“If you have something to say, then say it. I have work to do.”
“In your cabin,” Luke said, marching toward the hatch.
“Damn, we’re going to miss it,” Vincent complained.
Blake scowled at Vincent, then included Nate when the man rocked back on his heels, grinning. He stomped after Luke but didn’t catch up in time. Luke disappeared below, leaving Blake no choice but to follow.
“Shut the hatch, this stays between us,” Luke ordered.
Blake speared him a glare. “My bloody ship and everyone thinks they can give me orders,” he grumbled as he slammed the hatch, the force of which rattled the breakfast dishes he’d left on the table.
Since Luke remained standing, so did Blake.
“What’s so bloody important?” he demanded.
“Someone’s threatening Samantha.”
Blake couldn’t have been more surprised. “Threatening her? How? Why?”
“Before I tell you why, can you account for your crew? Do you know where they are, where they’ve been, where they come from?”
Blake arched a brow. “Do I know where they are now? Besides Nate and Vincent, they’re ashore. I’ve kept a few men here to guard the treasure, but the rest have been in town, spending their plunder. Why?”
“How long have you had them as part of your crew?”
Blake crossed his arms. “I’m not saying anything else until you tell me what this is about.”
Luke bared his teeth, ran a hand across the back of his neck, and sighed. “Samantha used to be a pirate as well.”
“Samantha used to be a pirate, too? Hell, I’m surrounded by pirates.”
Luke scowled. “That’s beside the bloody point, isn’t it? Someone’s found out and is threatening to turn her over to the authorities. Since she hasn’t pirated in a year, and nobody knew until you showed up …”
“You think it’s a member of my crew.” Blake shook his head. “I can’t account for the coincidence, Luke, but I can account for my crew. I’ve had the same one for a fair number of years and it’s proven to be honest and trustworthy. Well, other than Lewis, who came onboard in Tortuga. But it can’t be him. We didn’t even know we were coming to St. Kitts until after we’d sailed from Tortuga and discovered Alicia had stowed away. There was no way anyone, including Lewis, could have planned to come threaten Samantha.”
Luke shook his head, the anger replaced with worry.
“You’re sure?”
“I am. But I don’t understand why this is an issue. You’ve been pardoned, why hasn’t she?”
Luke inhaled deeply. “She was safer not asking for one. She’s Sam Steele.”
Blake whistled. “Sam’s notorious.”
Luke scowled. “So you know of Steele?”
“Everyone knows of Steele,” Blake answered.
“Right, her you’ve heard of. Anyhow,” he continued with a shake of his head, “someone has figured it out and is asking a huge ransom for his silence.”
Suddenly last night’s events made sense. “This is the secret Alicia was keeping, the reason you and Joe shadowed the women last night?”
“Yeah.”
Blake mulled it over, decided he couldn’t find fault with Luke’s logic. In his place, he wouldn’t have told a virtual stranger either. “But you’re going to give in, I imagine?”
“Not yet.” Luke set his jaw. “I’m trying to think of a way not to that can still ensure Samantha’s safety.”
“You could kill him.”
“I could, but he’s claiming to have provisions made that, in the event of his death, his attorneys have the information. We can kill him and Samantha can still hang.”
Blake rubbed his eye. “This gets complicated.”
“You’ve no idea,” Luke sighed. “Can you spare some time? I’d like to go back to the house, discuss some possibilities.”
“Sure.”
On deck, Blake called Nate and Vincent over. “We need to do something before we leave. Follow us.”
“Hold it,” Luke ordered, stopping midstride. “They’re not coming.”
“I trust these men with my life, Luke, as well as Alicia’s. You need help and there’s nobody better than Nate and Vincent. They’ve been with me for years, and if they don’t come, then I’m not going either.”
Luke scowled but eventually relented, and the four of them rowed to shore. In the house, Blake took Alicia into the parlor. When they were alone, he pulled her into his arms. Relief melted over him when her arms came around his back and held him tightly.
“I missed you,” he murmured into her hair. He smiled at the smell of oranges that teased his nose. She’d already become so familiar to him.
