They cut through the waves, wind whipping at the sails while they closed the distance to where he expected to intercept them. Eyes scanned every direction for any sign of the ship that carried Nora away, and closer to her death.
“Sails!” someone shouted from the bow.
“Take the wheel!” Victor called to Sully. He raced across the deck and grabbed the spyglass from George’s hand. Pressing it to his eye he twisted the bronze contraption, blue and white sails came into focus. The Falcon.
“Take chase!” he shouted, handing the spyglass back to George. He leapt across the deck, swinging from ropes until he landed back at his wheel. They surged after her, the newly careered ship closing the distance with ease.
“She’s trying to run!” Simon shouted from the quarterdeck.
“Let her, she’ll never escape,” Viktor said with a smile of certainty. “Raise the black!”
He puffed his chest with pride as his black sail raised into the air, flapping proud in the wind as their speed increased.
It took almost an hour before they made it into range. Simon reported the Falcon’s movement while Viktor guided his ship. The pull to see Nora again drove him on and he pushed his ship to the limits.
“We’re within range, Captain!” Sully shouted from the crow’s nest.
“Think she’ll come around broadside and fire? They’ve got to know we’ll catch up to them,” Simon said, coming down now to his side.
“They’ll fire all right,” Viktor said.
“Should we open the gun ports, prepare to return fire?”
“Nora is on that ship,” he growled. “Not a single bullet, nor a single cannon shot is to move in its direction. Is that clear?”
Simon nodded his response. “I’ll tell the men.”
Viktor pushed on while Simon alerted the crew. They grumbled at the news, their fingers itching for battle again.
Simon returned. “Captain, they are understandably concerned about how to win a battle without firing a shot. I’m assuming you have a plan?”
“I always have a plan.”
“She’s coming around!” Sully shouted down again.
“Prepare for impact!” Viktor shouted. The crew all dropped to the deck, hands covering heads while they waited for the cannonballs to fly. Booms broke through the quiet summer air; crashes of metal and wood splintering rang through the ship.
“Captain, we need to fire!”
“No! Hold steady! Slip into her wake and run at her stern! We will tack around and board her! Then you can unleash hell!”
They maneuvered the wounded ship and slipped up behind the Falcon utilizing the wind that pushed them around. He saw Captain Hector step from the bow, Nora’s arm held fast in his hand. Even at this distance he could see the fear in her eyes, feel it even from afar. Captain Hector dragged her by the arm below deck.
“Viktor, help me!” she screamed, her voice barely audible over the sounds of the wind. He glared at Captain Hector and dug down harder.
“Tack hard!” Viktor shouted. The Dark Shark slipped into place behind the Falcon pushing her stern. “Nets ready!”
The impact caused the Falcon to spin around, landing broadside to the Dark Shark. Pistols sent bullets whizzing past the crew and they pressed to the sides for cover. They had nets with grapples in hand prepared to fling them and board on command.
“Prepare to board!” Viktor shouted. Nets flung through the air, grapples digging into the rails of the Falcon creating a pathway across. “Over the rails!”
His crew roared when they launched up, daggers clenched in their teeth as they climbed across the nets. Shots rang out, several men falling when they took a bullet. Viktor gave Simon a look. Together they soared over the nets. They landed on the railing of the Falcon, swords readied as they prepared for battle.
The first men came in waves. Fury tightened Viktor’s face while he and Simon parried the blows, their swords in return slicing the skin of their invaders, dropping them one by one at their feet. He looked left, his men pushed forward in their battle as well. Like a proud father, he surged with pride when he saw them using his signature fighting techniques, the ones he had taught them on long stints at sea.
“I’m going for Nora!” Viktor shouted, kicking a man in the face.
“We’re under control! Go!” Simon replied, tossing an elbow to clear the path.
