Never Surrender
Uncharted Secrets, Book 4
CRISTI TAIJERON
Copyright © 2015 Cristi Taijeron
All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN-13: 978-1508455844
ISBN-10: 1508455848
Edited by Stacey Coverstone & Janine Lieber
Cover Artwork by Megan Dinsdaleand Cristi Taijeron
Reign-creative.com
Interior design by Cristi Taijeron
Endlesshorizondesigns.com
To Nicole
My longtime friend who listens, advises, and plots these pirate stories with me every step of the way. Thank you for being an inspiration for Remington’s strength and rebellion by being the strong-willed, fire-hearted woman you are.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Tori. While struggling through the first part of this book, I said, “I don’t even know if this story is worth writing.”
You responded with, “Every story is worth writing.” And I have not forgotten that. Thank you for reminding me why I do this on those ridiculous days when I threaten to quit.
Peggy Sue BartlettI am so glad I found you! It has been so wonderful having another author obsessed with pirates to share the adventure with. Between your imaginary friends and mine, there is never a dull moment in our chat box, and words cannot express my gratitude for this unusual friendship we now share. Thanks for loving my characters like your own, and for naming Vernon and Rotty.
Mannie Maniac, one of my favorite artists in the entire world Thank you for loving Hannah, for supporting Remington’s rebellion, and for helping to make Joel as powerful and creepy as possible in the tiny space he was allotted. Also, I am ever so gratuitous for your small, but significant appearance in this tale as Manimal. His artwork means so much and I imagined every bit of your beautiful work as I explained the pieces he painted in this book.
Janine Thank you for being the most detailed beta reader in the world! Your handwritten notes mean the world to me and your attention to the little things truly polished the finishing touches to this tale. I truly adore our friendship.
AJ Addams I know I can always count on you for an honest opinion and I can’t thank you enough for being there for me when I need your awesome writing advice and friendly support. The life you breathed into Antonia and the setting at La Fortuna made for a much better time in Portugal.
SarahThanks for always being there when I need to double check the emotional flow of the tale, and for filling in the Spanish translations.
Claire Kowkabzadeh Thank you for looking into the lay of the land in Lisbon, Portugal. I truly appreciate your willingness to share your world traveling experiences with me.
Tayna Thank you for the Portugese translations.
Christopher ChaseThank you for steering this story towards Portugal and for not only naming Miguel Cardozo, but for helping to establish his traits and his drive.
Shaun Taijeron, Joe Giordano, Stephan Mendoza, and Christopher Chase
The greatest part of this entire adventure would not be what it is without your suggestions, input and approval. The reality of being stuck in that boat turned out dreadful, the shark attack is utterly horrific, and the violence is masterfully disturbing—all in ways that I had not seen coming when I started this scene, and all in ways far beyond anything I could have done with my own imagination. You guys rock, and if I ever ended up in a mess like this I’d be honored to have you as my crew.
AUTHOR’S nOTE
Uncharted Secrets was inspired by a mysterious character mentioned in the Justified Treason series. In those books, Sterling Bentley tells us that he never knew his mother, Hannah, and though his father, Mason Bentley, spoke very little of her, Sterling was well aware that Mason loved Hannah for all of his days.
When I began writing Justified Treason, Hannah was as mysterious to me as she was to Sterling, but as the tale unfolded I found myself wanting to know more about her. So, I decided to write the story. The surprises I found hiding in the pages of Uncharted Secrets consumed my imagination like a wildfire. There are so many clues to this mystery laced into my other books that I had to delve into the details like a detective, seeking out routes with dead ends and uncovering key elements like pieces to a crime scene. As an author, writing books is sometimes like reading one—I don't always know what's coming next—and the unexpected twists that I have unraveled in this tale have made up a beautifully tragic and unusual pirate story.
Contents
I PRETTY LITTLE PRISONER
1 Bride to Be
2 November Wind
3 Her Own Twisted Way
4 A Fire Will Be Lit
5 Closed Curtains
II MERMAIDS AND SLAVE CHAINS
6 More Than a Whore
7 High above the World
8 Shadow of Night
9 Slave Chains
10 Silenced by Revenge
III INTO THE JUNGLE
11 Fall to the Wayside
12 Break Free
13 Haunt My Dreams
14 White Lily
15 Honorable Betrayal
Never Surrender
Prologue
The Devil Only Knows
As told by Mason Bentley
Hiding in the shrubs just outside the gates of Wilshire Willows West, I once again observed the layout of the property. When I was here this afternoon—acting calm and respectable—I took note of the vantage points, knowing I’d be back in the night. And now, here I was with my loyal men, sneaking around under the moonlight.
Finding Hannah here a few days after she ran off was quite the surprise, but hearing her refuse my love over senseless jealousy was like a slap to the face. Apparently, she thought she’d be better off with Lloyd Wilshire. He would never betray me for a bar tramp, she’d said. My blood heated with rage just remembering her snippy little voice, and replaying the words that pansy boy Lloyd said to me in his doorway caused the pot of hate stew to boil over. His insult to my family name would not go unavenged. And her, ah, she’s mine and she’s going with me to find our daughter whether she likes it or not.
