Page 29 of Stalking Wendy Darling

“Denial looks so pretty on you,” the goddess of mischief told me with a grin. “And I’m Vea. Nice to meet you, ladies. I presume you’re the lovely Joanna.”

Joanna inclined her head.

Vea leaned against the door frame, arms crossed over her ample bosom. “Rumour has it you’ve charmed half the crew. There was uproar when Hook locked you away.”

“Was there uproar about me?” I asked, inching closer to the woman. “Did my crew fight for me to be freed?”

Vea winced.

“Scoundrels and traitors, the lot of them,” I spat, adrenaline fading now, letting the pain return in full force. Motherfucker, it hurt. “What did I ever do to earn such disloyalty?”

“Uh, killed a bunch of them,” Joanna said, a smile playing with her mouth.

“They’re pirates!” I threw up my hands. “That should have won them over.”

Vea patted my shoulder. Luckily it was the good one. “I think they’re just very loyal to Hook. It’s nothing you did wrong. I’m sure with another crew, you’d be a fiercely successful captain.”

“Thank you!” I shot a look at Joanna. “See, Vea believes in my reign as captain.”

“You didn’t evenlikebeing captain,” Joanna said with an eye roll.

“That’s not the point.” I eyed Vea. “Why did you come down here anyway? Fancy joining us for a little female company?”

“Always,” she agreed readily. “The sausage feast on deck might be fun to look at and play with, but I’m so bored of their conversational skills. Or lack thereof. But no, I’m not here for a bonding session. I came to break you out.” Her grin grew, pure madness sparkling on her face. “The way I see it, there are two captains of the Banshee, and it’s not right to keep one locked away when, for example, you could duel for the title.”

My eyes widened, my mood brightening at the thought of fighting Hook again. I would beat him into submission. He’d look at me with that dark delight again, matching my every move.

“Plus, I thought it’d be fun to fuck with Hook. He really hasn’t shut up about you since I met him. I’d say he’s a tiny bit consumed with the thought of you. I think he’d much prefer you in his bed than locked away.”

“In his fucking dreams,” I growled.

“Probably,” Vea agreed. “So, what do you say? Wanna liven this place up with a little duel action?”

I shouldn’t. I was injured…

“What do you get out of it?” Joanna asked, narrowing her eyes at our new friend.

“Nothing but excitement and the thrill running through my veins,” Vea responded solemnly. Her serious expression crackedwith a grin. “Plus, I bet alotof coins on you, Wendy. Just kiss him while you’re fighting. I bet he’ll fold instantly.”

“Surefire way to win any fight,” Joanna agreed, standing beside me.

I glared at both of them, but the open door was too tempting. “It’s been far too long since I duelled with anyone. Sounds fun.”

Vea slapped my shoulder, jostling every pain in my body. “Atta girl. I’ll go round up the troops to watch.”

Chapter Eighteen

HOOK

The first clue Vea was up to something was the winning smile she gave me before she ducked out of sight. The second was money exchanging hands among the crew—bets being placed if I wasn’t mistaken.

“Anton,” I barked, striding across the deck, luxuriating in the feel of polished mahogany under my boots, the familiar rock and sway of the Banshee settling in my bones like relief. Neither of the boats I’d procured felt like this—power and security. It was good to be home.

To my frustration, the quartermaster glanced at me with wide eyes and ducked behind the large frame of Ramone, vanishing from view. I narrowed my eyes at the lot of them.

“Would someone care to tell me what’s going on?” I demanded, adding a growl to my voice to remind them I was far from human.

Rolando’s moustache twitched with a smile as paused to pat my shoulder. He carried a crate towards the edge of the deck,like we were gathering to eat. It was hours from meal time. I gnashed my teeth. “Don’t worry, sir, I bet on you.”

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