Viktor’s sword met resistance on his way. A whirlwind of metal and rage sliced through the wall of men before him, dropping anything that stood in his way. Fighting came easy for him, natural. Fighting for Nora unleashed a fury in him deeper than he could have imagined. As the last of the men succumbed to his lethal blades, Viktor lowered his head and stepped across the carnage at his feet. Finally, he arrived at the door he saw Nora dragged through. Viktor took a breath, steadying himself for what he would find inside. She had hired them to escort her, but she looked anything but safe when he saw her just minutes ago. He knows.
With a mighty kick, he pushed the door open. The sound of it slamming against the wall echoed through the room. Eyes filled with rage and determination searched the space for any signs of her. He growled when he saw her held fast in the arms of Captain Hector, a dagger pressed to her throat. Viktor lowered his head and took deep breaths trying to still his rage. Daggers stained red extended at his side, blood from their fresh victims slid off and dripped into pools at his feet.
“Captain Viktor, I presume?” he asked. He used her body like a shield, hiding behind her while he spoke through her golden mane of hair. “I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you in person, I’ve only heard the rumors. Do you know who I am?”
Viktor’s lip curled. “Captain Hector.”
“I see my reputation precedes me as well?”
“Release her. Now.” He was in no mood for discussions.
“In that case, we find ourselves at an impasse, I am sad to say.”
“There is no impasse. You give me the girl, or you die. It is an easy decision.”
“If I give you the girl, you will put a bullet in my head no sooner than I release her neck.”
Viktor’s eyes narrowed. The man wasn’t wrong. He wanted nothing more than to lodge a bullet square between his eyes. “You have my word. Release the girl and I will let you live.”
“Viktor,” Nora pleaded. The dagger scraped on her throat when she swallowed. Her eyes swelled with fear. The sight of her in danger sent a surge of anger coursing through his veins.
Captain Hector clucked his cheek. “I’m afraid I can’t do that. For one, I don’t trust you to keep your word.”
“You were supposed to keep me safe,” Nora cried, her attention turning to Captain Hector. “Why did you betray me?”
“There is rumor of a sizable bounty for anyone making your death look like an accident or a suicide. When you told me your name I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. I figured I could get you back to England and figure out the best way to kill you and ensure I get the bounty. It was nothing against you, darling.”
“You wanted to take me to my death and yet, it’s nothing against me?” Her face reddened with anger. Viktor locked eyes with her and then dropped his to her thigh. With any luck, she still had the pistol he gave her. Nora followed his eyes, a silent exchange passing between the two of them. Her eyes widened when she realized what he wanted her to do. He encouraged her on with his own.
Come on, Nora. You can do this. Just get that pistol in your hands.
She stayed her look, determination mingling with fear as she began discreetly bunching up the front of her dress with her free hand. Viktor saw her long, slender legs revealed inch by inch while Captain Hector remained unaware. The glint of metal flashed as the pistol appeared from beneath her linen skirt. Her small hand slid the ivory hilt from the tie, clutching it to her stomach as she let her dress drop.
Viktor took his first breath since she started her impromptu peep show, partly from fear of her discovery, and partly from the sight of her incredible leg
s on full display. It had taken every inch of willpower not to let his full gaze fall to them and give her away. She needed to cock the pistol, and the sound would be impossible to ignore. Viktor looked to his own pistol, the one he had taken from the arsenal when he prepared for this battle. His eyes met with hers again, a silent exchange he pleaded with her to understand.
Viktor slipped his own pistol from his sash. He placed his finger on the hammer, his eyes held fast with hers. He held steady, waiting for her to understand. They would have to time it perfectly. He saw her finger slip to her own hammer. They held eyes.
Captain Hector peered from behind her hair. “Put that pistol down, or I will slit her throat!”
Viktor ignored him, raising his pistol while he held her eyes. With a slight nod, he cocked the hammer. Nora’s cocked in perfect time, the sound hidden by the clicking of his own. Another deep sigh racked his shoulders.
