Pirates, Passion and Plunder

by Victoria Vale

  But Sebastian was huddled with several of his men pouring over the map. We’d already passed where the rocks should have been. We must have taken a turn or followed the wrong path.

  Birds sang off in the distance, while bugs buzzed past my ear. But the greatest annoyance was Jack, standing so close.

  “I think maybe you know more than you let on. You know, to get aboard the ship.” He stepped forward again.

  “The rock formation is what we need to find. Other than that, I’m not entirely sure—”

  A sharp blade pricked my stomach.

  “I think ye be knowing more than that, lass. Now, we’re going to backtrack and see if we can’t find those rocks. And once we do, you’ll be telling me the rest of what your father told you.”

  “My father? It was a bedtime story. All I remember is the rock formation.” I tried to make him understand, but he pressed the knife harder into my belly. Any more pressure, and he’d cut me.

  I glanced at the other men, at Sebastian.

  “Don’t make a sound. If you call to him, I’ll gut you right here.”

  “He’ll kill you if you do.” I said, trying to keep my voice from trembling.

  “Kill me over a chit like you? I’ll tell him you were trying to sneak away, that you used him to get the jewels yourself. He’ll believe me. He knows me. What does he know of you?” He ran his tongue over his lips. “Other than what sweetness lies between your thighs?”

  Why didn’t Sebastian see what was happening? Why wasn’t anyone helping me?

  Jack kept his blade against me as he raised his other hand. Four other men stepped away from the crew and joined him.

  “This way, mates, she’ll cooperate.” Jack twisted his knife. “Turn around and get walking.”

  I yanked the cap from my head as I turned, dropping it to the ground as I marched forward. If I screamed, I would chance him making good on his threat to kill me, but I had to put my faith in Sebastian. He’d come for me. He had to.

  By the time we found the rock formation, a thick layer of sweat covered my skin. My hair stuck to my neck after I pulled the ribbon free from holding it up and dropped it to the jungle floor.

  “Here it is!” one of Jack’s men called out in victory and rushed forward to the formation.

  Large rocks varying in shapes and colors stood in a wide circle. Some were piled while others were grouped in small batches.

  Jack stood in the center and surveyed the area. “Well? Which is it? Where do we dig?” he demanded of me.

  I stood between two columns. “I don’t know. I never knew,” I implored him to believe me. “I only knew of the rock formation, nothing more.” I may have led Sebastian to believe I knew more than that, but I had no more knowledge than he did. The rock formation was the only bit I knew.

  Jack scowled at me. “Then you’re of no use to us.” He stepped forward, his knife once again pointed at me.

  “I suggest you stay where you are,” Sebastian’s most menacing voice called from behind me. I wanted to turn, to see him and run to him, but my body froze.

  “Cap’n,” Jack growled.

  “Did you truly believe I wouldn’t notice you spiriting her away?” Sebastian’s boot steps crunched the leaves on the ground as he made his way to us.

  “Doesn’t matter now, does it?” Jack’s gaze flicked to me then back to Sebastian.

  He stepped around me then faced me. “Are you unharmed?”

  I swallowed. “I’m fine.”

  His gaze lowered to the hole in my shirt where the knife had torn through. I looked down when I noticed his frown. Jack had pricked me, and a spot of blood had soaked through.

  “I’m fine, Sebastian. Just a mere prick,” I said then turned my stare on Jack.

  “Aye, he is a mere prick, isn’t he?” Sebastian turned sharply and drew his sword.

  With one quick motion, Jack was disarmed and quickly brought to the ground.

  Sebastian towered over him, his broadsword pointed at him. “I should end you now and save the world the trouble.”

  I’d never heard Sebastian sound so dark. My skin tingled.

  “And these two?” Tulley and three other crewman walked among the rocks, their swords holding the traitors in their sights.

  “Loyal to me.” Sebastian jerked his head to the side, and Jack’s cohorts backed away to join their crew.

