Page 4 of A Pirate's Pleasure

“Hmm…” I sat back to digest the information he’d provided. The Lief I’d known might have associated with known criminals, myself included, but he’d always taken great pains to remain on the right side of the law. Therefore, out of the two of us, him being the one who had the authorities breathing down his neck was nothing short of ludicrous. “Is there a reward for your capture?”

Whatever reaction I’d expected from him, it wasn’t for him to blanch, all color draining from his face. “Yes.”

“There is?” That was interesting. Not because I had any intention of handing him in and claiming it, but because they reserved rewards for those individuals deemed as a danger to others. “What do they want you for?”

He swallowed, looking as uncomfortable as I’d ever seen him. “Murder.” He paused, letting the word sit there and gather weight between us. The gap left me time to ponder who the victim could be. I knew more than anyone that Lief could take care of himself. Time and time again I’d witnessed people underestimating him and getting a lesson they wouldn’t forget in a hurry. But that was before news had reached him that a family tragedy had left him as the sole heir of a large house in Silkdrift. One that came with acres of land and a title of Lord to boot. And while I’d been waiting for him to turn it down and tell them what they could do with the idea of him ever living in opulent luxury and leaving his current life behind, he’d already been preparing to do just that. “What did he or she do to you?” When he stared at me with a blank expression, I elaborated. “For you to murder them?”

“You think I’m capable of murder?”

I stared at him, sizing him up. “I don’t know you. Not really. I once thought I did, but even then, once you’d left, I wasn’t so sure.”

“You knew me,” he said, his blue eyes blazing. “You know me. So tell me, am I capable of murder?”

I took another swig of rum while I thought about it, trying not to think about my lips resting where Lief’s had just been, like if I searched for it, I’d be able to recall what he tasted like. “I guess it depends.”

“On?” There was a challenge in Lief’s eyes. One that dared me to judge him and find him guilty.

“Circumstances. People are capable of anything if they’re pushed far enough.”

Lief dropped his gaze to the table. “Maybe. But I didn’t do it. I was framed.”

I used the bottle of rum to hide the momentary jolt of surprise. “By who?”

Lief rubbed his hand over his face in a gesture that reeked of weariness. I hardened my heart against it, refusing to feel sorry for him. “I don’t know,” he finally said. “I wish I did.”

“So, explain that to the authorities. Let them investigate and find out the truth. Your name will be cleared and you can go home.” And away from me. I didn’t say that last bit out loud, though.

Derision seeped into Lief’s laughter. “You never used to have such confidence in the authorities. What changed?”

Instead of answering the question, I went on the attack, needing this conversation over and done with. “What do you want from me, Lief? Because I know you’re not stupid enough to expect sympathy.”

He sat forward in his chair, the look on his face one of intensity. “I need somewhere safe. Somewhere they can’t get to me. A chance to think things through without constantly needing to be on the move and look over my shoulder. Somewhere I can sleep for more than a couple of hours. A sanctuary.”

For a moment, I didn’t know what he was getting at. Once I realized, I started laughing. Heads turned in the small tavern, some of those who’d been brave enough to stay, deciding that they didn’t much like the sound of Zephyr Chase laughing and getting up to leave. Meanwhile, Dax, who hadn’t bothered to hide the fact that he’d been watching us throughout the entire conversation, merely offered a shake of his head. Once I’d gotten myself back under control, I fixed Lief with a steely stare. “My ship? You think I’m going to invite you to board my ship? The ship that you wanted me to give up. The ship you expected me to abandon without a second thought? That ship?”

Lief had the good sense to squirm beneath my scrutiny. “Are you going to help me or not?”

I held his gaze, rolling the single word around in my head and savoring the moment of anticipation before I let it loose on my tongue. I’d been twenty-one years old when Lief had broken my heart. A large part of my deadly reputation was based around the damage he’d wrought, the vow I’d made to never let anyone hurt me the way he had, to let no one close enough that they could. Therefore, I was going to be the heartless pirate that everyone believed me to be, and delight in this small moment of revenge. “No. I have no reason to help you, and all the reasons in the world to leave you to your fate.”

Surprise. Exhaustion. Fear. They all flashed across Lief’s face in the space of a few seconds. And then finally resignation. He nodded, his gaze dropping to the table and his fingers twisting before he brought them back under control. “I understand.” I waited for the sweet buzz of satisfaction to hit, but it was entirely absent as he carried on talking. “You’re right. I’ll talk to the authorities. I should never have run. It just made me look guiltier. Once they’ve heard my side, they’ll realize that I wasn’t to blame for what happened, that I’m innocent. The misunderstanding will get sorted out and I’ll get my life back without any wild and crazy ideas about hiding away on pirate ships.”

He tried for a smile, but it was less than convincing. “Thanks for talking some sense into me.” He stood, the action so sudden that his chair made a high-pitched squeaking sound on the tavern floor. “I should get some of that sleep that I was talking about.” He paused, his fingers curling into his palms. “It was good to see you again, Zeph. Even if the feeling wasn’t mutual.” And with that, he made for the rickety stairs that led up to the private rooms of The Black Skull, leaving me staring after him and wondering what had just happened.

When he was no longer in sight, I picked up the bottle of rum and made my way to the bar, my gait less than steady from the amount I’d already drunk. Dax watched me, his head slightly tilted to one side so he could rely on his good eye. “Wanted my help,” I said. “Can you believe that? After all this time.” I took a long swig of rum, the need to get falling down drunk building in my chest. “Not a single word to tell me he’s alright, and then he just waltzes back in here and thinks I’m going to put my arse on the line to save his. Who does that?”

Dax gave a lopsided smile. “Lief Cooper. That’s who.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Selfish deluded bastard.”

“And?” Dax asked, his gaze all-seeing, all-knowing even with only the one eye.

“I told him what he could do with the idea. Help Lief Cooper?” I let out a snort. “Hardly. It’ll be a cold day in hell before he sets foot on my ship again.” I rubbed at my chest, the sensation of satisfaction still absent. It would come later, once the shock of having seen him again had worn off.

My gaze strayed to a table a few feet away, to a man I didn’t know who sat there. My fingers crept to the handle of my cutlass, the desire to expend some energy a compulsion that it would be difficult to shake.

Dax sighed. “Whatever yer damage, yer pay for. And by all means, play with him, but don’t kill him.”

I was already on my feet, the buzz of alcohol combined with the emotions of the past that Lief had dredged up, leaving me feeling as dangerous as everyone always claimed me to be.

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