“I’m afraid it’s time to say goodbye,” Kane said, placing his free hand flat on the hilt, preparing to force it down.
Rina stood, grasping the shield in both hands as she lifted it over her head. The movement caught Barton’s attention, and he leapt for her while shouting a warning at Kane. She didn’t wait for him to react. With all her might, she swung at Kane’s head, the resounding clang echoing through the chamber as Kane collapsed bonelessly to the floor. Jonathan stared up at her, blinking in surprise, but Rina couldn’t spare another moment. She raised the shield again to smash it against Barton’s head, but the pirate raised a hand in defense, and the resulting blow knocked him to his knees, but didn’t rob him of consciousness. He stood, face twisted in anger, and descended on Rina with his sword held high.
He didn’t make it two steps. He faltered, mouth dropping open in shock as Rina cowered, her shield held up against her chest. She watched in awe as blood blossomed on his shirt, spreading outward from the tip of a sword protruding from his chest. With a sickening gurgle, more blood bubbled out of his mouth as he fell to his knees, revealing Jonathan standing behind him, his sword buried in Barton’s back to the hilt. He pulled it free as Kane’s first mate crumpled to the ground, and Rina looked away quickly from the blood stained blade. It took a few moments for her to realize that the room had fallen into stunned silence. She looked around, surprised to find the fighting over. Kane’s men were on their knees, the crew of the Arrow standing over them, awaiting orders from their captain. Jonathan wiped his sword on Barton’s back before sheathing it. He stood over Kane, fists on his hips, then looked at Rina with a slight frown.
“Blast it, Smith,” he grumbled, prodding at Kane with the toe of his boot. “How am I supposed to kill a man who’s unarmed and unconscious?”
She bristled. “Would you rather I’d let him skewer you on his sword? Really, is it too much to expect a little gratitude—“ Her eyes narrowed as Jonathan’s lips quirked, and she realized he was trying to bait her, most likely to get her mind off the grisly scene she’d just witnessed.
It worked.
She jumped down from the table, carefully stepping over the dead bodies littering the floor without looking directly at them. “You certainly do make a mess, Captain,” she said, forcing a note of nonchalance into her voice. “I do hope you’re planning to clean up after yourself.” She was unable to hide the rush of dizziness that hit her when she neared him, however, and reached out to grab at his shoulder to steady herself.
“Damn,” she muttered. “I really do have to get a handle on the swooning, don’t I?”
Jonathan wrapped an arm around her waist, encouraging her to lean on him. “I think a bit of fresh air is in order. Hold on, Smith. I’m a wounded man. You’re not going to make me carry you, are you?”
Rina forced a laugh, breathing deeply through her nose. “I’ll do my best.”
Jonathan shouted for the men to bind their prisoners, leaving Jenkins, Crawley, and Allegheny behind to guard them while he and the rest of the crew set off for reinforcements from the ship to secure the treasure. Surprisingly, he’d lost no crewmen in the fighting, although James and Max were both wounded. Despite his injury, Max insisted on carrying Charlotte, cradling her gently in his arms.
“Is she all right?” Jonathan asked, reaching out to touch her forehead carefully.
Max nodded. “She’s breathing steadily. We just need to get her someplace quiet where she can rest.”
They set off for the surface, retracing their steps through the maze and tunnels and retrieving each of the relics along the way, just in case. Rina felt better when she spotted the door leading outside, even though it was closed—apparently by Kane—and it took several minutes for Jonathan to figure out how to open it from the inside. Charlotte moaned, shifting in Max’s hold before her eyelids fluttered open.
“Should have seen him coming,” she muttered, her words slurred.
Max pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Don’t worry about that. Kane’s no threat any longer.”
Charlotte shook her head, the motion causing her to moan again. “Not Kane . . . the King . . . the King’s man . . .”
Before she could say anything more, the door swung inward, fresh air from outside reviving them all as they stepped into the late afternoon sunshine. Buoyed by their success, the crew of the Arrow emerged, laughing and shoving at each other good-naturedly.
Only to freeze at the distinctive sound of a flintlock being cocked. Rina looked around, eyes wide, unable at first to comprehend why there were at least twenty men surrounding the entrance to the cave.
Until she recognized the one who stepped forward. He was dressed in civilian clothes instead of his naval uniform, but his haughty demeanor and icy blue eyes were the same.
“Commodore Stanton,” she murmured in shock.
He tipped his head, touching the brim of his hat with the barrel of his pistol. “We meet again.”
