Page 42 of Scourge of the Shores
Lucas leaned in. “What was that?”
Danna shook her head. “Nothin’,” she muttered quickly, then added to shift the focus, “What would Father’ve done?”
“Treat ‘em as guests,” Lucas said, rubbing her back. “But keep yer leverage in case their blood starts runnin’ hot.”
“Whatever Jaymes feels for me—that’s the only thing holdin’ his pirates back. That’s me leverage.” Her jaw grew taut. She hated it. Hated that she had to count on a man’s infatuation to keep her people safe. But leverage was leverage. “I ain’t sellin’ meself to keep us safe. I ain’t that kind of woman.”
“Then stay neutral,” he countered. “Don’t spurn him; don’t swoon either.”
The briny sea air filled her lungs and called her hither, but once again, she rejected the call of the waves.
“Let’s get to it, then,” she muttered, and with Lucas by her side, she made the long walk to the main hall.
The doors opened and the hearth fire illuminated the space. The long table with the map etched into its face stood proud in front of the village captains and a few of the pirate kings and their filthy comrades.
Danna stepped to the center. Her shadow fell long and touched the entrance’s double doors. “It appears we’ve all run low on hardtack and flour,” she said, her presence quieting the room.
“Laurence Isle’s a two-day journey, and they only deal with me,” Danna said, eyeing Robert, Rosa, and Garrick. “I’ll need two sailors so tar and pitch production don’t slow down.”
“Well, I’m comin’ with ye,” Robert said.
A slew of “Aye”s from the pirate bunch filled the air.
"No, ye’re to stay and cut lumber,” Danna said, planting her hands on her hips. His sudden pirate-speak made her squint. Was he tryin’ to endear himself again? And if so, to her or his own men?
“Laurence Isle only deals with me,” she restated, as steady and strong as the currents. “That’s the way it’s always been. I’ve made every trade fair, and we all know it.”
Robert prowled forward, his boots echoing like a countdown ticking. He didn’t stop at the table. No—he invaded and leaned into her space, close enough for the briny scent of sea and spiced rum to coil around her.
He said nothing at first. Just stood there, watching her, eyes a storm-dark blue.
“As much as ye’ve a trustin’ face, I don’t want me men to be cheated,” he said with a pinch of his lips.
That hit hard.
A slew of “Aye”s from the pirate bunch filled the air again.
“I ain’t gonna cheat ye,” she said with a growl. Where was the man from the shore?
“Wouldn’t ye?” he asked, spinning to his pirate crew. “She strikes a bargain, keeps most of it, and tells us it was a bad trade. Our numbers be thinnin’, easier for ‘em.”
Danna stared at the back of his head, partially in disbelief. “Why ye spinnin’ tall tales, mate?”
“I ain’t trustin’ a pretty face,” he said, spinning back around and locking her gaze in. “I’ll go with ye and make certain the trade’s good and we be getting our fair share.”
A third slew of “Aye”s from the pirate bunch filled the air again.
Her eyes narrowed at the liar, the pretender, the sea rogue. The villagers watched the silent exchange of power.
“Take yer own ship,” she gnashed.
“Ships’re broken,” he countered. “Yers is the only one ready to sail and seeing we be starvin’ . . .” He trailed off before he leaned in and whispered, “It’d be a shame if me men felt cheated, Captain Chadwick. Hard to keep order on an empty belly.”
“No pirate’s code of honor then, Captain Jaymes?” she asked.
He chuckled with a half-grin. “Invite me and a few good lads to come with ye, and all will be well,” he whispered again.
He had sucker punched her, and in front of her people. She knew they wouldn’t win a fight, not after Cain’s last attack. This was a game to him. See how far he could beat her down before she broke.
