“Is there a secret to getting in the vortex?”
“One person at a time.”
Maggie felt like she should be writing this down.
“Don’t panic. If you try to swim back before you’re all the way through, you’ll die. It’s like going through a rough port. Grit your teeth and bear it.”
Like she hadn’t been through the meat grinder enough this past month.
“Once you’re in the temple, throw something of yours into the vortex. You need something on the other side that’s been in the temple as well in order to give you a trail to follow out.”
“Like what type of thing?”
“I threw a dagger through. Jovan tossed a coin. If you don’t have that focus piece, though, you’ll never get out.”
The yellow globe stayed true.
“What other dangers are in there?”
“It’s a treasure vault. There are traps. The air is shit. Poison everywhere. The walls and floors are crumbling. Keep left. I remember that from Jovan’s book. Any discolored stones and stones on the right hand side of the rooms will trigger traps. And whatever you do, don’t eat or drink anything you find in there.” Nicholette shuddered.
Maggie nodded. “Did you feel a presence there?”
“No. What do you mean?” Nicholette frowned. “Like the ghosts of Mayan sacrifices or woo woo bullshit? No. It’s a ruined temple filled with gold and treasure. If I hadn’t seen tsunami, the destruction on Oracle-7, and what the curse did to Castle Crag, I’d have already cleaned it out and built myself ten plantations just like your lover’s.”
Still yellow.
Maggie tossed the keys to Amos.
“Are you going to be all right?” he asked. “Belle’s going to be livid.”
“She’s got me,” Quick said.
Nicholette snorted. “For the moment. Watch out when you start to get old. He’ll be on the next pirate slut faster than you can blink.”
The globe was still yellow.
Nicholette truly believed that.
Chapter Sixteen
They hurried off The Belle Noche to make sure that they weren’t going to be caught during the escape attempt. But their luck ran out, and they ran into Black Belle and solemn looking man who had a black eye and several bruises on his face.
“Did you get what you need?” Belle asked.
“I can get us in and out.”
She nodded and turned to the man beside her. “Maggie, this is Benicio. He’s the owner of the sub and will be piloting the craft. Benicio, my daughter.”
Maggie shook his hand, and allowed herself to revel in the moment. She knew her parents' affections were fleeting, and she knew better than to trust it. But it felt nice to be acknowledged.
Quick put his hand on her back. He steadied her, both having her back figuratively and literally.
"How many people can your sub fit?" Maggie asked.
"Five, including me." Benicio said, his voice weak and hoarse.
"I'm not sure how many soldiers are stuck, but if there are more than that, do you feel comfortable making several trips?"
"If they let me." He shrugged.
"I think you should take them away from Cozumel and breach. My men will take them aboard The Belle Noche. When we're all back, you can sail off on your submarine."
Before Maggie could protest, Belle cut her off. "You could use the notoriety. The Federales will be happy enough to get their men back alive that they'll drop the charges, especially if there's a hefty donation to the widows and families of the soldiers that didn't make it. And besides, we need someone to pilot the sub, and he wouldn't do it unless we gave him it back." Belle patted Maggie's cheek. "Sometimes, you have to compromise to make a plan perfect."
"I'm glad you feel that way," Maggie said, exchanging a look with Quick, who hid a laugh with a cough. "So, what is your perfect plan?"
"We'll rendezvous at La Isla Mujeres. Do you remember how to skim the water with an airship?"
"Yes," Maggie said, trying not to sound defensive.
"Quick can help you if you get into trouble."
Quick wisely kept his mouth shut.
"Drop the sub and let Benicio get his instruments ready. Then we'll take it to the ruins."
"If you'd like, I'll have a few trusted men stay on The Midnight Lady," Quick said.
"They wouldn't dare mutiny. Not after what I'm going to do to their former captain," Belle said.
“Better safe than sorry. I don’t know this crew well enough to trust them,” Maggie said.
"Then we'll meet you on La Isla Mujeres," Quick said. "I have a few things to clear up here first."
"Aren't you going to stay for the hanging?"
"It's not really my thing," Quick said.
"What about you? I'd expect you'd be volunteering to kick her off the platform." Belle said, looking at Maggie.
"I don't know what I feel, but I don't need to see Nicholette dead. It's good enough that she won't be able to succeed in her plan to destroy my reputation."
I hope.
"Suit yourself." Black Belle shrugged and continued with Benicio in tow. "You always do," was said under Belle's breath, but loud enough for Maggie to hear.
She let it go as she tried to walk as fast as possible without drawing unwanted attention to herself. She nearly sprinted to get to the walkway between the two airships before Belle realized that Amos and Nicholette had already escaped—if they were smart.
Quick and Maggie were back at the mansion when The Nicholette ported out without warning. The Bella Noche took off shortly after.
"Do you think she'll be back in time for tonight?" Maggie asked.
"I hope so. I'm not sure how to drive the sub."
"Let's stick to the plan and hope she doesn't realize I lifted the keys."
Returning to The Midnight Lady as a captain wasn't what she expected. She kept her eyes steady and her chin up, but she felt like a fraud. All of her mother's complaints and criticisms came to the front. She was grateful for Quick when they entered the wheelhouse and then down to the bridge.