“What’s she look like, Captain?” a sloppy, half-dressed new recruit to my crew asked.
Disgusted by his stench, I gagged, “Good Lord, Sloppy. Did you eat rotten fish for dinner?”
“No.” He shrugged his shoulders. “And my name isn’t Sloppy.”
“Whatever you say, Sloppy.” I shook my head. “And this woman we’re after, she has hair so blonde it’s unearthly, and eyes so blue you might sink into the sea if you look too deep into them.”
Sloppy belched and pointed towards a window on the second floor. “Like that?”
Peering into the well-lit room, I watched her walk over to the dresser. She was braiding her hair. Ah, the hair my hands had been tangled in only a few nights ago… While I stared at the woman who had enchanted me into the dumbest state of existence I’d ever experienced, Lloyd Wilshire walked into my dream. The unwelcome guest in my fantasy slowly ran his hand through Hannah’s hair, reminding me that I was awake and living another damn nightmare. As I watched him wrap his pale arms around the waist of the body that birthed my children into the world, I became so angry I didn’t think I’d be able to maintain my stealth. But if I was going to get her back, I had to.
Noticing the way my crewmen w
ere slobbering over the only woman I’d ever loved, as she swayed in the arms of another man, I hopped to my feet, and raised my bow. “That’s her.”
Aaron, the man who’d let me know she was hiding here, followed my lead. Together, we released our arrows. As planned, they sliced right through the two guards at the gate. In the silence of the night, I heard them slump over. The thuds of other guards around the perimeter followed. Aye, the other men I had surrounding the area had done their jobs as well as Aaron and I had.
Hearing the crow-like caw of my mate on the hillside, signaling that we were in the clear, I huddled my men together and reminded them of the plan. “Kill anyone who tries to block your way, but if the woman gets even a scratch on her pretty little body, I’ll tear you open from crotch to gizzard.”
They all agreed to the terms and we headed on our way.
Silently we snuck along the pathway leading to the gates where I took the keys from the guard lying dead near the entrance. After unlocking the lock, I slowly opened the wrought iron gate to minimize the creaking and waved my men through the narrow opening.
Quickly and quietly, we stormed across the tree-shaded side of the lawn. Making our way towards the well-lit porch—where I could now hear the soul haunting giggles of my woman—the hateful fire burning in my blood began to erupt.
Approaching the entrance with weapons drawn, we saw another set of guards coming to meet us on the porch. We charged them as fast as they came at us, and easily overpowered them with our numbers, but one of them managed to fire a shot before he fell. The bullet hit Espinoza in the leg. Though we quickly busted through the final line of defense, the sounds we made were certainly enough to let the party upstairs know we were invading.
“Board her!” I ordered while kicking the door down. Sloppy and Aaron busted through the front windows while a few others ran around the back. With my men storming the house, where I demanded them to leave no stone unturned, I ran up the stairs, yelling her name. “Hannah! I know you’re in here, woman. Come out before I burn this place to the ground!”
Hearing the sounds of my men destroying the first floor of the house, I busted through the door where I had seen her only moments before. Once again, she was gone. Gone! Not behind any of the other doors I kicked open, not under any of the beds I flipped over.
After destroying a room at the end of the hall, I opened the door of another where I saw her damned bird perched on one of the windowsills. “Will not cage us,” he squawked before flying into the night.
Knowing he’d be flying to her, I hopped out onto the rooftop and eyed his path through the air.
Swiftly, the bird dropped, and there, in the moonlight, I watched him perch himself on her shoulder. Lloyd Wilshire was running ahead of her, stumbling his way towards the trees, but Midnight stood there as still as a picture. After covering her white-blonde hair with her black hood, she blew me a kiss. She then turned her back on me and disappeared into the shadows of the trees so quickly I wondered if I had seen her at all.
Damn that witch!
Slipping down the narrow rooftop as fast as I could, I ran across the darkened lawn where I nearly tripped upon a dead body. Looking down at the bloody lump, I saw it was Sloppy. His neck was slashed open.
Growling like a bear, I kicked the dead body of the man who let her get away, and then ran back into the house. It was utterly destroyed and a few of my men were stuffing their pockets with the items they fancied.
Pulling out my powder horn, I shouted for them to retreat. Once the area was clear, I made a trail of gunpowder through the perfect place and set a fire to the wreckage.
I stood there for a moment watching the flames take hold. The way the fire ate the furniture seemed to mirror the hatred eating my soul. She’d escaped me. Again. Though I’ve missed her all these years, the last few days with her assured my better sense that losing her was no loss at all, but my heart wasn’t having it. The sorcery that woman played upon my soul was no different than the heat engulfing my face, beautiful, powerful, and as dangerous as the fires of Hell.
