by Bobbi Smith
Adam could tell by his friend's determined expression that there would be no convincing him to stay behind with the Sea Shadow. "All right, but be careful, damn it!"
"I will. Don't worry about me, just take care of yourself."
As they remembered the last time they'd faced Shark, they exchanged one last, solemn look, then turned their attention back to the pirate ship.
Shark was livid. He had never been bested before, and he wasn't about to allow it to happen now. He was going to fight to the death — Spectre's death, he swore savagely. Exhorting his men to defensive action, he armed himself to repel the invaders.
As the other ship drew near, Shark searched its deck for some sign of his arch enemy. He had heard much about the infamous Spectre, and he found that he was eager to face him at long last. He spied the masked, black-clad figure leading his men as they prepared to board, but he didn't recognize him and that puzzled Shark. He'd thought he would know him when they finally met. Still, he smiled wolfishly in anticipation of stripping the disguise from his face after he'd run him through. Spectre wanted a fight, and he was going to get one.
Heavily armed, the men of the Sea Shadow swarmed onto the hated vessel with Adam and Beau leading the way. With pistols and swords, they battled the very men who had locked them in the hold of the Windwood and left them to burn to death so many months ago.
Adam and Beau remained side by side in the thick of the fighting. Adam's mask and black clothing added a dangerous mystique to his presence, and many of Shark's crew ran rather than fight him. Adam fought head-on all who would challenged him as he tried to scan the deck for Shark. Shark was the one he wanted.
Screams of agony from the dying and wounded echoed across the deck, but nothing stopped the carnage. The struggle continued unabated. Shark's crew would never surrender. They would fight to the last man rather than face the wrath of their vicious captain.
Shark attacked savagely, cutting down several of Adam's men in his frenzy to defend his ship. He knew things were not going well, though, for his own men were being forced to fall back and give ground, and the damned Spectre was leading the fight.
The sight of his avowed enemy fighting on the Banshee's deck sent a shiver of trepidation through the normally fearless Shark. Quickly, he judged the ferocity of the other man's assault and knew there was only one way to guarantee the safety of his ship. Dodging through the wreckage, he headed for the companionway and Lianne.
Adam finished off one opponent and looked up, trying to find Shark amidst the fighting. He wanted desperately to face the pirate one on one. This was what he'd waited and planned for. He did not intend to let the savage brute get away. Adam spied Shark just as he disappeared into the passage leading belowdecks.
"Beau! He's headed below! I'm going after him!" Adam called out as he gave chase, mowing down one of Shark's men who tried to stop him.
Though it had been a long, difficult struggle for her, Lianne had finally managed to get hold of the small pruning knife in her skirt pocket. It seemed to take forever to saw awkwardly through the restraints that held her hands, but when the sturdy rope finally began to fray, she knew a surge of triumph.
Before she could break completely free, though, the Banshee and Sea Shadow exchanged volleys. The jolt aboard ship from taking the hit sent Lianne sprawling, chair and all, to the floor, and it was a painful ordeal to retrieve the knife and continue her effort to escape.
When at long last Lianne managed to free her hands, she was able to loosen the rest of her bonds much more quickly. The sounds of the battle being waged up on deck frightened her, but she bravely decided to leave the cabin anyway. She had to find Becky so they could be ready to escape should the chance arise. Though Lianne knew it would be of little real protection, she clutched the small knife tightly as she started from the cabin.
Lianne had only opened the door when Shark grabbed her by the left arm. His laugh was demonic as he twisted her arm up behind her and held his pistol pointed at her. Despite his surprise assault, Lianne kept a grip on the knife and hid her right hand in her skirts.
"So, you thought you could get away, did you?" he breathed hatefully in her ear. His grip on her was brutally tight as he started back up the companionway, dragging her along with him. "We'll see how Spectre reacts when he sees that I've got a gun pointed at your head . . ."
"Now you know, Shark." Spectre's booming voice filled the narrow passageway, and Lianne felt her knees sag in relief. He was here! He had come!
