By The Assassin's Side (Daggers 0f Desire Book 3)

by Katherine Hastings

  My girl. She’d never been called that before. Hearing it come from the mouth of the man she finally admitted to herself that she adored sent those damn butterflies racing around her stomach at breakneck speed.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay, and to keep you that way we need to get out of here. I have a skiff just beneath the bow. The Dark Shark waits not far from here. Let’s see you to freedom.”

  Freedom.

  That was something she’d doubted she’d ever see again. A wave of joy tinged with relief flowed over her. She never should have doubted this man. Never. Simon slid his arm around her waist and pushed her toward the door.

  “Wait. We need the map,” she whispered, pushing back against him.

  “What? Why would we need the map? They already have the treasure, remember?”

  “Of course, I remember. But what you don’t know is that once we got the chest opened, there was no treasure inside... only rocks and another map.”

  The stunned look on Simon’s face mirrored the one she and Captain Cyrus had shared when the chest popped open absent the treasure. After the initial shock, rage had filled him... a smugness had filled her. Served him right.

  “What do you mean there was no treasure,” he stammered.

  “I mean just that. The treasure is still out there. There is another map just on the other side of this wall with the location of the real treasure. It’s buried on this island we’re by. We need to grab it, Simon. We’re so close.”

  The desperation she’d felt before overwhelmed her again.

  “Vivian,” he said, grabbing her shoulders. “The treasure. It doesn’t matter! What matters is getting you out of here safe!”

  “Simon! It matters,” she struggled to keep her voice lowered. “I can’t work in a brothel anymore. I can’t go back. I won’t. And I won’t leave those girls to their fates when I am this close to helping them.” She drew her thumb and pointer finger into the air between them.

  “We can come back for the map... with a full crew!”

  “I won’t risk it. He’ll burn it before he lets it fall into our hands.” She placed her hands defiantly on her hips.

  “Bloody hell, woman. You have a death wish, don’t you?”

  “I’d rather be dead than return to that life,” she said. She meant it. There was no going back. Simon’s eyes softened, his own recognizing her resolve.

  “Fine,” he groaned, “but we move fast, and you do whatever I say... no questions asked!”

  She nodded her head. “Deal.”

  “The room next door is likely empty, otherwise the commotion from my battle with this unlucky bloke would have had the guards here already.”

  “Speaking of which,” she said. She rushed over to the fallen guard and pulled his sword from his hand. “Just in case.”

  “Smart girl.” He smiled.

  “I’m glad you noticed.” She winked and moved back to his side. “I haven’t heard Cyrus return to his room yet tonight. It should be empty.”

  “Then we hurry. Stay with me,” he said, taking her hand.

  Slipping her fingers between his, she closed her hand around his. Just the touch of his skin sent shivers down her spine. Knowing he was with her, protecting her, made her feel invincible. They had to get that map.

  We will get it. Together.

  He cracked the door, peering out onto the deck. “Looks empty, so let’s go.”

  Sliding out into the crisp night air, she followed him to the door on their left. Simon glanced over his shoulder before turning the knob and slipping inside. Vivian hurried after him, pressing the door closed behind her.

  Two windows let in sufficient light from the lanterns outside and they could see enough to get around. She’d been in this room several times and knew he kept the map in the drawer of his desk. “Over there,” she said, pointing to the large wooden desk. “It should be in the middle drawer.”

  Simon moved to the desk and tugged on the metal handle. It remained shut, the lock holding fast. He pulled out his dagger and pressed it between the wood, prying hard until the lock popped and the wood splintered around it. The noise made them both freeze, listening to see if they’d alerted anyone. Silence.

  He slid open the drawer, Vivian now moving to his side. The map lay rolled up just like she remembered it the last time Cyrus had put it away.

  “There! That’s it!” she whispered.

  Simon snatched up the map and stuck it down the front of his pants. “Now, we go.” They started toward the door.

  A crash sent it flying open. They stumbled backward as the silhouette of Captain Cyrus appeared in the doorway. “Going somewhere?” he sneered.