Hoping my love-struck memories of her would disintegrate in the flames, I headed for the door. Choking on smoke, I told my mates it was time to go, but they barraged me with a volley of questions as we headed across the lawn. “Where’d she go? What are you going to do next? Are we going after her?”
Walking away from the burning mansion, I said, “This hunt is over and not another word will be spoken of it. The devil only knows where she’s headed, but she sure as hell isn’t coming back here.”
X
Never Surrender
As told by Remington Rain Wilshire
PART I
Pretty Little Prisoner
London, England
Autumn of 1663
Chapter 1
Bride to Be
Hearing birds chirping overhead and feeling wind whipping through my locks, I closed my eyes to better enjoy the sounds of the ship. The music made by the creaking timbers, lapping tides, and wild winds slapping at the canvas sails harmonized with the rhythm of my heartbeat, reminding me how I was a part of this lovely picture. Beaming blue and tumbling white, the never ending expanse of sky inspired the greatest extents of my imagination, and every ray of light danced across the sparkling shades of aqua—
“Lady Remington.” The sound of a man’s voice snapped me out of my seafaring reverie.
Catching my startled breath, I shook my head and looked around at the beautiful garden where I stood.
Birds were still chirping and brisk autumn winds were blowing, but I was at Addison Arbors, with Joel Addison, the handsome nobleman who had been courting me.
Father and I arrived home five days ago, and Joel wanted to see me right away. Though I’d been spending each evening since in this manner, strolling the beautiful grounds of his lofty estate, I was beginning to think the song of the sea would never silence in my heart.
“It’s beautiful here, Joel,” I said, attempting to rejoin him in the world I truly lived in.
The lacy cuff of his blue shirt draped around his wrist as he lifted my hand to kiss my knuckles. “You blend in perfectly with the flowers blooming in the beds.”
The winding walk was lined with so many colorful flowers that I couldn’t help but blush at the compliment.
“Come this way, my darling, I have something to show you.” He led me through the garden.
Walking alongside him, holding his hand, I found myself stunned by his good looks, yet again. From his dark wig, to his silken neck tie, dashing waistcoat, and even down to his shiny buckled shoes, he was dressed in the finest fabrics. And beyond being terribly handsome, he was a pleasure to be around, as well. He always had a lot to say—mostly about himself—but he was very animated and sometimes funny, so I never became bored in his company. But I was beginning to wonder why he never asked much about me. Jackson Hawke, had always inquired about my life, and he listened so closely to the things I would say…Oh, bother. Why was I making comparisons to the deceptive blacksmith who broke my heart? And even if he hadn’t broken it, he was far across the sea. Joel Addison was here. He was handsome, and he was as rich as a king.
Soon enough we came to what seemed like the edge of the estate. A tall brick wall stood high above the flowering shrubs. Noticing a wooden gate tucked beneath the arch—which was covered in blooming bougainvillea—my imagination piqued. My first reaction was to run towards the appealing sight, but such behavior would be considered rather unladylike. I resisted the urge and simply said, “This place keeps going like a maze.”
Noticing the look of irritation on his face, I realized I had interrupted whatever it was he was saying.
Joel shook his head, and then revisited my gaze with a smile. “Would you like to see what is beyond the gate?”
“Yes. Oh, yes I would. My mother used to tell me a window offers a view for the eyes, but a closed door inspires a view for the inquiring imagination.”
“That is an interesting concept.” H
e opened the gate, which let out a surprisingly annoying squeak.
“One day I will have that fixed,” he grumbled as he led me through the arch.
With no concern over the ill-kept hardware, I took in the sight just beyond the grassy knoll with wide, excited eyes. “Oh! It’s the River Thames. I didn’t know we were this close.”
Unable to control my joy this time, I bolted towards the wooden dock, reached my foot out and rocked the rowboat. “This is wonderful. Can we go for a row?”
“Not now, my dear.” He squinted at me, and then waved me over. “Come away from the water and take a look at this.”
Reluctantly doing as he said, I joined him under the stone archway where he laid his arm over my shoulder.
Turning me to face his mansion, he pointed at the covered veranda on the third floor. “That is where my room is, and this,” he waved his hand around the garden, “this is the view I wake up to every morning.”
“This surely is a wonderful place, Joel.”
“It certainly is. I have worked very hard to attain all of these nice things and continue to work to maintain them, but even with all I have, there is one thing this picture is missing.” Wrapping his arms around my waist, he pulled me against his chest.
“And what might that be, Joel?” The feel of his body so close to mine sent an exhilarating chill up my spine.
Looking deep into my eyes, he answered, “You.”
Then, for the second time in my life, a man got down on his knee and asked me to marry him.
Eyeing the beautiful posy ring, made of the finest silver and engraved with a scripted verse, I could only think of the ring Jackson had forged for me himself. Damn it! I wanted that man, his ring, and his sex off of my mind, but his cursed rotten memory glommed on to my spirit like a nasty little river leech.
Never Surrender (Uncharted Secrets, Book 4): Endless Horizon Pirate Stories Page 1
