Page 38

Thirty-Eight

W e landed on the opposite side of Bone Island. Cannon fire resounded in the distance. The remaining crew lay unconscious on the deck. Max threw his arms around Rowan’s waist and hugged tight. I assumed Rowan’s responsive grunt meant I love you too .

Marco and Sasha stood arm in arm below us. Caiyan put his hand on my shoulder. “Ye did it, lass.”

I wrapped my arms around him. “Sorry, I didn’t choose you, but I needed Rowan’s muscle to help with Max.”

“Understood.”

“Can you believe that wanker Vane snapped off our flag in his hurry to flee the ship?” Ace pointed where there had once been a flag. Now a broken pole swung in the breeze.

Rowan looked out at Bone Island, then down at me. “I assume since ye had us stay close to the island, yer key is here.”

I glanced at Caiyan, unsure if I was allowed to tell them.

Max held his hands up in offering. “Miss Jennifer, ye have to trust us if’n we are to trust you.”

The crew began stirring. At least those left loyal to Max. To my displeasure, Shrug remained among them.

“Let’s take this matter to your cabin.” Caiyan motioned for Marco and Sasha to join us. Max left Ace, and much to Ace’s pleasure, Black Bard, in charge of the recovering crew.

Once inside Max’s cabin, Caiyan reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a familiar rolled paper. He untied it and revealed his piece of the map.

I gave a partially playful visible shiver, “I hate to think how you got that to this time.”

“I felt it important naugh to rely on my memory.”

His drawing had a larger land mass with mountains, a similar portion of the pirate crest as I’d seen on the other maps, and a part of a ship.

“What’s this?” I asked, pointing to the mountains.

“South America.” He ran his finger across the ship. “The ship is sailing toward Nassau. ’Tis the same route the Spanish fleets used to take their treasures from Cuba to Spain. The map shows the way to sail the ship, no its destination.”

“It’s why your grandfather couldn’t find the key. He was looking in the wrong place,” I said, happy to contribute the correct conclusion.

“And mine as well.” Marco spread paper on the table and selected a quill. He sketched the skull, treasure chest, Bone Island, and small islands to the Northwest. “My nonno had me sketching this same drawing since I was old enough to hold a crayon. He told me one day I’d know why.”

“Is it called Bone Island because of this rock that looks like a skull?” I tapped the skull Marco had drawn.

“Nay.” Rowan shook his head. “The natives of Key West used the island to discard the remains of their dead. ’Tis more of a sacred place.”

“Ew.”

“Ye did ask.” Rowan chuckled.

“Ponce de Leon named it Cayo Hueso because of the white rock and all the bones they found,” Max added in his that’s-so-dope tone.

“’Twas the settlers who misunderstood the meaning of the words and renamed it Key West. Eventually, it included the southern tip of Florida, and the island was left behind.” Caiyan tapped the tip of Florida on Marco’s map.

All heads turned toward Sasha. I prayed she had memorized Rogue’s map.

Sasha moved forward and pulled her linen shirt over her head, leaving her in only a thin, sleeveless undershirt.

“Babe, what are you doing?” Marco quickly shielded Sasha’s body with his own.

“Move it or lose it, blondie.” Sasha flipped her shirt inside out. Stamped on the underside was Rogue’s map, which included a portion of the pirate insignia, the compass, and the words Cayo Hueso .

“How did you get that to this time?” I asked.

“Unlike you losers, I have the ability to control my clothing.” She positioned the other maps next to hers.

“Damn, that’s sexy.” Marco curled his arm around her waist and pulled her close.

Sasha looked down at his hands. “Like I said, move it or lose it.” She flashed him an evil glare, but her tone was playful.

“This doesnae tell us any more than what we already knew.” Caiyan’s face fell. “Regardless, I’d like to take a look at the island.”

I stepped to the table. “I need to show you something.”

“Can it wait, Lassie? We havenae much time.” Caiyan studied the map.

I lifted my skirt, exposing one rounded butt cheek. With Max’s eyes bulging, I showed everyone the tattoo of Aint Elma’s map. “It’s accurate.”

“Now, that’s sexy,” Marco said, followed by an exhaled “Umphh” from Sasha’s elbow jab into his rib.

“Ye got a tattoo?” Caiyan’s words stuttered, suggesting his mouth also hung open in awe.

I looked over my shoulder at him. “It’s not real. My cousin Darryl did a temporary tattoo. I’m not certain I would have recalled the details of the map without it.”

Caiyan ran fingertips over the map, and goose-pimples rose on my skin.

“Miss Jennifer,” Max stammered, trying not to stare at my exposed butt cheek.