  “Get behind me,” Simon ordered.

  She didn’t argue. Simon grew to the size of a giant standing in front of her, his broad shoulders expanding when he took up his stance. Vivian clutched her sword, ready for the fight.

  “Leaving me so soon, Vivian?”

  Just the sound of his voice curled her lip and caused her hands to tremble with a strong desire to plunge her sword into his chest.

  “And you. Still alive? I’ll admit, when my men reported seeing Vivian slip out of her room with a giant, even I had my doubts. Yet, here you are. Alive. Quite vexing since you and I had an agreement. You die, she lives. Since you live, it seems it’s time for her to die.”

  Vivian peered out from behind Simon. The smug smile pulling at Cyrus’ face turned her stomach. What she wouldn’t give to wipe it from him forever. The scabbed-over claw marks she’d given him were still red across his cheek and she itched to give him more.

  “Men, kill them.”

  “You aren’t even man enough to kill me yourself?” Simon asked, daggers readied in hand. His crew poured in through the door.

  “You mistake me for someone with honor. I don’t care if I am the one to kill the notorious Captain Blackmore. I just care that you die. More importantly, I care that she dies. What is the point in having crew if I have to do the dirty work myself?”

  He tossed back his head and bellowed out the self-righteous laugh she had heard time after time since her capture. The sound of it tore through her like shards of glass. Cyrus needed to die, and Simon looked prepared to see it through. She could feel the power radiating off him in waves. Even though it wasn’t directed at her, it still set her back on her heels.

  “At least can we agree no pistols? I would prefer a fair fight with your men even if you won’t partake yourself.”

  Cyrus nodded and flashed his white smile.

  “Considering you seem to be bulletproof anyway, I suppose we can agree no firearms.”

  “You have my gratitude,” Simon said, matching his smile. “Now, are we going to do this or not?”

  “With pleasure. Men! Kill them! Now!”

  One by one the men filed through the door, more waiting outside to enter the small room. Cyrus stepped off to the side and out of the way.

  “Do you remember what I taught you?” Simon asked, tossing her a glance.

  “Every single thing,” she answered, readying her sword.

  “Good. We’re gonna need it.”

  A roar preceded the first man’s wide swing. Simon deflected it with ease and sent him flying backward with a boot to the chest. He knocked down several men behind him like bowling pins when he crashed into the wall of bodies pressing toward them.

  Two more attacked at once. Vivian ducked a blow and stabbed her sword into her attacker’s gut. He yowled and stumbled backward, the next man stepping to his place. Simon sent three more men flying, each howling in pain while they rolled on the ground. Two more lunged at Vivian. Her training with Simon paid off and she dispatched them with ease. But as fast as the two of them cut down the captain’s men, more bodies appeared.

  They were losing ground, each strike pushing them back farther against the wall behind them. Panic slipped past her poise as she felt her arm tiring. A man almost matched in Simon’s size came at him, brown teeth showing behind his snarl as he a
ttacked. Simon caught him by the throat and sent him hurtling out the window to the ocean below. Glass shattered as his body crashed through it.

  The wall of men pushed in again, Vivian and Simon now with their backs against the wall.

  “Can you swim?” he asked between blows.

  “What?”

  “I said, can you swim?”

  “Of course!”

  “Good!”

  Before she could respond, Simon’s hands gripped her tight. Without warning she sailed through the air. The unexpected flight caused her stomach to drop when her body flew through the broken window. She shrieked just before she plunged into the chilly ocean.

  Water slipped into her lungs while she fought her way to the surface. With a deep breath she emerged, gasping for air. Her eyes searched the darkness but found nothing but the glow of the lights from the ship above.

  “Simon!” she screamed, calling into the void. “Simon!”

  Panic washed over her like the ocean waves that lifted her up and down. She had already lost him once... she couldn’t bear it again. The weight of him being ripped from her again threatened to drag her to the depths of the ocean. The will to go on seeped away with every second she floated here alone.

  Splash!