Shark looked up to find his enemy standing on the stairs pointing a pistol directly at him.
"Let her go, Shark. Now! This is between you and me. Lianne has nothing to do with it."
"Ha!" Shark gave a sharp bark of defying laughter as he tried to ignore the feeling of doom that overcame him. "I want you and your men off my ship now or I'll kill her right here."
Spectre saw the madness in the pirate's eyes and knew he would do it. Did he risk trying to rescue Lianne or did he back down and leave her helplessly in his hands? Spectre's dilemma was a real one, for he knew Lianne might be lost to him either way.
Lianne was not about to let these two men decide her fate. Taking matters into her own hands, she moved with lightning speed to stab Shark in the thigh with the small knife. She knew it wouldn't do much damage, but it might afford her the chance she needed to get away from him and give Spectre a clear shot.
Her action took Shark by surprise, and as the searing pain jarred him he momentarily loosened his grip on her. Taking advantage of it, Lianne used all the strength she had to tear herself free and fling herself out of the way.
Shark recovered almost immediately, and, realizing he'd lost his advantage, he fired his gun in Lianne's general direction just as Adam's pistol roared to life. Spectre's shot took him full in the chest and sent him crashing to the floor.
Spectre came charging down the steps and ran to Shark's side.
"Who are you?" Shark croaked, but that final truth eluded him as he drew his last breath.
Relief swept through Spectre as he realized the pirate was dead. He turned away from him and went immediately to Lianne, who was crouching fearfully against the wall. He pulled her into his arms and held her crushed against his chest.
"Thank God, he missed! Thank God, you're safe!" he groaned in real agony, tangling his hands in her hair and tilting her head back so he could look at her and be completely sure. Their gazes locked, and they stared at each other in silence for a timeless moment before his mouth descended to take hers in a deep, sensual possession.
Lianne was shaking as he kissed her. She wasn't sure if it was from the terror she'd just experienced or from the force of emotion that was surging through her as she was being held in his arms. For an instant she allowed herself to glory in his protective embrace, but then thoughts of Adam intruded, and she started to pull away.
"Captain!" the man's voice rang out behind them as some of his men came thundering down the stairs to assist him. "The fighting's all over on deck, sir!"
"It's over down here, too," he told them, keeping one arm around Lianne's waist as he indicated Shark's lifeless body.
"Wait! Have you found Becky? Where's Becky?" Lianne asked in sudden remembrance of her friend. "Shark had her taken captive, too."
"Where was he keeping her?" Spectre demanded quickly, fear for his sister's safety returning.
"I don't know . . ."
"Here, Robbins! Take Lianne back to my cabin while I search the ship," Spectre ordered his man.
"Yes, sir."
"But, Spectre, I want to help! Becky may need me!" she argued, but he wouldn't listen.
"Go, Robbins!" Spectre repeated, remembering the condition Elise had been in when he'd found her. He didn't want Lianne to be witness to anything that might have happened to Becky.
Spectre wanted to talk to Lianne, to tell her everything, but he couldn't until he was certain that Becky was safe. Once he'd found Becky, he would go to Lianne in his cabin and tell her the t
ruth . . . all of it.
Chapter Forty
It took Beau some time to see that the survivors from Shark's crew were all placed in irons, but as soon as he'd finished, he raced below to join Adam.
"Where are they? Did you find them?" Beau asked as he found Adam searching the cabins.
"I just sent Lianne back to the Sea Shadow with Robbins. You didn't see her?"
"No."
"Good." He breathed a sigh of relief as he took off his mask. "I was afraid that she'd see you and figure out everything herself before I had the chance to explain things to her."
"If you found Lianne, then where's Becky?" Beau worried impatiently.
"I haven't found her yet," Adam told him as they hurried on to the next cabin and went inside.
"She's here on the ship, isn't she?" Beau paused in their search, suddenly worried that Shark might have killed her earlier.
"Yes, she's here somewhere. Lianne said they were both brought aboard together."