“Sorry,” I felt my face heat. “It was the only place I could think of that no one would look.”

Marco took the quill and quickly mapped out the islands of Bahamas and Nassau, the bottom half of the pirate insignia, and the strange symbol resembling the petals of a flower.

“Thank ye to yer Aint Elma.” Rowan rumbled a chuckle at my bare backside and I felt Caiyan tense beside me.

I quickly lowered my dress and bent to examine the map. I stifled a smile when I heard Max’s disappointed sigh.

With our maps combined, we had the location. But the final X marks the spot remained on the map Vane held.

“I saw the skull, except it’s this way.” I took the quill and drew it sideways. “See how the eye sockets stack on top of each other. They might be caves.”

“Aye, we need the center of the map.” Caiyan tapped the table in defeat.

I blew out an irritated huff. “We need Vane’s piece.”

Depression filled the room. We wouldn’t find the key today. The island was too big to dig everywhere, even if I felt some sort of connection.

“Mayhaps, I can help.” Max stepped forward. “Ye see, that map didn’t belong to Captain Vane. It belonged to my mum.” He produced the small, rolled paper between his thumb and finger. “I took it off his person in the scuffle.”

“Max! You have the map!” I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed. I couldn’t believe our luck.

“Miss Jennifer, I can’t breathe,” Max squeaked.

I let him go. He unrolled the paper and placed it in the center.

“Way to go, you little pickpocketing thief.” Marco gave him a knuckle bump.

“Like taking milk from the fat cow.” Max’s lips split into a grin.

I waved away looks of concern from the others. Caiyan slid the pieces together. It formed a pirate ship, a compass, the last part of the pirate insignia, and half of a flower.

“Is this native to the island?” I pointed to the flower that now made up part of the skeleton’s eye.

“’Tis a pool,” Rowan said, as if it should be easy to recognize and not written in disappearing ink only he could read.

Everyone looked up at him. “These pools are common on the islands. I used to swim in them as a wee one.”

“I remember,” Max said. “Da and Mum used to take us there.” The connection held for a moment, and I felt they were a part of something that shouldn’t be broken up, like a favorite rock band.

“I see it now.” I tapped the pool. “It’s in a cave, inside the eye of the skull.” With the skull lying on its side, we’d need to climb down the temple and drop into the cave at an angle.

“Let’s roll, people.” Sasha motioned toward the door.

“We need to beat my underhanded half-brother to the key,” Max said.

“As if the jerk could find it without the map.” Marco bent to scoop up the pieces, but Max stopped him.

“I have one condition.” Max covered the map with his hand. “If there is any treasure with yer key, it belongs to Rowan.”

“Max,” Rowan scratched the back of his neck. “Ye know I didnae need?—”

“That’s my condition, or ye may stay on the island and wait for Rogers to pick ye up.”

I chewed on my lip. Rowan was supposed to die. His pregnant wife left a penniless farmer. Only in the alternate timeline was she given treasure from Long John Silver. Alexander Hamilton didn’t come from money. His humble roots drove his assertive and ambitious political aspirations.

We’d saved Rowan. Was it possible to change his fate and keep ours intact?

“I agree,” Marco said firmly.

“Fine.” Sasha’s tone sounded a tad unsure.

“Aye, but only if ye spend it wisely.” Caiyan held out a hand to seal his promise. Rowan clasped it and nodded his acceptance.

All eyes turned toward me. “It’s changing h-h-history,” I stuttered.

Caiyan wrapped an arm around me. “History is what ye make, Sunshine.”

Caiyan was right. “I’m in.” I smiled at Max.

“That’s my betrothed yer embracing,” Max scolded Caiyan.

I stopped short. I forgot to explain my relationship with Caiyan. Whatever that may be, he still deserved an explanation. I didn’t want to hurt Max.

Max’s eyes sparkled with a boyish playfulness, and he winked at me.

“Actually, she’s my betrothed.” Caiyan took my hands, kissing my knuckles like some eighteenth-century Duke. “That is, when I get a ring and propose for real, and she agrees to marry me.”

“I hope ye say ye will.” Max’s voice escalated with excitement.

I gazed into Caiyan’s sexy green eyes and felt his honest feelings for me warm my hands and tickle up my arms in wonderful tingles. “Since I have permission from my former fiancé, I’d say it depends on the ring.”

Caiyan pulled me into his arms and kissed me.

The door flew open. Ace stood akimbo. “Guys, the cannons have stopped. Rogers sank Vane, or the bloody bastard got away. Either way, one of ’em ’ill be coming for us.”