Maggie resisted the urge to sprint to the airship. Forcing herself to stroll calmly, arm-in-arm with Ephraim, she headed to Amos’ berth.
As they approached the line of ships waiting for the air traffic controllers to signal they were next, she felt someone watching her. Looking up, she met Niles Black’s gaze and swallowed hard.
“Keep walking,” she muttered to Ephraim. “Head to The Nicholette.”
“Without you?” he asked.
“Just go.” She wanted to shove him, but for once Ephraim did what he was told.
Nodding at Niles, she approached The Blackheart.
“Out for a stroll, Maggie m’dear?” he asked, calling down from the top of his ship. The Blackheart was built for speed and hauling cargo. It had a full battery of cannons, but it’s sleek design showed that Niles rather would run than fight.
“Seeing an old friend off on his voyage.” She hoped her voice sounded light and carefree. “I thought you’d be gone already.”
“Damned Calgarians.” He gestured with his chin.
Maggie didn’t dare look behind her or at Ephraim.
“They’re searching all the ships for their missing prince. I can’t leave until they scan my ship, because I’ll be Gods damned if I let them board me to do a physical search.”
Nodding, Maggie was inwardly chanting shit, shit, shit.
When a hand fell on her shoulder, she instinctively lashed out with an elbow. Derek McMann dodged it and tried to backhand her, but she jumped out of the way. Whipping her pistol out, she snarled, “What is your problem?”
She wasn’t prepared for him to kick it out of her hand, but she managed to pull the trigger before it went flying. At the sharp blast of the shot, the entire dock seemed to stop and look at them.
“Are you out of your mind?” she snarled, holding her wrist. Maggie didn’t think it was broke, but it hurt like a bitch.
“Shut up and play along.” He hauled her over his shoulder, and she made a sound that she was embarrassed to say was like a scream.
More pistol shots came. This time from above them.
“What the hell?” Derek growled, as he sprinted with her to a smaller ship, that had been hidden by the larger cargo ships.
Throwing down a portable staircase, he thundered up the stairs almost as fast as it could stretch out. Leaping the last three steps, he landed on the deck of a striker airship. It was a refurbished military vessel with engines and guns and little else.
Tossing Maggie to the ground harder than he needed to, Derek sprinted for the wheelhouse. “Hold on to your ass.”
“The fuck are you doing?” she screeched.
“We don’t have time to wait in line for the Calgarians to scratch their balls. We’re causing a distraction.”
“We are?” she said, crawling into the wheelhouse because they were taking heavy fire.
Peering through the window, she saw that both the Cozumel Navy and the Calgarians were rallying ground troops.
“Holy shit, they’re rolling in a tank.” Maggie eased herself into the gunner’s chair and strapped in. Her fingers trembled, but she was grinning like a lunatic.
“Hold your fire. They’re not going to get a chance to load.” He hit a button and the turbo boost whined the airships propellers into overdrive.
“Oh shit, you’re not.”
Derek turned to her with a crazy grin. “We’re going to run the blockade.”
The small airship broke its tethers and zoomed out of port. The air wake it left rocked the other airships almost on their side. A few broke their moorings as well and gave chase, but Maggie knew they were too slow to come up to speed.
Unfortunately, the Calgarians were waiting. “Stand down unknown craft or be destroyed.”
Derek hit another button and a grey vortex appeared directly below them. Maggie could hear the small craft’s power crystals strain as he dove fast. She was pressed against her restraints as they slid through before the Calgarians’ weapons primed.
Sliding through the vortex was never pleasant under planned exits. Screaming like a demented banshee through the dimensions rattled the teeth in her head and the pressure built up so intense, she thought her eyes would burst. Just as she started to panic, they slingshot out of the vortex and into the nethersphere.
The engines protested the speed and Derek backed off on the throttle. Other airships popped into their rear view, having used the same vortex to escape the Calgarian envoys.