“What are you going to do? Shoot her?” Captain Hector threatened. “Put it down!”
With the true intent of his pistol having accomplished its goal, Viktor uncocked the hammer and raised his hands in submission. “Fine. Please, just don’t hurt her. I’ll surrender my weapons and we can talk.” One by one Viktor dropped his weapons to the ground.
“Step over there and turn in a circle,” Captain Hector commanded.
Viktor took two large steps to the side, lifting his coat and turning to show himself unarmed. “Now, please. Take the dagger from her throat. You’re scaring her. Just look at how frightened she is.”
Captain Hector sneered, his dagger dropping from her throat. Nora exhaled a sharp breath and held the pistol readied in her hands. Her finger slid to the trigger.
“You and your men can leave my ship, or I will kill her. Those are the terms.”
“You don’t want to do this. Can you really look her in the eyes and then send her to her death?”
“Of course I can,” Captain Hector scoffed.
“Do it then. If you can look her in her eyes, tell her you are going to kill her and feel no remorse, then I shall leave this ship.”
Viktor pushed all his strength into Nora with a look.
You can do this. Just pull the trigger.
Captain Hector spun her around by the shoulders, a dark smile exposing his gnarled teeth. His eyes met hers. “I am going to kill you; and I feel no remorse.”
Viktor held his breath. Nora trembled in his grasp. Bang! The shot rang out and deafened his ears. Captain Hector’s face froze, his eyes the only thing moving as they grew to twice their size. Nora gasped and stepped backward out of his faltering grasp. Red blood seeped from the hole in his torso, pouring now into a puddle on the floor. His knees buckled and he clutched his stomach. Viktor lunged for his dagger, rolling as he grasped it and landed in front of Captain Hector. With one swift movement his dagger pressed into Captain Hector’s throat. Rage radiated from him as he bared his teeth at the dying man.
“I am going to kill you; and I feel no remorse.” Viktor pushed the dagger through his throat, Nora gasping as the Captain gurgled and collapsed at his feet.
“Viktor,” she breathed with a shaky voice.
He took a breath and turned to see her quaking. “Nora.” He exhaled, lurching forward and sweeping her into strong arms. Her own wrapped around his neck, her body falling limp into his embrace. Firm lips pressed to her forehead, his throat tightening while he fought to release the fear he felt seeing her in Hector’s dangerous grasp. It was fear like he had never known, sharp and wrenching, tearing him right through to the core. Fear was not something he was familiar with, and the depth of what he was feeling sent his mind swirling as he buried his face in her hair, pulling her tight into his body.
“Captain? Are you in here?” Simon stepped through the door, sword readied and prepared for battle. He saw Captain Hector on the ground in a pool of blood, his eyes then settling on Viktor and Nora still locked in an embrace. Viktor gave him a nod, he returned it and backed out of the room.
“Come on, Nora. Let’s get you back on my ship. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”
She sniffled and followed his lead, her hands holding fast to his shirt while he gathered his weapons and led her out across the bloodied deck. He saw dead bodies strewn about, mostly those of Captain Hector’s crew, but the bodies of several of his own sent a shock down his spine. They were dead, and they were dead because she had run. Anger resonated within him, such a waste of loyal men. It was so preventable, so unnecessary. Now that she was safe, the hurt and anger from her abandonment, from her role in the deaths of his men, tore through him. Viktor glared while he lifted her over to Simon, who caught her and pulled her onto the Dark Shark. His grasp released, and with it the feelings for her that had been growing inside.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
NORA LANDED IN SIMON’S arms and exhaled when she felt her feet touch the deck of the Dark Shark. She’d wondered if she’d ever feel safe again. Plenty of moments since she boarded Captain Hector’s boat she’d thought that impossible.
“Thank you, Simon,” she said, pulling from his arms.
“Are you hurt, Miss Nora?” He gave her a once over.
“Thanks to Viktor, I’m all right. Thanks to all of you.”
