cheer erupted around me. The men on both ships leaned over the rails, shouting and celebrating.

Caiyan grimaced and immediately disappeared below the water.

Vane whistled, and my heart sank. His men scaled down the side of the Ranger, bucket handles and sacks looped over their arms. They reached the end of the ladders and dove into the sea. So much for not allowing your crew to learn to swim.

The boatswain, Ned, I think, stomped toward me and stopped. “We must find the treasure before Vane. He’ll take the lot.”

I agreed, but for much more complicated reasons.

Max looked up at me, a crooked smile pulling at his mouth. He was such a handsome kid. I hoped I hadn’t ruined his life. Rowan’s forehead wrinkled with worry lines that mirrored mine.

The water was so clear I could almost see the bottom. Thankfully, the waves splashing against the ships disrupted the view. Caiyan swam toward the aft end of Vane’s ship. He was going for the chest. Vane rowed after Caiyan. Rowan cut across his path. The men exchanged harsh words that I had trouble making out from my place on the ship.

I glanced over my shoulder at the open sea. No sign of Rogers. I turned back, shaded my eyes with my hand, and took in the shadows that played along the terrain of Bone Island. A mysterious grasp tugged in my gut. Like hands pulling me toward the land. Was the King’s key beckoning me?

If the protector of the key had buried it on the island, we’d never find it without all the pieces of the map, or a metal detector.

Vane stared down at the water, waiting for his prize. Mortas stared at the island. Did he feel the pull too, or had he made a lucky guess it was there?

Luck. My stomach rolled with the waves. I could use some luck right about now.

A shadow fell over my shoulder. I trained my eyes upward. Sasha squatted on the lines above me, watching the treasure hunt.

At least I knew she was still on the Sea Storm . She frowned at me. I pointed at the island, covering my finger with my hand. She cocked her head like she didn’t understand. “The island,” I mouthed, making a key turning in a lock gesture. If the prophecy was true and I was the one who found the King’s key, she needed me. I assumed Caiyan and Marco were the other two lucky ones. Telling her my thoughts on the key’s location ensured she’d have the eye there for us when and if my plan worked.

Sasha rolled her eyes and almost fell off the ropes. She regained her balance and slid down the rails. The men in the rowboats didn’t see her. Their backs were to the Sea Storm, focused on the swimmers. She disappeared over the side of the ship, I imagined making her way toward the island.

Shrug stood at my elbow, his eyes on the men in boats, licking his lips, likely at the thought of treasure.

“Gosh, I’m hot.” I fanned my face and wiped the sweat from my brow. “I’ll go below and satisfy my, um, hotness.”

Shrug ignored me. I scuttled below and found Ace stirring a pot of something. “That actually smells good.”

He cringed. “It’s potatoes and shoe leather.”

“Sasha just did a swan dive toward the island. We need to find a way to get over there.”

“We?” Ace scowled at me. “I’ve got a pot on the stove.”

“Put it on simmer, Betty Crocker. We have a key to find before Vane discovers he’s been conned.”

Ace doused the flame under the pot, and we maneuvered topside in time to see one of Vane’s men hand over a sack filled with treasure.

Vane held up a bronze cup.

“Bloody ’ell.” Ace sucked in some air.

Vane examined it like, hey, maybe he’d seen it before , but then he returned the cup to the sack and announced he was hungry and they should give the men a rest.

I exhaled a huge breath of relief.

Our plan to outsmart Vane with his own treasure had worked. At least until he wanted more of the treasure. But damnation. Where was Rogers?

According to Gertie, Captain Woodes Rogers was supposed to be here. Vane would turn into a chickenshit and run, leaving Marco behind, who, accidentally I presumed, killed Rogers. I wasn’t sure how. Or how Rowan had also died, but I planned to get all my favorite guys and the Sea Storm out of harm’s way as soon as Vane fled.

I shielded my eyes and scanned the blue sea for sails. Gertie told me it had happened here at noon, but there was no sign of any navy ships. Did we screw up the timeline again? Had I screwed up Max’s life?

Vane had Marco hauled into his boat and returned to the Sea Storm , followed by Max, Caiyan, and Rowan. His other boat returned to the Ranger with the Sea Storm’s carpenter/local hired assassin, Logan O’Malley—the traitor.

My stomach was in knots between the weird pulling sensation and the fear Vane would recognize his treasure.

Once aboard, Vane held up his sack of booty. “We found the Spanish treasure today.” He pulled the cup from his sack and wrapped a hand around Max’s back.