  I stared at Sebastian’s back as he towered over Jack. He’d known. He hadn’t been too busy with his maps to see me being spirited away—he’d expected it to happen.

  I wanted to pound my fists into his back for taking such risks with me, but the air around us became thick.

  Sebastian raised his sword and pointed out two men. “If you would be so good as to bind him and watch over him.” He paused and looked over his shoulder at me, winking as though we had a secret to tell. “We have a treasure to find.”

  The men rushed over to Jack, hauled him back to his feet and roughly took him outside the formation. One had thick rope looped around his shoulder, and the other kept a knife pointed at Jack’s neck as they dragged him off.

  “Are you all right? You’re sure?” Sebastian cupped my cheek.

  I moved my gaze to him. Shaken, I nodded.

  “I-I don’t know where the treasure is, Sebastian. I only knew of the formation. You seem to think as they did, that I know something my father told me, that I didn’t tell you. I didn’t. I don’t, that is. I have no more information at all.”

  His brows knit in concern, and he tilted my head back. “What exactly was the story your father told you?”

  I thought back to the late evenings when Father would sit in my room and tell me stories when I couldn’t sleep.

  “He told me…the Jacobin Jewels were legendary. Enough to keep a man in comfort the rest of his days.” I bit down on my lip, concentrating harder. “He told me of the formation, said the story he’d been told claimed the treasure was beneath the formation.” I looked up at him. “He never said which boulder.”

  Sebastian ran the fat of his thumb along my bottom lip.

  “Think again. What else did he say.”

  I clenched my teeth. My father didn’t tell me. Why would no one believe me? I was a child. It was only a bedtime story.

  “He said beneath the formation. That he’d been told the jewels were beneath the formation. That’s all!” I implored him to believe me. I wasn’t lying.

  A long pause stretched. The men were waiting, staring at me as though I held all of our futures in my hands. Could they not just begin digging?

  Slowly, words were uncovered in my mind. “Stones of four, and you will hunt nevermore.” I snapped my gaze to Sebastian’s. “I remember that. He said stones of four, and you will hunt nevermore.”

  Sebastian’s lips curved into a bright smile.

  “Four stones, lads. Find a structure with four stones!” Sebastian called while still holding my gaze captive.

  Chaos erupted within the formation as Sebastian’s men dug beneath the only grouping of four boulders standing on end.

  “What if I’m wrong?” I asked softly. Sebastian moved to my side, wrapping his arm around my waist.

  “Well, then, we’ll finally see if you can swim as well as you said you could.” He squeezed me.

  “And Jack?” I asked, not taking his bait. His men had dug deep already and found nothing.

  “He’ll face the consequences. You needn’t worry about him.” His tone deepened with each word until a sinister twinge pulled at my soul. Jack wouldn’t live to see the shores of the Colonies, that much was clear.

  “Cap’n!” Tully waved his arm and called, “Here!”

  Sebastian rushed over to his men as a small chest was hauled up from within the hole. Two men climbed onto the bank. I stayed where I was, in awe of the bounty they were uncovering. I only needed enough to buy Sarah’s freedom. The other treasures belonged to the men.

  A quiet fell over the men when the lid was thrown open. One by one, heads turned to f
ace me. I swallowed, my throat dried instantly at the strange glares aimed my way. Sebastian stood up from the open chest, a scroll gripped in his hand.

  His men parted to allow him through, and he made his way to me. Step-by-step, he came closer, his expressionless features sending a chill through my core.

  “W-what is it?” I asked, my gaze flicking from his face to the scroll.

  “You.” He laughed. “I should have known it would be you.”

  “Me?” What was he talking about? I leaned to the side, looking at the men staring at me from their positions around the chest. “What was me? Are there no jewels?”

  “Aye, there’s a jewel.” He handed me the scroll.

  I snatched it from him, unrolling it quickly. My eyes flew over the words, absorbing them but unbelieving.

  “My father? He was the Jacobin pirate?”