“Are they going to follow us?” she panted, realizing she was clutching the chair so hard, her knuckles were white.
“We’ll be long gone by then.”
Sure enough, The Nicholette sailed alongside and cables were attached. Maggie hated going outside in the nethersphere. It reminded her too much like outer space and she always panicked that she wouldn’t be able to breathe. It’s why her mother had given up on training her to fly a ship.
“If you can’t fix your ship in the nethersphere, you’re dead in the water.”
Water, air, nethersphere, a damaged ship was ripe for boarding.
The power crystals popped and cracked, shattering. The propellers wound to a stop and craft would have drifted if it wasn’t for the Nicholette’s cables.
“It was a nice run.” Derek patted the ship affectionately.
“You’re a mad man.” Maggie gritted her teeth to keep them from chattering.
“Let’s go.”
Derek grabbed her arm again—she was definitely going to have a bruise, and guided her along the mechanized walkway that attached the two ships.
“What the hell does he want?” Derek said.
Maggie didn’t dare look up from the walkway. “One foot in front of the other,” she whispered.
“I believe you have something that’s not yours.”
Maggie froze. Now she could see a drone out of the corner of her eye, but the voice that came out of it was Niles Black’s.
“I’ll be taking the girl,” Niles said via the drone.
“Shove off,” Derek said, sprinting with her in tow.
Even if she didn’t need rescuing, the last person she would want coming to her aid was Niles. Who knew where she would wind up?
“He’s gearing up to fire,” Nicholette said, her eyes bright with the heat of battle. She blew the little drone into smithereens as they raced to get onboard The Nicholette.
“Then he’s an idiot.” Derek said, hopping on the deck. “We have him outgunned.”
“Is E—Did my cargo make it?” Maggie asked, shaking Derek’s arm off her once they were on deck of her father’s ship.
“Your luggage and your cargo are safely on board. Your father wants to talk to you in his cabin,” Nicholette said. “Are you going to come quietly or do you want me to drag you?”
“I’m going,” she said. “But what about The Blackheart?”
The explosion from the small aircraft they had just exited rocked The Nicholette, and Maggie staggered. She gaped at the The Blackheart. Niles had blown the little ship up, and was now swinging around for a broadside shot at The Nicholette.
“Battle stations,” Derek cried. “Get her below deck. I don’t know what that asshole Black wants with her, but he’s not getting her. Fire rear cannons.”
Maggie was thrilled she still had her battle legs. When the ship shot forward and the deck rumbled, it didn’t even halt her stride.
The Nicholette used the motion to spin broadsides and let The Blackheart have another volley from the side cannons.
“He wants a fight, then Gods damn it, he’ll get one,” Nicholette said viciously.
When the got to her father’s cabin Ephraim was gripping a tea cup in the soft leather chair. He dropped it and flung himself into her arms. “Are the Calgarians shooting at us?”
“No,” Nicholette said, addressing Amos. “It’s Niles Black. He wants your daughter.”
Amos narrowed his eyes. “He’s going to want another ship when we’re done with him. We can’t outrun the bast
ard, but we can blow him into cinders.”
“Don’t,” Maggie said.
“Don’t?” Nicholette laughed. “Are you sure you’re Black Belle’s daughter?”
“I’m not entirely sure that he doesn’t think he’s rescuing me,” Maggie said.
“Dear, he doesn’t give a tinker’s fart about rescuing fair maidens. If he wants you, it’s for a nefarious purpose. That man is as dark as his name. The universe would be a better place without him.”
But the cannons stopped firing and Maggie felt the airship accelerate.
“Are we running from the fight?” Nicholette snarled. She tore out of the cabin to confront Derek who had control of the bridge.
Amos closed the door behind her. “I imagine we’re running before the Calgarians can squeeze those battleships through the vortex.”
“Won’t this Niles Black tell them where I am?” Ephraim asked.
“It’s possible,” Amos said. “Did you two fuckwits decide to elope?”