“No. No. No. He’s too close to Max.” I tried to get Rowan’s attention, but he couldn’t see me in the sun’s glare. Marco stood next to Caiyan. My two favorite guys, bare from the waist up, water dripping to the deck from taut biceps and six-pack abs. Crew members secured their hands behind their backs.

“We helped ye find yer treasure. Why are ye binding us?” Caiyan asked.

“Silence.” Vane glanced across to the Ranger. Logan nodded at him.

“What in the devil is that bloke doin’ on the Ranger ?” Ace asked.

Wood clapped as the gun holes slapped open and cannons pointed at the Sea Storm . In one swift move, Vane dropped the cup and drew his pistol, pointing it at Max’s temple. “I dinnae what yer attempting to do, stealing my treasure. I’ll discover yer lies for deceiving me.”

Everyone froze. Afraid if they moved, Vane would pull the trigger. Even Mortas looked stunned at Vane’s aggressive move on Max.

“It was the witch.” Mortas pointed a finger at me, then waved it at Caiyan and Marco. “She’s in alliance with these men. She has tricked Captain Smith with her spells. And has had relations with these men, including the quartermaster.”

Mutterings sounded throughout the crew.

Fucking Mortas. He had conveniently roped Rowan into my reversed harem. To get rid of the man who stood in his way to Max. More likely, the way to the King’s key.

Vane’s men immediately drew their swords, tips pressed to the skin of Caiyan, Marco, me, and Ace. They attempted to capture Rowan. He struggled. Vane cocked his pistol, and Max’s eyes grew wide. “I’ll blow his head off if’n ye try to fight.”

“Dinnae harm him.” Rowan placed his pistol on the ground. Vane’s men swarmed him. Some of the Sea Storm crew stood by watching, not lifting a hand to help their captain. Vane had won over Max’s crew. Rowan dismissed the few who tried to help.

Caiyan, Marco, and Rowan were on their knees, hands tied behind their backs, lined up on the deck. One of Vane’s crew held a blade to my ribs and escorted me to stand in front of them.

The pirates tied a struggling Max to the main mast.

My plan had failed. I’d muddled up the timeline, and Rogers hadn’t shown up.

The crew threw curses at the men.

Vane shot his pistol into the air and silenced them.

“What’s the meaning of this, Vane?” Max shouted. “Captain Crunch isnae correct with his accusations.”

“Crunch?” Vane scoffed, “He’s been clear about his intentions and has made me aware of your plan, Captain Smith.”

Mortas looked perplexed for the first time. “Plan?”

“What ’tis this plan ye speak of?” Max asked Vane.

Vane held up a rolled, cigarette-sized, recognizable paper. “A futile attempt to trick me and my crew. The plan is to take the map I’ve had all these years. The one your mother gave me to save your rotten life.”

“My mother?” Max’s confusion broke my heart.

“Years ago, I caught her stealin’ that cursed stone ye wear around yer neck. Yer da had traded me for it fair and square.” Vane tucked the map into the breast pocket of his coat.

Damn. Her own husband had betrayed her because he thought it was cursed. I thought.

Vane held his hands in the air like he was strangling a ghost. “When I had my hands around her throat, she gave me the map with the promise I was never to harm you, which I’ve kept. But now, finding out yer crew raided my ship, stole my treasure, and has been intent on freeing my prisoner, I’ll no be keeping my word.”

“You bloody bastard!” Max shouted.

“Aye, that’s what she called me as well. But I gave her what she had coming for stealin’ from me.” Vane paused in front of Max. “I hear, however, that you are the true bastard here.”

“You are a vile sleazebucket. I hope you rot on a deserted island and the buzzards eat your flesh from your bones.” I spat on the deck because it felt like the thing to do.

Vane strode toward me.

Crap on a hardtack biscuit! Maybe I went too far, but I wanted him away from Max.

“Ye think me vile?” He stopped and stared at me with those bloodshot eyes.

I glanced at the row of men I loved, bound with concern for me etched on their faces. Vane caught me.

Pure evil squinted at me in the bright sunlight. “I’ve seen the way ye look at Silver. And the same way ye look at Captain Kirk. Naugh like the harlots look at a man, but like they’ve got something ye want. Something ye crave.”

“I don’t know what you speak of.” I turned my head, averting my gaze, afraid he’d see inside my heart.

“I speak of yer affections for one other than yer husband?” Vane t’sked a finger at me.

“No!” I shrieked, shaking my head until I was dizzy.

“Which man does yer heart yearn for?” Vane narrowed his eyes, but I couldn’t hold his intimidating gaze. I looked down at my trembling hands and suddenly felt ill. And like I was stuck in a Keats poem.

Vane placed his blade under my chin and raised it so my eyes met his. “Ye may choose one.”