“Blake, I’m sorry.” Alicia leaned back, cupped a soft hand to his cheek. “I didn’t want to lie to you, but Sam had asked me to keep a secret and I couldn’t betray her trust.” Her eyes shone with tears that squeezed Blake’s heart. “But by doing it, I felt as though I was betraying yours.”
He looked down at her beautiful face, considered himself the luckiest man alive, then leaned in and kissed her. He savored her taste, the softness of her lips, which was that much sweeter after a long night of being without her. He moved his mouth and nipped at the delicate skin behind her ear. Her moan was for his ears only, but it went through him like fire.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Vincent said, the humorous tone belying his words, “but we’re ready.”
Blake waited until Vincent had left. “I love you, and I think protecting your sister is an admirable trait. You’ve only found Samantha again and I know it must be hard to see her being threatened. I understand why you didn’t tell me.”
Alicia sagged against him. “I hated knowing you were angry with me. I—”
“Blake, man, are you finished?” Luke called.
“Come on.” He grinned before kissing her again. “They’re waiting.”
They took their seats around the table, everyone except Luke, who couldn’t stop pacing. Samantha stood at the head of the table, flanked by Joe and Aidan. She began to speak, but was instantly interrupted by Luke.
“Before she says anything,” he growled, “I want to make it clear that her words stop here. If any of you breathes a word outside these walls, I’ll hunt you down and kill you.”
Squawk. “Luke will kill you. Luke will kill you.”
The insult scraped over Blake and had him scowling in return. If he could trust a pirate, then what was Luke’s problem?
“Luke,” Samantha said with a shake of her head. She turned to Nate and Vincent, smiled warmly. Blake shook his own head in disgust when Vincent blushed and sat a little taller. Nate, seeing this embarrassing display, rolled his eyes.
“Ignore Luke, he’s out of sorts at the moment.”
Then, with no more fuss, she began her tale. Blake grinned at the expected reactions of his friends. Vincent didn’t blink, only stared at Samantha with a look of disbelief and awe while Nate nodded slightly, lips tugged as he fought a grin.
“I’ve heard of you,” Vincent said, his voice thick with reverence, as though talking to the king. “I never dreamed Steele was a woman. Damn,” he added, laughing now, “what a treat this is. I get to meet Sam Steele!”
Squawk. “Sam Steele. Sam Steele.”
Samantha blushed. Luke stopped pacing, arched a brow.
“Excuse him,” Nate said, shooting Vincent a look of incredulity. “He’s easily excitable.”
“But she was the best,” Vincent argued.
“Excuse me,” Luke growled. “She was tied with the best.” He winked at his wife.
Squawk. “Luke was best. Luke was best.”
Blake found the discussion quite humorous until Samantha mentioned the letters, three letters, and the fact that Alicia was mentioned in them.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he demanded, facing Alicia.
“I told you, it’s Sam secret, not mine.”
Fury had him standing. “It’s no longer only a
bout Samantha when your life is in danger.” He spun to Luke. “You said Samantha was in danger, you never mentioned Alicia was as well. I could shoot you for that. How would you like for your wife to be threatened without you being the wiser? I can’t protect Alicia if I’m not aware she needs it.”
Luke nodded. “I’d be angry, too, mate, but know this, I was watching them and they were safe.”
Blake gnashed his teeth. “You think a locked door would stop a grenade? You’re a pirate. You should know better.”
“From where I’m standing we’re not so very different, mate, but if you have a problem with us having been pirates,” he gestured to the door, “feel free to leave.”
Blake rubbed his eye, sighed heavily. “I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. I only meant that a locked door won’t keep out someone who is determined to get inside.”
“If he killed her, he wouldn’t get his ransom, would he?” Luke reasoned.
“There are other ways. He could’ve taken Alicia. Did it never cross your mind that by taking her, he’d ensure Samantha’s payment?”
Samantha paled. Blake turned to Alicia and saw she’d had the same reaction.
“I don’t think whoever is doing this is that bold,” Nate reasoned. “He left the cutlass in the door when nobody was home. He did the same with the note on the ship, and he used a young boy to deliver another.”
