Page 12 of Scourge of the Shores
She wondered at his playfulness. She scanned the rest of the foliage, looking for movement or signs of an ambush. “Only heard of ye today. Fresh to the waves, ain’t ye? Where do ye find the audacity to call yerself great?”
The red on his cheeks was visible even under the moonlight. “It’s easy when Chadwick rose to fame, I suppose.” His body straightened, and the playfulness in his voice was gone. “All he had to do was rob one ship of the elite, leave the rich in a rowboat, and give freedom to the ship slaves if they sailed beside him. Grew an entire fleet in that manner. Every ship captain owed Chadwick their life and freedom. It’s easy to be a Pirate King and amass treasure when there aren’t any other pirate kings.”
Danna’s chest tightened while her jaw grew taut. She lifted her chin high. “Ye dare speak ill of the Pirate Chadwick?”
Jaymes cocked his head with a scoff and changed his tone, stripping the silver from his words. “What’s to speak of? One ship takin’ a swing at a pack of fat merchants? Barely worth song. Unity, now—that’s real power. Maybe if ye’d ever sailed farther than yer ancestors’ bones, ye’d know what it takes to be a pirate king.”
His insult fell like burning coal to the pit of her belly and ran straight to her toes. The sea called to her, and she wanted to sail it, but her duty was to stay on the island. This ignorant man before her knew nothing. She pointed the flintlock at his face. “Never heard of ye, and don’t care to. But ye’re breachin’ me contract—so back up before I put a bullet in yer skull.”
Jaymes let out an audible breath. His shoulders fell. “Our pride’s in our way, I see.” The sharp edge in his voice dulled to civility. Just like that, the pirate’s tongue turned polished again—courtly, careful, too smooth to trust. He wasn’t retreating. He was maneuvering.
“Why don’t I start over? My name’s Robert, and I’ve come alone and weaponless, as you stipulated.”
He took a tiny step forward, and she ran a shot by his ear. The birds jolted in the night, causing branches to sway and their shadows to dance.
“Curse a siren!” he yelled and bent over, clutching the side of his face.
“That’s yer warning, Captain,” Danna said, tucking the used flintlock into her belt and drawing the second. “Next bullet’s between yer eyes.”
Jaymes straightened and shook his head. “Be civil, Danna. It’ll be dawn in an hour or two. I’ll tell you the real reason I came trekking. It wasn’t for island food, although I’m sure you have quite the menu.”
“Don’t care,” Danna said through clenched teeth. “Honor the contract. There’s no trouble. Stay on the east side.”
He straightened his back, and his eyes ran over her face. “I promise you, I’m no scout. I’m not here to steal from the father pirate kings.” He put his hands on his belt and shifted his weight. “The real reason was that I only wanted to speak with you again. I thought if I made my way to the village and were there when you awoke, I’d be less likely to be shot. I’ll return tomorrow alone, and I promise I won’t cross your line, but I’d like to know more about this island when I retire from piracy.”
"Why’s that? Ain’t ye the greatest name on the seas? Yet here ye be, sneakin’ about in the dead of night."
He lifted his hands again to show he had no weapons. “I’ve my reasons.”
Danna marched up to Jaymes and shoved her pistol under his chin while his arms were still up. Their proximity took her off guard. His scent was like a pond after a cleansing rain and a dancing night of spiced rum. It removed the thought from her tongue. He didn’t flinch when the muzzle touched his flesh, and she stared up at him with wide, fire-filled eyes. His breath was steady and flowing over a full bottom lip.
The sting of his words rushed back in full force, and she whispered through hot breath, “Ye dare speak ill of me family name. Ye dare lie to me. Ye dare break me contract.” She debated the next words, for killing him would ensure her contract was kept; however, it could also spark a war between the islanders and the pirates, one that the islanders would most likely lose. So she spared him in the moment. “Ye come back here tomorrow, and ye’ll be dead before ye hit the ground.”
He rolled his stubbled chin so the muzzle was nestled against his Adam’s apple and peered down at her over the top. His eyes glowed with admiration. “Danna, you fascinate me.” He tilted his head. “Most women cower before me, and yet here you have a gun to my throat.”
Danna stiffened, wondering why this man was not afraid of death. “I don’t cower before men.”
The corners of his mouth turned up. “Nor should you.”
Her grip on the flintlock relaxed at his affirmation. The air crackled with tension as she stood toe-to-toe with the fabled Jaymes. The moonlight cast a silver glow on the island, highlighting the rugged terrain and the waves crashing against the shore. A slight tingle tickled her fingers and toes. The moonlight fell on his forehead and nose, the rest in a dim shadow, but his eyes glinted. His hunger wasn’t for gold; it was for her. He had risked his life to talk to her.
No, that was not possible.
She swallowed hard and broke their gaze to scan the tree line for any lingering sign of an ambush. However, everything seemed to be in order. Her finger lifted from the trigger as words finally flowed again.
“Stay on yer side, Jaymes.” She leaned in, her voice lowering. “Ye be lookin’ a bit too comfortable among the dead,” she challenged, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. Her belly knotted at the betrayal of attraction to the intruder—a haughty, self-obsessed pirate with sugared speech. She could feel the red stain rise on her cheeks and hoped the moonlight did not reveal her lapse in judgment.
“Aye, Captain,” he said as his gaze dipped to her lips. The knots in her belly fluttered when his eyes met hers once again.
Branches broke and cracked, and heavy, fast footsteps thudded from the village. Whoever came to her aid had impeccable timing, but to her surprise, Jaymes did not run.
Lucas and Jim appeared on the other side of the clearing. Lucas’s hard breaths came between his words. “Heard yer shot, Captain. Caught one, eh? Want me to finish the job?”
Danna waved her hand to signal her answer.
“I was just sendin’ a message, Captain Ervin,” she told them without breaking eye contact with Jaymes. “This one’s about to leave.”
She shoved the muzzle into the underside of his chin, making him stumble backward a few steps, gagging.