Beau began to search in earnest then, throwing the cabin doors wide in his haste to find his love. He called her name, loudly, desperately, but there was no answering response. He had to find her! She had to be safe! He remembered what had happened to the women aboard the Windwood, and he felt sick with concern for her. Room after room turned up empty, and Beau's fears became near to overpowering.
"Damn it, Adam! Becky's got to be here somewhere! She's got to!"
Becky was terrified. When she'd first heard the sounds of the battle, she'd been excited to think that Beau and Adam had come for them. But the excitement turned to terror when she realized that the ship she was on might be sunk and that she'd be trapped helplessly upon it.
When the cannon fell silent, Becky wasn't sure whether to celebrate or fear for her life. She prayed continually for salvation as she waited breathlessly — fearfully — for someone to rescue her. She hoped it would be Beau or Adam, but as the minutes passed and no one appeared, she grew more and more nervous.
The door to her cabin was locked. Becky could hear the muffled sound of men's voices outside, and she saw the knob turn as whoever it was beyond the closed portal tried to open it. Suddenly the door was forcefully kicked open, and Becky would have screamed in horror had she not still been gagged. Her blood ran cold as she waited for the men to enter.
Though Becky had prayed for Adam and Beau to save her, she really hadn't believed it would be them coming for her now. She had expected only the worst. When she saw Adam storm into the room, she knew a moment of pure ecstasy. They had come for her! She was safe!
"Beau! Becky's in here! She's all right!" Adam bellowed as he hurried to untie her gag.
Beau nearly knocked Adam down in his haste to get to Becky. He'd been so afraid that she would suffer the same fate as Elise that his relief at finding her safe and sound was tremendous. He began to untie her as Adam finished removing her gag.
"Are you all right, Becky?" Beau asked, tearing at her bonds in a desperate attempt to free her.
"Yes . . . yes . . . oh, yes!" Becky was sobbing almost hysterically with joy. The moment she was finally free, she launched herself into Beau's arms, pressing delirious kisses all over his face and neck. "Thank God, you came!"
Beau hugged her close, crushing her to his chest, and then kissed her with an almost violent need.
"I love you, Becky. I love you . . . I love you . . ." he repeated in a litany of heartfelt devotion.
Becky suddenly drew away. She left his arms and went to Adam, hugging him, too, as she asked urgently. "Lianne . . . have you found her yet? They separated us as soon as we were brought aboard."
"Yes, she's safe. She's already back on the Sea Shadow."
Becky sighed in relief and returned to Beau's embrace, kissing him with a hunger born of frantic need.
"Don't ever leave me again, Beau!" she pleaded.
"Don't worry, love. I won't. As soon as we get back to New Orleans, we're getting married, and I'm never going to let you out of my sight again!"
"Oh, Beau!" Becky sighed and gave him a long and lingering kiss.
Adam started to back out of the room, but Becky broke off their kiss to speak with him.
"Adam?"
He looked at her questioningly. "What?"
"I was wondering . . . how did Lianne know about Spectre?"
"What do you mean?"
"When Shark took us captive, Lianne told him that if he was from Spectre there was no need to tie us up, that she would go with him without argument. I thought she didn't know about you."
"She doesn't," he answered flatly.
"Well, if she doesn't, how can she be familiar with Spectre?" Becky was confused and she grew even more so when she saw a dull flush stain her brother's cheeks. It had been years since she'd seen him embarrassed, and she wondered at the cause. "Adam?"
"Someday I'll tell you about it. Right now, I've got to get back to the Sea Shadow . . . and Lianne."
"Has she seen you yet? Does she know the truth now?"
"No, not yet," he answered curtly.
Becky could tell that he was apprehensive about telling Lianne the truth. "Adam, go to her and tell her everything. She'll understand. She loves you."
"She may love me now, but once she finds out what I've done . . ."
Becky understood, but she urged him on. "Go to her, Adam. She may be angry for a while, but she'll get over it."
Adam wanted to believe this, but he was more worried about going to Lianne now than he had been about attacking Shark a few hours before.
"Beau, will you take charge here?" he asked.