Simon only nodded and looked to Viktor. He leapt across the divide and landed on the rails of the ship. His eyes moved to hers, an unexpected coldness in them freezing the blood in her veins.
“How many?” Viktor growled, his eyes moving to Simon. “How many of our crew dead?”
“Three, Captain. Lenny, John, and Roger. Eric is injured from a cannonball, but he will survive.”
Uneven breaths filled Nora’s lungs. Members of his crew had died in the battle. It didn’t take but a moment for her to understand the weight of his stare.
“Get the bodies. Bring them aboard. They will have a proper burial at sea.”
“Of course, Captain.” Simon shot a look to several crew who responded with haste. She stepped aside while they lifted the bodies across the gap and carried them with care to the stern. They were laid down beside one another. A large blanket fluttered through the air and settled over the top of them. She choked back tears, watching the hardened crew hug and comfort one another. Viktor didn’t join. He stood alone, anger radiating through every pore of his body.
“Viktor,” Nora whispered, stepping to his side. She reached out and placed a hand on his arm. He shrugged it off and spun to face her.
Anger burned deep in the eyes that once burned with passion. “Why did you run?”
She choked back tears. Seeing the fury in his eyes forced her back a step.
“Why, Nora? Was the thought of spending another minute with me so terrible that death was preferable? I don’t understand! Was it worth the death of my men?” His voice boomed from his chest. One by one the men turned to look.
“I’m so sorry, Viktor. I made a mistake. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be with you, that’s not true. I just—”
“You what? What the hell was going through your head?” He trembled with anger.
“Viktor,” Simon stepped beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Now is not the time,” he whispered in his ear. “Nora, perhaps it’s best if you go to your quarters for a bit. Emotions are heightened right now, and we need to get underway.”
She dipped her head and retreated to Viktor’s cabin without a word. A sorrowful glance fell back to him before she disappeared through the door. His eyes still burned with icy rage as he stared back. The tears she fought spilled from her stinging eyes and she threw herself on the bed. Sobs racked her shoulders as the weight of her decision bore down on her. This was all her fault.
Hours passed before she felt the ship surge into motion. She peered up out the window and saw the waves moving faster and faster while they picked up speed. A knock on her door redirected her attention. She swallowed hard, unsure of who, or what anger was headed her way.
“Who is it?” she asked, fear shaking her voice.
“It’s Simon. May I come in?”
Nora sighed, first with relief it was Simon, and then with a pang in her heart that it wasn’t Viktor. As much as she feared his wrath, she was desperate to see him and make things right again. She had to explain to him why she did what she did. “Yes, Simon. Please come in.”
The hinges on the door creaked when he pushed it open. He ducked through the doorframe and straightened up tall after he walked through.
“I wanted to tell you we have set sail, though, I’m sure you’ve noticed. I’ll bring you some food and water shortly now that we are underway. Is there anything else you need?”
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Somewhere very safe. Viktor has a plan.”
Viktor still planned on protecting her despite what she did? That knowledge caused her a great deal of relief, although it amplified her guilt. He was still loyal to his mission even after she caused the death of three of his men.
“Can I see him? Viktor?”
Simon stiffened when she posed the question. “I don’t think that’s a good idea just yet. He tends to run hot, and it’s best to let him cool down.”
“Please, Simon, I need to see him. I have to explain.”
Simon looked at her with sympathy-filled eyes. “I’ll try, Miss Nora. I can’t make any promises, and I don’t recommend it, but I’ll try. At the very least I’ll return with food and drink.”
“Thank you, Simon.”
She paced the room while she waited for Simon’s return, hoping he returned with more than a meal. The need to see Viktor twisted her gut until it was unbearable. She didn’t think the knot could twist any tighter, yet when the knock on the door came, somehow it did. She stilled herself with a breath.
“Come in.”
Beneath The Assassin's Touch (Daggers 0f Desire Book 2) Page 12