“No,” Maggie said. “Ephraim wants to join Black Belle’s crew.”
Amos cursed. “Well then why didn’t you have the evil bitch pick you up on your own home planet? She’d have had you out under their noses before they knew it.”
“No one has heard from her in over a year.”
“Really?” Amos frowned. “Not entirely unlike her. But that doesn’t mean she’s at Castle Crag.”
“It’s a start,” Maggie said. “That’s her last known whereabouts. And if she’s not there, maybe some of her crew are and can point us in the right direction.”
“I always knew either your mother or you would be the death of me.”
The airship rippled as they went into another vortex. It was a good chance that they had escaped the Calgarians.
For now.
Chapter Five
Quick pulled into Cozumel and it was like coming home. He probably should have stopped by the plantations first, but he wanted to see Maggie. He owed her big time for taking off like he had.
After he cleared customs, he took a shower and dressed in a silk shirt and leather pants, knowing that Maggie liked it when he looked the part of a gentleman pirate. He was surprised to see The Blackheart was in dry dock getting repairs. From the look of it, she had seen some serious battles.
A faint ping of alarm traveled up his spine. Most of the real pirates of the nethersphere couldn’t go toe-to-toe with any of their airships. He and his friends were known as The Syndicate. An attack on one of them, was an attack on all of them.
The unease drifted away as soon as The Midnight Lady was in sight. He tapped his pocket where he carried the silver necklace he bought for Maggie. He’d tell her that was all he wanted on her to wear when he made love to her. And this time, he’d convince her to come on his airship and spend a few nights in his cabin.
Grinning, Quick pushed into the bar and got another frisson of awareness when his friends stopped their conversation and turned to look at him.
“Maggie, I’m in sore need of a coffee, luv,” he shouted out, and took a seat at the poker table. “What are you lunkheads looking at? And what the hell happened to your ship, Niles?”
Quick looked up, his broad smile dimming when Donna handed him his coffee. He could smell the Sambuca in it. Craning his head around her, Quick tried to catch a glimpse of Maggie. Was she pissed at him? He said he’d make it up to her.
If he asked about her again, it might raise some questions. Then he realized that Niles hadn’t answered him and the rest of the idiots were having trouble meeting his eyes.
Questions be damned. Let them wonder.
“Where’s Maggie?” he asked Donna.
When Donna blinked back tears, the frisson turned to icy fear.
Donna opened her mouth to answer, but Niles swatted her on the ass. “Leave the grownups to their conversation, m’dear.”
“You watch your fucking hands,” Sweet growled.
Donna angrily flounced away.
“What’s going on?” Quick tried on a casual smile, but it felt like a grimace.
Niles lit a cheroot. “Maggie was kidnapped. Looks like Amos Flannery is behind it.”
Rage colored his vision and for a moment, he saw only blackness. “Why?” he gritted out.
“No one knows. We think he used the distraction of the Calgarians looking for their prince to take her.”
“Why?”
“Is he out to get you?” Niles asked, calmly blowing a smoke ring to the ceiling.
Quick stopped himself from saying why again with an effort. “No. I barely know the man. Tell me what happened.”
Niles slapped a disk on the table and a holograph of the docks appeared. He saw Maggie staring up at someone, talking. From behind her a large man grabbed her. Quick watched the fight on the docks and the ensuing nethersphere battle between the The Blackheart and The Nicholette.
His chair flew back when he leapt to his feet. “Where are they?”
“Sit down.”
“Damn it.” Quick strode to the door.
“Quick, wait,” Mav said. “It’s been three weeks. No one knows where they are. The trail is cold.”
“Three weeks?” he said, through numb lips. She could be anywhere.
“We’ve been trying to track the bastard. We thought we had him on Ferriday, but we missed him by hours,” Sweet said.
“Is she on Ferriday? Did he...” Quick swallowed. “Sell her?”
“From what we could find out,” St. John said, “no one with her description left the ship.”
“Gods damn it, why didn’t you send word to me?”
