Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 144411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
“That’s a good one, Captain,” Horse chuckles.
I remove the pistol and slip it back in my holster and nod at them to take the sniveling prince away. They do so, Matisse twisting his bad arm even further, making him howl all the way down through the decks.
Good. I’ve barely had that prince for a couple days and he’s already becoming more trouble than he’s worth. If we don’t end up getting our weight in gold for him, I plan to torture that royal bastard for a very long time. Might end up doing that anyway. I’m not always fond of patience.
I turn to focus on the princess now. She’s in Sterling’s grasp and the sight of it makes my chest tighten, just a little. She doesn’t look frightened per se, just watching the scene unfold in front of her, her blue eyes taking it all in, but with that powder-brained ape having his hands on her, I’m feeling a sting between my ribs and I’m not sure what to do about it.
“And you,” I say, slowly sauntering over to her. “I have to decide what to do with you, darling. It’s my lack of foresight to think we wouldn’t need two sets of chains.”
“I say I take her down to the hold,” Sterling grunts. “Put her in with the others. If she’s worthless to the prince and he doesn’t care if she lives or dies then let her provide for us in other ways.”
I stare right into Sterling’s void of a soul. I know exactly what he means about her providing. “You’re not taking her anywhere. You’re handing her over to me.” He bristles and I cock my head. “I damn well mean it, baldy.”
His lips open and he bares his teeth at me like a fucking animal. I know the rest of the crew is watching closely to see what I’m going to do. Is this when he’s going to declare his mutiny? Will any of them follow his lead?
“First rule of the ship is that the captain gets the best of the goods,” I go on and gesture to the princess.
“Actually, the rule is that all the treasure is doled out equally,” I hear Thane say from behind me and I could kick him in the fucking shin for that.
“After the captain gets first pick,” I remind them. “And I’ve already picked her as mine. Be happy with the vermin in the hold, Sterling. This one has my name on it.”
Sterling snorts. “I don’t see your name on her.”
I know what he means. He’s not being figurative and now I’m not either.
“You will,” I tell him. I look to Lothar. “Before you start your welding, better get the iron ready.” I turn to Cruz. “The rope please.”
He tosses me a spool of rope while the princess stiffens under Sterling’s grasp.
“Iron?” she asks, the fear finally finding her again.
Sterling just scowls while I motion impatiently for him to hand her over to me. “Mark my words,” I tell him. “I’m marking her.”
He growls at me, beady eyes flashing in contempt, and after a delay, shoves her toward me until she’s falling into my arms.
“Hello, luv,” I purr as I stare down at her. “Rescuing you once again.”
I grab a tight hold of her and bring her to the stairs and down to the main deck below.
“How is this rescuing me?” she practically snarls, squirming under my hands.
“Believe me, darling, I’m the better option,” I tell her. “And there’s no one else here to save you. Your lovely prince certainly won’t.”
“The ship that attacked us, they were coming for me.”
“The navy? Maybe they were, maybe they weren’t. Doesn’t matter now when we’ve left them far behind. Their ship will have to be scuttled soon and our ship can sustain a lot more than that feeble little show they gave us.”
I pull her toward my quarters when she sticks her foot in between my ankles and I nearly trip, my grip loosening just for a moment, just enough for her to yank herself out of my grasp.
The sight of her scampering away awakens an instinct inside me and I can’t help but smile to myself, always loving the chase.
She’s at the foot of the stairs when I catch her. She falls onto the stairs with a cry and I’m flipping her over so she’s on her back.
“You’re a monster!” she says, struggling against me, but I quickly pull her arms up over her head, securing them with the rope that I’ve already attached to my waist. Can’t be too careful now.
“A monster?” I repeat, pressing my body against hers until she can’t even move an inch. “Tell me more, darling. I always fancy a compliment.”
Her eyes flare with outrage, flashing to a luminescent teal for a moment. She’s mesmerizing up close, the milky quality of her skin, the freckles across her delicate nose, those radiant eyes of her framed by thick black lashes, eyes that don’t hold anything back. I swear I could read her like a book just by staring in her eyes. And right now, all she wants is to kill me.