"Set a course to La Isla Mujeres," Maggie said to the navigator Quick brought along. "Keep her high. I don't want to ping the Federales' radar."
"They won't be out that far," Quick said.
He'd know.
"Better safe than sorry." She glanced over the communications. There was a thousand-dollar bounty on her head. At least, it wasn't in pesos.
The communications console lit up. Her mother was trying to raise them.
"Yes?" she said, as her mother's annoyed face came on the view screen. Maggie could see Ephraim in the background. He waved excitedly at her.
She suppressed a smile, but she wanted to wave back at him.
"Did you give Amos the keys?" Belle said, drawing Maggie’s attention away from Ephraim.
"Why would I do that?" Maggie said, careful not to lie in case there was another truth globe up.
"He and his bitch wife got away."
"Better luck next time," Maggie said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've been up for over twenty-four hours. I need to get some rest or I'll be useless tonight."
Black Belle didn't look convinced, but she cut off communications without any further questions.
Counting that as a victory, she left Quick's men in charge and took off to find the Captain's quarters. Quick fell in step behind her.
"You handled that well," he said.
"Plausible deniability. That's what I should have named my bar." Maggie found the biggest stateroom that had a private balcony. "If that's not the Captain's quarters, it will be now."
Surprisingly, the room was more masculine in design, and aside from a small bag, any trace of Nicholette was negligible. The bed was large and was made up with furs and thick pillows. Maggie sunk gratefully into the thick mattress while Quick checked out every inch of the room.
Closing her eyes, she tried to get some sleep. But too many thoughts were pinging in her brain. She needed some air.
Getting up, she opened the balcony doors and stepped out on the deck. She tossed Nicholette’s bag overboard.
Quick handed her a glass of wine. "To your first command." He clinked his glass with hers. It was a surprisingly good vintage. Her back and neck relaxed a bit.
"It's not my first command. That ended in a disaster," Maggie said. "In my defense, I was fifteen. My mother betrothed me to Ephraim right after."
"What happened?" Quick asked, leaning on the brass rails.
"Belle and I fought like weasels over any little thing. Amos had left us for Nicholette the summer before. I desperately wanted my independence. So, she let me leave The Bella Donna and apprentice on The Bella Vita. Most of the crew were at a party in Stormsurge. I was the officer of the deck. I had a crush on a surfer and my mother thought it was wise to keep me on the ship far above the festivities where I couldn't get pregnant."
"You like surfers, huh? I surf." Quick nuzzled her cheek, and she turned her head to kiss him. He tasted like wine and the sweet cigars that reminded her of him.
The tension left her legs and hips. "I'd like to see that. I can't stand up on the board to save me life. I paddle out and then sit on it and watch the surfers."
"What happened? Did you sneak out to meet your surfer?"
"No, I saw a raiding party from a rival ship coming back from the mines. So, I ordered an interception course and prepared to board."
"Jaysus fuck, the balls on you." Quick laughed. "Did the crew listen to you?"
"Black Belle herself gave me the conn. The cannons alerted the crew on the ground that some serious shit was going on, but we had left the dock. So, they couldn't even come back to the ship and help. The other pirates had fucking rail guns."
"Ooh." Quick winced.
"We didn't even get the cables over before they tore the hell out of the hull. We aborted the boarding and just returned fire. I wasn't going to give up. They ran," Maggie said, with a sheepish grin. "But The Bella Vita had structural damage that put her in the shipyard for most of the year. And I got sent back to Castle Crag."
"Fortune favors the bold." Quick took the wine glasses back inside. She would like another glass. That would put her right to sleep, but she'd be fuzzy headed on the mission.
"How long did you stay grounded?"
"Until I could reach Amos. Then I started causing trouble on The Nicholette."
"I know it couldn't have been easy, but between Amos and Belle, they taught you a lot," he called from inside.
"And not all of it about airships," she mused. That was probably why she kept him at arms' length for two years. “Would you ever cheat on me, Quick?” she asked when he came back on the balcony.
“No, I had three years to make up my mind. You’re the one that I want. Always.” He came up behind her while she looked out at the sea, holding on to the rails.
It was a beautiful night and she could hear the waves crashing over the soft hum of the airship rotors.
Tucking her hair over her shoulder, Quick kissed her neck, nibbling on her ear. It felt so good, she closed her eyes and leaned back into him.
“I love you Maggie and I want to marry you.”
Her heart beat fast, from his kisses and his words. She had held off on commitment for so long of the mess her parents made of their marriage.
“I love you too,” she said, and would have turned around, but Quick wouldn’t let her.
Lifting her shirt up, he caressed her hips and abdomen. She stretched back, loving the feel of his rough fingertips on her body.
“Then is that a yes?” he said, his voice a deep growl in her ear.
“I’m not going to sit at home and be a farmer’s wife,” she said, biting back a gasp as he lifted her shirt over her head. She watched in amusement as it sailed overboard and fell to the ocean.
The flat of his knife came between her breasts and he sliced her bra off. The cool night air hit her nipples and hardened them.