  The water beside her exploded, covering her in its spray. She squealed and started swimming away. A gasp broke the silence, stopping her paddle and turning her around.

  “Simon?” she whispered, prepared to dive away if it was one of Cyrus’ men.

  “Would you prefer someone else?” he asked.

  “Simon!” she shouted, moving through the darkness to the sound of his voice.

  It was so dark she nearly crashed into him before she made him out. There, treading water, was Simon. Only the gleam of his teeth and the whites of his eyes pierced the darkness.

  “Simon!” She tossed her arms around his neck, nearly pushing him under. “I thought I’d lost you, again!”

  He struggled to keep them afloat, his arm wrapping around her waist. “Have you that little faith in me? Haven’t I proved to you I’m too stubborn to die?” He smiled.

  “You are as stubborn as an arse,” she teased.

  “Now, we need to get to the island. I don’t think it’s safe to get back to the skiff. It’s a bit of a swim but we can–” He disappeared beneath the water, ripped from her arms.

  “Simon!” she screamed, flailing around and looking for him. “Simon!”

  Seconds ticked by while she tread alone in the water. With each push of her arms through the water, the fear of his death grew stronger. Something had pulled him under and he wasn’t coming back up.

  A shark! The thought of him in the grip of a man-eating shark sent panic washing over her. She didn’t want to leave him, but staying could make her the vicious animal’s next meal. Swallowing hard, she forced herself to stay put. She wouldn’t go. She would rather join him in the depths of the ocean than leave him to his fate.

  A gasp startled her from behind. Simon emerged from the water, choking for air.

  “Simon! Are you hurt? What happened?”

  “The big bloke I tossed out the window was still floating around here. Bastard pulled me under!”

  “I thought it was a shark!” she shrieked, terror trembling in her voice.

  “Nah, sharks are the least of our worries right now.” He smiled. “The big guy is no longer one of them, either.”

  A bullet whizzed past her. She looked up to see the crew gathering on the deck, pistols pointed at them. Captain Cyrus drew his own, his eyes flickering with anger in the light of the ship’s lanterns.

  “Those guys. That’s our worry right now!” Simon shouted, grabbing her hand. “Stay under as long as you can! If they can’t see us, they can’t shoot us! Just don’t let go of my hand and we’ll swim to shore!”

  With a breath they each descended under the water. Two more bullets whizzed past. She let him tug her along until her lungs screamed for air. Pulling on his hand she headed back to the top. They each gasped, sucking in every last drop of air before he pulled her back under again. Over and over they emerged, taking one deep breath before disappearing again. Finally, they were far enough to be safe. Simon panted beside her.

  “We’re almost to shore. They will be in the skiffs behind us already so we need to move fast. We need to head west to where the Dark Shark waits. We can cut across land and make our way back to the shore. Are you all right?”

  She puffed beside him. “Yes, just get me the hell out of this water. I’m still terrified a shark is going to snatch us.”

  “I’ll deal with him, too,” he said with a wink.

  They finished the swim to shore, each washing up onto the beach gasping for air. Simon jumped to his feet first, an extended hand encouraging her up.

  “Come, they’ll be on us in minutes. We need to move.”

  Vivian nodded and grasped his hand. He pulled her up and dragged her down the beach. Sand kicked up behind them while they bolted for the cover of the trees. Shouting voices carried across the water behind them. A glance over her shoulder showed the lanterns of the skiffs moving closer and closer to the shore. The boats moved much faster than they swam, and the head start they had grew smaller by the minute.

  “Our tracks will lead them this way. We need to veer east to lead them away! Once we’re in the forest, we can change our direction when our prints in the sand no longer guide them!”

  Allowing him to pull her along, she veered east with him. The last few steps to the cover of the trees felt like miles. When the safety of the trees enveloped them, she let out a sigh of relief. Simon never slowed, pulling her deeper into the forest before making a sharp turn left.