"For as long as it takes," Beau promised, and he and Becky followed Adam from the cabin. "I'll get a skeleton crew of our men to repair the riggings enough so we can get this ship back into port."
"Good. As soon as you're ready to sail, let's head home."
Becky was smiling as she watched her brother return to the Sea Shadow.
"What are you smiling about?" Beau asked, curious.
"I'd love to know the details of how Lianne found out about Spectre. It's going to be something when she finds out he's Adam."
"Do you think she'll forgive him?"
"Of course, but not before she gives him some trouble."
"Poor Adam," Beau groaned sympathetically.
"You're right." Becky nodded.
Lianne was apprehensive as she paced Spectre's cabin. Becky . . . where was Becky? She had to be safe, but what if she wasn't? What if Shark had done something terrible to her after he'd separated them? The possibility filled her with anxiety, and Lianne cursed her helplessness as she waited here alone for Spectre to return with news of her friend. Lianne wished he'd let her stay with him and help him search so she could have been there when they found Becky, but he had been firm in his determination to send her away. She wondered agonizingly if Spectre had done it to protect her because he suspected that something might have happened to Becky. The thought only served to deepen her anxiety. In agitation, Lianne wandered to the cabin window to stare out into the darkness.
As eager as Adam was to go to Lianne, he still hesitated nervously when he reached the Sea Shadow. He thought of their last few days together at Belle Arbor, of the love they'd shared so completely, and he knew he wanted that to go on. No matter what it took, Adam told himself, he was not going to lose Lianne now. Determination filled him with a firm resolve, and he went below to his cabin to share his past with her.
Adam reached the door to his quarters and paused. He had meant to just walk in and declare himself, but on second thought, he realized that might leave her so furious that she wouldn't even listen to his explanation. Reluctantly, Adam donned his mask again.
Lianne heard the door open behind her, and she whirled about to face him, dying to know the fate of her friend.
"Lianne . . ." His voice was hoarse as he stared at her. Her beauty never failed to overwhelm him, and he had to fight the instinct to go straight to her and sweep her up into his arms.
Lianne
tried to ignore the effect his rough-edged, velvet voice had on her. Becky was her main concern . . . only Becky.
"Did you find Becky?" Her troubled gaze met his across the width of the cabin, searching for some clue as to what had happened.
Adam gave her a reassuring smile as he strode farther into the cabin. "Yes, we found her. She's fine."
Lianne's relief was so complete and total that she swayed on her feet and had to reach out quickly to brace herself. Adam saw her distress and immediately rushed to her, thinking she was about to faint, but Lianne held up a hand to ward him off. As vulnerable as she was right now, she didn't trust herself in his arms. The kiss he'd given her aboard Shark's ship had been near to overwhelming, and she didn't want to risk his touching her right now when her defenses were so low.
"Spectre, we need to talk," Lianne told him, moving a little away from him.
"Yes, I know. That's why I was so long coming back. I wanted to make sure that everything was taken care of before I came to you, because I didn't want us to be interrupted," Adam tried to explain, but somehow his words didn't come out the way he meant them.
"Oh . . ." Lianne stiffened at his declaration. He didn't want them to be interrupted . . . She was thrilled that he'd rescued them from Shark, but she had the terrible feeling that he wasn't going to be satisfied with a monetary reward or a heartfelt thank you. What was she going to do? She knew he wanted her— his kiss had left no doubt about that, but she loved Adam. She couldn't, wouldn't betray him ever again! What would she do if Spectre pressed her? He knew how to break down any resistance she might offer. How could she manage to convince him that she loved only her husband and desired no other? She was not afraid of Spectre in the same way she had been of Shark, but she was worried about what he wanted from her.
"Lianne, I . . ." Adam took another step toward her, wanting only to take her in his arms, kiss her and tell her everything. But when he saw the flash of fear in her green eyes, he forced himself to wait.
"Spectre, I want you to know how very grateful I am for your help. God only knows what would have happened to Becky and me if you hadn't shown up when you did," Lianne interrupted him, wanting to blurt out the truth of her feelings before he had a chance to try to sway her.