“Well, that’s not a chance I’m willing to take.” Blake reached for Alicia’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “We’re leaving.”
“Blake, we can’t,” Alicia said, yanking her hand back.
“The hell we can’t,” he argued and reached for her again. His hands closed over air when she stepped out of reach.
“You’re right, Samantha isn’t the only one in danger. But it seems to me that the way to ensure everyone’s safety is to deal with this. I don’t see running as solving anything,” Nate said.
All eyes turned to Nate. He shrugged. “Blake, we can sail out of here, but what’s to say we won’t be followed? Do you really plan on having Alicia watched every minute of the day?” He leaned forward in his chair, looked to Alicia. “Would you want that?”
“No,” Alicia answered. “I’d hate it.”
Shit, Blake thought, Nate was right. They’d always be watching their backs if they didn’t solve the problem now.
“Will you pay it, Sam?” Aidan asked.
“ ’Course she will,” Joe answered. “Won’t ye?”
Samantha looked at Luke, her heart in her eyes. “He wants the ship.”
Squawk. “Can’t have the ship. Can’t have the ship.”
“Well, he can’t have it,” Luke said vehemently. Luke propped his foot onto a chair. “I agree with Nate and my parrot. I don’t believe paying will make this stop. We’d always be wondering if and when he’ll come back.”
“Then what do you have in mind?” Vincent asked.
“Sam, if you don’t pay him”—Alicia turned even paler—“you could hang.”
“Why can’t she apply for her pardon?” Vincent asked.
“Just because the Navy would forgive her, do you think every other pirate Steele has plundered would be as forgiving?” Luke asked. “Imagine them finding out they were bested by a woman.”
Blake sighed. “I see your point.”
“She’d ’ave every despot after ’er,” Joe concluded.
The room fell silent as they contemplated what was best. Luke was back to pacing and Alicia was preparing tea. Blake figured they all needed something much stronger.
“The only way to make this go away,” Nate said, leaning back into his chair and stretching his long legs under the table, “is to bring Steele back.”
Luke stopped, looked at Nate as though he’d grown an extra head.
“You think the best way to save her life is to risk it all over again? Are you bloody mad?”
There was muttering from most around the table and they all agreed with Luke.
“I never said it had to be her,” Nate explained.
Blake’s mouth went dry. There was a reckless look on Nate’s face he only saw when they were engaged in battle. He didn’t like it, not one bit.
“What are ye proposin’?”
Nate looked to Blake. Blake shook his head. Don’t do it, he thought. Don’t do it.
“If Steele comes back, sailing and plundering while Samantha remains here in plain view, with her ship,” he added with a wink for Samantha, “then your threat is gone. Nobody would believe him, and Samantha would be safe.”
Vincent grabbed Nate’s arm, looking as happy about this turn of events as Blake felt.
“You can’t mean to do it?” Vincent asked.
Nate shrugged. “Why not?”
“What do you mean, why not? Then it’ll be your neck on the line, won’t it?”
“Not if they can’t catch me. Besides, it might be fun.”
Vincent cuffed Nate on the arm. “That’s the dumbest thing that’s ever come out of your mouth, and let me tell you, that’s saying something.”
“Boys,” Luke interrupted, “you can squabble about it later.” He turned to Samantha. “This could work. We have another sloop we can give him.”
“Wouldn’t it have to be the Revenge, uh, the Freedom?” Joe asked.
“Nobody would know even if it was, as we’ve changed her quite a bit. She doesn’t look like the Revenge anymore. Besides, it’s not unusual for pirates to take new ships. As long as we call her the Revenge and Nate claims to be Steele, then it’ll work.”
“There’s a flaw in your plan,” Blake said. “If this person knows of us, knows we’re here, then wouldn’t he know Nate isn’t Steele?”