“Why would you care what happened to Maggie?” Niles asked coldly.
“Oh, shut the fuck up,” Mav said, kicking his chair.
Quick rubbed his hand over his face. They thought they had been so careful. That no one knew they were together. He should have known he couldn’t keep a secret like that from his friends. And if his friends knew, it was a good bet so did his enemies.
“And say what?” Niles said, relenting. “There was nothing you could do that we weren’t already doing.”
Quick came back to the table and sat down. “Thank you. Niles, I appreciate you giving chase.”
“I was outgunned,” he said simply, but wouldn’t meet his eyes. Quick knew Niles didn’t take defeat well.
“Were we that obvious?” Quick asked. “Did I bring this on her?”
“You were discreet,” St John said. “Just not when you were around us.”
“Has anyone contacted you about ransom?” Mav asked.
“No, no one.”
They sat around and drank for a bit, but Quick couldn’t hold a thought in his head. He finally excused himself and walked through the kitchen to the back room that lead to the attic. Climbing the stairs, he wasn’t sure what he expected to find. Some clue maybe, some piece of her that he could use to find her.
What he wasn’t expecting was two pulse pistols aimed at his head and a striking woman dressed all in black standing in Maggie’s bedroom.
“Get up here and close the trap door,” she said in a mild voice. “I don’t want to shoot up the place, but I will if pressed.”
Holy shit, he thought when he got a good look at her. She was in her late fifties, with an athletic build. Her face was handsome, rather than attractive. But her eyes were her most striking feature. They were familiar, but that could be because he’d seen them staring out at him from various wanted posters.
“I know who you are,” Quick said, as he did what she wanted. “You’re Black Belle.”
“I’m afraid, you have me at a disadvantage.”
“Not from my point of view,” Quick said. “Mind if I smoke?”
“Tell me what you’re doing here first.”
“I’m looking for Maggie.”
Black Belle snorted. “She ain’t here.”
“She was kidnapped.”
“I doubt that.”
“What are you doing here?” Quick ginger
ly took a cigar from his pocket and then his lighter. He lit it and then offered it to her.
Black Belle gave him a fishy look, but sheathed her pistols and took it. “Reserve blend, Donner plantation.” She looked back at him. “You’re Quick Donner.”
He gave her a small bow, relieved that she was no longer pointing weapons at him.
“Why are you looking for Maggie here, if you think she was kidnapped?”
“I was hoping for a clue.” He glanced around the room, but it looked like it always did.
“Here’s one for ya.” She pulled back the curtain that separated Maggie’s closet from the room. “All her clothes are gone. One usually doesn’t get to pack a bag when being kidnapped.”
Quick shook his head. “I’ve seen proof. Amos Flannery took her.”
Black Belle blinked. “Flannery eh? Against her will you say?”
“Kicking and screaming. She put up a fight.”
“Flannery hit her?” she asked in disbelief.
“No some other guy, but he took her to The Nicholette.”
Black Belle scowled. “Ah, well I wouldn’t worry too much about Maggie. She can take care of herself.”
Narrowing his eyes, Quick asked, “How do you know Maggie?”
Black Belle smirked. “She used to work for me, before she became a land lubber.”
Quick felt like she hit him with a fish. “Maggie was a pirate?”
“She was crew. And as I said, she can take care of herself. Flannery won’t hurt her. I expect she’ll be back in good time.”
It was everything he could do not to scream in frustration. Was this how Maggie felt when he sailed away, not knowing when he was coming back. If ever?
He didn’t like the feeling.
“Do you have any idea where Flannery would take her?
“I stay out of his business, and he stays out of mine.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I needed a place to crash while I looked over a few things for business.”
“What kind of business?”
“None of yours,” she said, and grinned revealing a gold tooth. “Now, if we’re done, I’d appreciate if you didn’t mention you saw me. And in return when I see Maggie, I’ll tell her you were breaking into her bedroom to find her.”
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