  “That part, at least to me, is not the surprise, lass. Keep reading.” He pointed to the bottom portion of my father’s neatly penned letter.

  “He’s…oh my…he’s left everything to me. But—” My gaze flicked up to him. “If the chest is empty—”

  “It’s not.” Sebastian shook his head. “The chest is filled with papers of land ownership and banking scrolls.”

  “But- my stepmother—”

  “Has known all along, I’m sure, you had wealth behind you. There’s a scroll among the others that shows her husband’s plantation is owned by you.”

  “Me?” I stepped toward the men but froze. “How is that possible? If the scroll is here, how would she know?”

  “Your father had a copy made. In his will, he left your stepmother responsible for you, and she would retain the use of the land until you reached your majority, but it was and is your land.”

  I blinked.

  “So there are no jewels, then?” I asked, unbelieving, or maybe I just couldn’t comprehend the situation in full. It was a lot to take in.

  “Oh, there’s a jewel, and I really should have known it. From the moment I saw you, I knew.”

  “Knew what?” I asked numbly.

  He chuckled. “I’ll explain later. Right now, let’s get the chest and all of its contents safely aboard the Valiant. We’ll weigh anchor immediately.”

  I nodded, still focused on the chest and the men staring up at me. They had gone through all of this for nothing. There were no jewels, no riches to be had. They’d come up empty.

  “Come now, Elizabeth.” Sebastian tugged on my hand.

  The plantation was mine.

  I had land.

  And money.

  I glanced over at Sebastian as we made our way through the trees and bushes again.

  Did that mean we were finished? He’d take me home and sail off again?

  Shouldn’t I want that?

  Too many questions and thoughts and new beginnings swirled around me. And all I wanted, the one thing that would put me back on my feet, was Sebastian’s embrace.

  Another thought struck me, knocking me out of my fanciful daydreaming.

  My father had been a pirate.

  And Sebastian had known.

  Chapter 10

  Sebastian

  Leaving my men on deck, I went in search of my quarters. The sun finally faded, taking with it the harsh heat of the day.

  I gave my final orders for the night and bounded down the steps toward my cabin. Elizabeth would be waiting. And she’d have questions. Lots of them if I knew her mind at all.

  When I entered my room, expecting to find her pacing as usual, I stopped short. She sat at the table, staring at a bowl full of stew. Untouched.

  “Elizabeth.” I shut the door quietly and made my way to her. She lifted her stern gaze up at me.

  “You knew Jack was going to abduct me. You knew my father was a pirate—the Jacobin pirate! What else, Sebastian? What else have you known and not told me?” She picked up the spoon from the table and hurled it at me.

  I ducked, letting it hit the door behind me before it dropped to the floor.

  “I didn’t see you as a woman who gave over to tantrums, but I’m sure you know how I deal with such behavior.” I narrowed my gaze. “You have the right to question me, but no right to throw things or yell. Lower your voice and act civil, or we can have this discussion with your bare ass staring up at me from my lap.”

  She’d learned a lot in the last day. Of course she’d be on edge, but I wouldn’t let her unravel. If I had to drag her over my knee, tie her to the bed post—which held promise—I would do it.

  She stared at me, her hair loose about her shoulders. She’d put the damn gray dress back on.

  “You have questions, I know—”

  “How can I trust that you’ll answer them?” she shot at me. “With any honesty, I mean.”

  I stood silent for a long moment. Forcing her to listen to reason wouldn’t get us anywhere, and she’d been forced nearly her whole life. From one moment to the next, someone else had dictated her future.

  “I’m going to tell you everything I know to be true. Afterward, you decide what to do with it.”

  She folded her arms over her chest and glared at me. “Well, go on, then.”

  I wanted to squeeze her. How could she not realize how gloriously delicious she was when the heat reached her eyes in such a way.

  “Your father was the Jacobin pirate. You know that now. I did work for him. I didn’t know about the lands. I didn’t know he’d put all of that away for you.”

  Her jaw loosened a bit.