“Probably, but it’s like I said. Once I’m out there plundering under Steele’s name, using a ship he was known to have sailed, then it doesn’t matter. The authorities won’t believe his claim that Samantha, a woman, is Steele when there’ll be proof Steele is somewhere else. And,” Nate added, looking far too comfortable with this for Blake’s peace of mind, “Luke and Samantha build ships for the Navy. They’re not likely to do anything that would risk losing the two people that help them catch pirates by building the fastest ships. Not without rock-solid proof.” Then he angled a look toward Luke. “The ship you’re giving me will be the fastest, though, won’t it?”
Luke nodded and turned to Samantha. “Luv, this will work.”
Samantha looked stricken. She swallowed hard. “I can’t ask you to do this for me, Nate.”
“You’re not asking. I volunteered.”
Alicia set down her tea. Her eyes, Blake noticed, were shiny with tears. “What you’re proposing is dangerous. I’ve witnessed two battles in my life and men died in both. I don’t want”—she choked back her sob—“I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Nate rose and went to Alicia, tucked her into his embrace. Blake watched, knowing, as Alicia seemed to, that Nate’s mind was already made up.
“I’ll be careful. Besides, Luke and Samantha managed it. And Blake, Vincent, and I have survived many battles.” He eased Alicia away, wiped her tears. “I know how to take care of myself.”
“Then it’s settled?” Luke asked.
“ ’Tis mad is what it is,” Joe argued.
“When you would leave?” Vincent asked, his voice unusually quiet.
Hearing the pain underneath the words and feeling the same squeezing in his own heart, Blake went to the cupboard where he knew Luke kept his rum. He took out a bottle, passed it to Alicia, who’d come to help. He grabbed enough glasses for everyone and passed them out. Alicia went behind him, pouring the rum.
“I’m sorry,” he heard her say, “you’re too young.”
“Oh, give him a swallow,” Luke said. “He’s not that young.”
Blake knew by her sharp inhale she didn’t like doing it. Blake chuckled at the small bit of liquid he heard hit the bottom of Aidan’s glass.
“To the new Steele,” Luke said, raising his glass. “You hav
e mighty big shoes to fill,” he added, draping an arm around his wife. “See to it you do the name justice.”
Nate grinned. “I’ll do my best.”
“What about a crew?” Vincent asked. He was standing on his chair. His rum was already gone.
“I know a few men that would be willing to help. I’ll talk to them,” Luke said.
“I’ll go,” Aidan volunteered.
“You most certainly will not,” Samantha said with a glare.
Aidan set his mouth. “You promised.”
“No, I did not. I said once you were older and you’d finished your schooling.”
“I’m thirteen.” He turned pleading eyes to Luke. “You taught me about ships, I lived on one for four years. I can do this.”
Luke hissed in a breath. “Dammit, Aidan, don’t put me in the middle of this. You and Samantha had an agreement. Until you’re sixteen, you’re staying with us to get your schooling.”
Aidan shoved back from the table. “The day I turn sixteen,” he vowed, “you won’t be able to stop me.” Then, grumbling, he stalked out of the room.
Nate was the first to cut through the strain that Aidan’s departure had left. “I’ll need those men right away.”
“We’ll have you ready by tonight. You can sail out in the darkness.”
Nate nodded. “Good.” Finally he seemed to remember Blake and his excitement dimmed when their eyes met.
“I need to get my things from the Blue Rose.”
Vincent jumped off his chair. “I’ll go with you.”
Blake nodded, kissed Alicia, held her tightly. “I’ll be back.”
Then, with a heavy heart, Blake followed Nate and Vincent outside.
Eighteen
The walk to the Blue Rose was made in troubled silence. They strode side by side as they always did, and though the habit was the same, everything about it felt different to Blake. The easy banter was missing. Instead of badgering Nate about one thing or another, Vincent marched sullenly, his steps kicking up far more sand than necessary. Nate kept his eyes on the water, and as was usual with Nate, Blake was never fully certain of his thoughts.
The sun was bright in the sky, and as it approached midday, the beach was noisy with activity. If it wasn’t children screaming and splashing, it was men shouting orders from the decks of their ships. It crossed Blake’s mind that whoever was blackmailing Samantha could be amid all the ruckus without them knowing, but at the moment he couldn’t summon up the energy to care. Not with Nate going back to the Blue Rose for the last time.
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