“Damn it, Quick. You’re going to go broke keeping me in underwear.”
He cupped his hands over her breasts and pressed himself against her. He was hard, and she couldn’t help herself from rubbing her ass against him.
“You’ll have to learn how to manage the plantations in my absence,” he said, rolling her nipples between his thumb and forefinger.
She tried to turn around again, but he pressed her against the rails. Quick dropped his hands to her pants and unbuttoned them. Then with one hand back on her breast and the other in her pants, he went for her neck again. This time he used his teeth.
“Why?” Maggie tried to control her breathing. “Where do you think you’re going without me?”
He laughed. When he dipped his finger inside her, she reached up to grip his hair. Quick fingered her slow, the rasp of his unshaven cheeks played havoc on her senses. Maggie writhed against him, trapped between the rails of the airship and his strong body.
She shivered when he moved to the other side of her neck. “Quick, damn it. You better not leave marks.”
“Wear a scarf,” he said, and bit down on her neck.
Maggie went up on her tiptoes, gasping in pleasure. He fingered her faster, darting over her clit with enough pressure that she was making harsh, pleading noises.
“That’s right, baby,” he whispered as she shook apart, coming on his fingers.
He pulled her pants down to her ankles and helped her step out of them. While he was down there, he nipped at her ass as well.
She smacked him.
He pulled her hips back. Maggie held on to the railing and groaned in pleasure when he sank deep inside her. He fucked her slow, taking his time.
“Say, yes, damn it.” He caressed her back before holding her hips tight against him.
Maggie enjoyed the sweet bump of his body into hers. “Quick,” she sighed, feeling every inch of him thick and hot inside her.
He thrust harder and faster.
Her breasts swayed against the railing. “Yes,” she groaned.
“Yes, you’ll fucking marry me or yes, you like my cock?”
“Yes,” she said, delight in her voice.
“Maggie,” he growled.
“Fuck me harder and I’ll tell you.”
She cried out when he slammed into her with speed and intensity that made her come alive with joy and bliss. Clamping hard on him, the friction made her come. As she sagged, he kept up the pace until another orgasm crashed over her and she chanted his name over and over again.
“Tell me,” he ground out, his body shaking and his grip on her hips almost painful.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He came with a roar and finally allowed her to turn around and hug him. They kissed until the night air reminded Maggie that she was naked.
Opening the door to her cabin, she dragged him inside to have her way with him again. After that, she’d take that nap she needed, once she was totally relaxed and not overthinking everything.
Chapter Seventeen
Benicio was doing last minute tests of the submarine when The Bella Noche streaked in. Both ships were blurring their registry and no one cared too much on La Isla Mujeres, which is why they picked it for the rendezvous.
Maggie was doing a final check of her and Quick’s equipment when Black Belle strode up to them. She wore a spear gun, bang stick, several knives, and an octopus regulator.
“We’re not going to need all that,” Maggie said. “We’re not going to be in the water that long. That’s the whole point of the sub.”
“Benicio may have to make several trips with your survivors. Better safe than sorry. You know how to share air, right?”
“Yes,” Maggie said, trying not to get offended. Belle didn’t ask Quick if he knew how to scuba dive.
“Did you catch The Nicholette?” Quick asked, and Maggie could have kissed him for drawing Belle’s attention away from her.
“Night’s still young,” Belle said in a deadly voice.
With a rush o
f water, the submarine surfaced next to the pier. Once they were inside and settled, Maggie concentrated on not getting claustrophobic as they dove so deep her ears popped.
“When we get to the ruins, head to the back of the sub,” Benicio said. “I’ll seal off the main cabin. Once it’s watertight, I’ll open the doors and you can just swim out. I’ll keep it open. Have your Federales swim in. Once we have a full load, I’ll close the outer doors. It’ll be a few minutes while the pumps push out the water. Tell them to be patient. Once the pressure is stabilized and the chamber is drained, I’ll open the cabin doors.”
Because Maggie couldn’t sit still, she walked out into the area and looked around. The sub could probably fit more than five people, but not in this staging area.
“We’re not sure how many people will be in there,” Maggie said.
“We’re still going to be the second group out,” Belle said. “Once you’ve got the rescued Federales, signal The Bella Noche. Get them on board and come back to us. It should take about fifteen minutes.”
“What if it takes longer?” Maggie asked.
“Then, we wait.”
“I don’t like the idea of just floating around the ruins in shark infested water,” Quick said.
“I like the idea of popping in and out of the vortex even less,” Maggie said.
“Precision timing. Let’s say twenty minutes from the time the last Federale is out of the vortex until we go. Can you do that, Benicio?” Belle asked.
“Not a problem.”
“What if things go wrong?” Maggie fretted, needing to have a plan for all emergencies.
“Swim for the coast. You have enough air to get to the surface.”
“It’s not the air I’m worried about. It’s the sharks.”
Belle waggled her diving knife. “That’s why you need one of these.”
“And if that doesn’t work, there’s always this.” He pulled out a pistol out of his dive bag.
“You’re prepared for everything,” Belle said, approvingly. “Don’t let this one get away, Maggie m’dear.”
Midnight Lady Page 11