  “I swear it, Elizabeth. I’ve never lied to you. I will never lie to you. I was not privy to all of his secrets.” Her eyes warmed as I made my way to her, stopping only once I hovered over her delicate frame. No. Not delicate. The woman had a fire inside her, a stern demeanor. No matter how much her stepmother tried to smash her, Elizabeth regrew stronger than before.

  I cupped her chin, dragging her head back until she looked up at me. Unshed tears danced on her lids.

  “What troubles you, my little stowaway? It’s not the treasure; it’s not the lands…so, what is it? Is it because I let Jack take you?” I leaned forward, brushing my nose against hers. “I was there the entire time, sweet. You never left my sight. I swear it.”

  “I…was afraid…” A slight tremor made its way into her voice.

  “Aye, you were brave. You left a trail of your belongings for me to find you. Your ribbon, a button, I found them all. You’re clever.” I kissed her cheek and licked away a runaway tear as it rolled from her eye.

  “I have no idea who I am, who my father was…”

  I sank my hand into her hair. “Who you are is mine. You’re mine.”

  She huffed. “Until we drop anchor.” She unraveled herself from my grip and moved toward the bed. “I’ll compensate your men. I swear it. They didn’t do all of this for naught.”

  My chest tightened. “What the devil are you talking about?”

  “One of those scrolls relays my father opened an account for me, and there’s plenty of money. I will pay for your expenses and for your crew—”

  I was on her in a moment, wrapping my hands around her shoulders and gripping her hard.

  “I have no need of your fortune.” I glared down at her.

  “You were looking for the—”

  “Aye. I was looking for the Jacobin Jewels.” I scanned her face. “And I found her. I don’t give a damn about the money, and my crew are well cared for. Not every adventure ends with riches. They know this.”

  “But—”

  “You are mine, Elizabeth. I said it, and I meant it. I will never allow harm to touch you.”

  “I know that.” Another tear rolled down her cheeks, and she scrubbed it away. “When Jack took me…I knew you’d find me.” No waver to her voice, no hesitation. She dashed away another loose tear. She looked more annoyed by her show of emotion than the very fact she’d been kidnapped.

  The woman held back so much, hid away her fears and worse. It was time she let go, time she gave over
completely.

  “Take off this godforsaken dress,” I ordered, knowing what she needed wasn’t a gentle coddling hand but firmness. She needed to push and see there wouldn’t be movement. I would hold my ground.

  “But—”

  “Do you need prompting? My belt? Or the ropes?” I forced my voice deeper, letting her know obedience was her only option.

  She blinked and took a small step in retreat. Her delicate fingers worked the buttons on the dress while her eyes remained locked on mine. The woman was hiding again, forcing herself behind a wall she created. Maybe the thought if she let out the tears, let out her cries and sorrow she would be made weaker for it.

  Time for the lesson to be taught.

  I waited until she stood before me in her glorious nakedness, dress discarded on the floor at her feet and her hands hanging at her sides. But what sucked the breath from my very lungs was the challenge in her eyes. At the stubborn rise of her chin, my cock hardened, painfully.

  Leaving her next to the bed, I walked to my chest and flung open the doors. Finding exactly what was needed, I pulled out the short coil of rope. Her eyes flicked to the bundle I held as I made my way back to her.

  “Stand at the post and raise your hands,”

  “I-I did nothing wrong.” She raised her chin higher, her voice pitched low however, giving away her apprehension.

  “You’re right on that account. You did everything I asked. You were obedient and loyal. And now I ask you to keep behaving yourself. I don’t want to have to punish you when I’m trying to teach you.”

  Her brows snapped together. “Teach me what?”

  I chose to ignore the sharpness of her tone. The woman had been through a hard day, and I wouldn’t be such an ass as to expect perfection from her now.

  “That letting those tears of yours flow freely isn’t the sign of weakness you believe it is. That no matter how much of yourself you show me, I will never abandon you. I want you to understand, completely , that you belong to me.”