Page 63 of The Pirate's Daughter

“Liar,” she yelled then broke down crying. “Liar. The Navy did nothing then and does nothing still. I hate you. I hateyou.”

“Captain?” Asher called. “What do we do with her? She’s not going to let thisgo.”

“I’ll keep her here until the ship is docked.” How was he going to do that and run three ships as well as try and discern who was a criminal and whowasn’t.

“How?” Asher asked also knowing the next few days were going to be a full-blown storm ofhappenings.

It was beyond disgusting, nothing he’d ever do under normal circumstances and might well make things between he and Mia worse. “Bring me a length of chain and irons,” he said, and Mr. Asher started while Mia tried again to fight her wayfree.

An hour later Devin came topside with a bloody lip and guilt heavy enough to sink the ship. Mia was chained to the bulkhead. She’d cursed him, spit at him, and fought him. Then when the last lock clicked in place she’d sunk to the floor in a heap and sobbed. Mr. Hong and Grim sat with her now. But nothing gave her comfort. She’d found a man who might have answers to questions she’d had since she was a child but she’d not hear those answers directly. That broke herheart.

And for Mia, her broken heart was all it took to sink her ship. Devin came in to port with unwanted fanfare, as people gathered to watch a pirate ship and her crew handed over, as well several unsavory characters posing as crew on thePied Piper. All were turned over to be questioned, tried and if found guilty, hanged. But Mia never roused to the news of justice served. She lay on the floor in her heap not responding to anything until Devin walked in and found her unconscious and feverish. He unchained her, put her to bed and called the surgeon, but the man found nothing at all wrong with her. Devin sat up and waited two more days while a second doctor was fetched to the ship. It wasn’t a doctor who came,though.

Chapter 30

“Mia, my siren,”Papa’s voice floated into her dream. “What have you done to yourself with all thisworry?”

“Papa?” Mia called and fought to open hereyes.

“Aye, you must stop this, Mia. It’s no way to sail a ship,” Papa said and Mia felt arms go around her and lift her so she could hear the steady beating of aheart.

“I found one, Papa. I found one but he took him from me,” Mia said and let the tears fall. How could he dothat?

“Found one you did, now let Papa take care of it Mia. Let Papa do therest.”

“He took him from me. I want to hear him say it but he took him,” Mia said, not sure exactly why the man she loved, the man who claimed to love her, would strike such a crippling blow. “He shouldn’t have taken away mychance.”

“Papa will take care of it,” hesaid.

“Of Devin?” Did she wantthat?

“Captain Winthrop followed my orders, siren. He did as I commanded, like you should do. Papa will take care of this. Papa will, Iswear.”

“How will you get him now, Papa? They havehim.”

“Let Papa take care of it, Mia. I will I swear it toyou.”

Mia sobbed. Of course if Papa said he’d do something, he’d do it. Mia had no doubt. Papa spent far more years tracking down the crew of those ships. “Give them to the Blood Man,Papa.”

“Aye, Papa will take care of it, Mia,” he said and Mia felt him begin to sway. “Now it’s time to hush. Sleep. No dreams.” Mia clung to him, focused on the sound of hisheartbeat.

Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanishladies.

Farewell and adieu you, ladies ofSpain;

For we took on cargo bound forMontego,

but we hope in a short time to see youagain

We'll rant and we'll roar, like true Merchantseaman.

We'll rant and we'll roar across the saltseas;

Until we strike the harbor that pays us a goodcharter

From Ushant to Sicily 'tis thirty-fiveleagues.

Mia listened to her papa singing and let the words and the motion sootheher.

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