  Branches cracked beneath her wet boots while they tore through the darkness. Birds screeched and flew away when they raced beneath their trees. Her legs burned, begging for rest, every muscle screaming for the relief of collapsing on the ground in a heap. Simon pulled her on, his own stamina unfazed by the marathon of swimming and running.

  “Ouch!” she shrieked, tripping on a log. Pain seared through her toe while she flew forward into Simon’s waiting arms. He caught her and pulled her to his chest.

  “Shhhhh...” He held his finger to his lips and pulled her to the ground beside him.

  Cringing from the pain, she bit her lip to the point it nearly bled. Together they sat in silence, each listening for the sounds of Cyrus’ men. The air was so still and quiet, she could almost hear her toe throb. No footsteps followed.

  “This way,” Simon whispered, tugging her back to her feet.

  She stifled a groan, willing her body to keep moving. The moment of rest seemed to amplify the screaming of her muscles. The aching fibers thought rest was within their grasp, only to have it snatched away. They raged in revolt, screaming louder now.

  “I don’t know if I can keep running,” she whispered, struggling for breath.

  “Here, this looks like a good hiding spot. We can lie low for a while and get our bearings.”

  She followed him down the steep decline, sliding as the dirt beneath her gave way. Simon stopped her fall and pulled her beneath the fallen trees that formed a cave of sorts. They climbed deeper inside, disappearing into the safety of its shadows. Vivian collapsed in a heap. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her deep into the cover by his side.

  “Rest. I’ll protect you,” he said.

  Exhaustion overtook her, each muscle relaxing at the reprieve. Knowing he was at her side, watching over her, she sighed with relief and fell deeper into his arms.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  SHE LOOKED SO PEACEFUL curled up in his arms. The jagged edges softened now, he could feel a palpable difference in her. The look in her eye when she’d first clapped eyes on him inside the Riptide’s cabin told him everything. There were no cutting words, no glares, and no illusions she could hide behind now. Her feelings matched his own... if that was even possible. The thought of winning her affections, of deserving her touch, caused h
is arms to close just a little tighter around her.

  “I’m so exhausted, Simon,” she said. Her voice was weak and weary. “How do you do it? You’re barely out of breath.”

  He chuckled. “Years and years of training.”

  “Well it shows.” She peered over her shoulder and flashed him a tired smile. Her body shuddered.

  “Are you cold?”

  “Freezing. My clothes are soaked.” Another convulsion shook her.

  He pulled her in tighter, rubbing his hands along her bare shoulders attempting to warm her. “Leather takes forever to dry.” His own leather cloak and pants were waterlogged as well. An uncomfortable feeling, but he had survived much worse. “We can always take our clothes off and let them dry awhile.”

  His joke didn’t slip past her. Her returning giggle warmed him back up.

  “You wish,” she said.

  “Of course, I do. But, as promised, I won’t make another attempt at seduction. Now, if you were to make a move... well, I can’t say I would stop you.”

  “Oh, you wouldn’t, would you?” she teased back.

  “Someday you’ll have to try it and find out.”

  “Perhaps someday I will,” she said, a gleam in her eye flashing when she looked up at him. “Although, I suppose the thing I want the most is wedged in your pants. Is it still there?”

  “Are we talking about the map or something else? You’re welcome to have a look and decide,” he joked, waggling his eyebrows.

  “Simon,” she warned.

  With a defeated sigh he sat back and slipped his hand down the front of his pants. It emerged holding the soggy parchment still rolled tight.

  “It’s right here, safe and sound.”

  “Thank God.” She reached out and touched it.

  “Careful. It’s delicate in its dampened state. Perhaps we should let it dry first.”

  She sighed. “Good point. No sense in ruining it after we’ve come this far.”

  With great care he unrolled the parchment and laid it flat on the ground beside them. What he wouldn’t give to have a lantern to see it. The treasure was still out there, an idea he still struggled to grasp. Avery, that clever son of a bitch, had really covered his tracks. Treasure hunts would have to wait though. Getting her safely back to the Dark Shark was the only thing that mattered. They could formulate a plan to find the treasure later.