Jonathan cursed, loudly and colorfully. He glanced at Max as Stanton addressed Sarina, hoping he understood the significant look he cast his way.
He did, apparently, and surreptitiously tucked the bag containing the relics into the underbrush next to him.
“I’m actually surprised you didn’t catch on sooner, Tremayne,” Stanton said, turning his attention to the captain. “I couldn’t understand why Kane and Renard were traveling together and what it all had to do with you. Of course, once I caught Renard, the answers came a bit more easily.” He gestured with his hand, and a couple of his men stepped aside to reveal Renard and several others sitting on the sand, their hands bound behind their backs. “It’s quite a victory for me, I’m certain you can imagine,” he said with a smile. “To capture two of the most notorious pirates in the Caribbean and a treasure, as well? Yes, quite a victory.”
He tipped his head curiously. “Where is Kane, by the way?”
Jonathan’s mind raced. He’d been so close, and now he stood on the cusp of losing everything. Stanton would stop at nothing to destroy him and claim the treasure for himself. Of course, he had no idea how to find it, but at the same time, Jonathan still had men inside, and he couldn’t leave them trapped inside the mountain. He glanced at Sarina . . . then Max . . . Hutchins . . . Ceron. His men trusted him. He owed them so much. If there was only something he could do.
“Did you kill him?” Stanton asked. He shrugged. “No matter. You’re enough of a prize, I suppose. Certainly enough to garner me quite the reward. Combined with the treasure, I’ll be back in London in no time, leaving these godforsaken islands for good.”
Jonathan inhaled sharply, an idea coming as if out of nowhere. Perhaps there was a way. Perhaps he could save his men, if not himself.
“He’s not dead,” he said, glaring at Stanton.
“No? Well, where is he? Turn him over and perhaps I’ll ask the hangman to tie the knot properly so you don’t suffer too much.”
Sarina snapped, “You bastard!”
Stanton raised an imperious brow. “Such language! Of course, I should expect as much from Tremayne’s whore.”
Jonathan stepped forward, but Stanton stopped him with a jerk of his flintlock. “I don’t think so, Tremayne,” he said with a grimace of distaste that quickly turned speculative. “You have feelings for the girl, then?” He slowly moved his arm until the pistol was pointing at Sarina. “Bad move, Captain. Never give away your weakness. I’d have thought you’d have learned that by now.”
Jonathan fought down his fury, knowing it would do Sarina no good. “The girl is not involved in all of this. If you want Kane, you’ll need to deal with me.”
“What if I just take him?”
“You can’t. You can’t find your way to him, or to the treasure, without my help.”
Stanton laughed. “And why would you help me?”
Jonathan held out his hands. “I’m interested in an exchange. One I think will be mutually beneficial to both of us.”
The commodore looked at him cu
riously. “What kind of exchange?”
Jonathan cleared his throat. It was time to lay his cards on the table. “Kane and his men. Plus half the treasure. In exchange for a pardon for me and my men.”
“Half?” Stanton laughed again. “Why in the world would I settle for half?”
“Because you’ll never find it without my help,” Jonathan replied. “It’s well hidden, as is Kane.”
Stanton started to pace, considering. “Half, you say?”
“Still enough to make you a very rich man.”
Jonathan could see the battle going on in Stanton’s mind. His hate for Tremayne on one side—his unbridled greed on the other.
“Think of it,” Jonathan prodded. “You’d return one of the wealthiest men in London.” The gleam of interest in Stanton’s eye told him he was getting through. “Not to mention, one of the most powerful.”
“Not powerful enough to garner a pardon for One-Eyed Jack Tremayne,” he retorted. “You’re infamous, Tremayne. I might be able to help your men, but you? There’s no way.”
Jonathan considered that. “All right then. My men, then. Any who wish to leave the Arrow will be left alone.”
“No!” Max shouted. “No, it has to be all of us!”
“Avast!” Jonathan snapped. “Mind your place, mate!”
“But Jonathan,” Sarina said quietly. “You’ll still be a fugitive.”
He saw the anguish in her eyes, felt it himself. There would be no future for them. But then again, he’d never really expected one. He turned stiffly back to Stanton.
“What is your word? Do you accept?”
“If I do, how do I know you will honor your part of the bargain?”
Jonathan stiffened. “I will.”
Stanton tapped his chin. “I believe I need a bit more than that.” He turned to Sarina. “Take her,” he told his men.
“No!” Jonathan bellowed. “Leave her out of this!” He watched in horror as two of Stanton’s men took Sarina by the arms, leading her away. To his surprise, she didn’t fight back, instead looking at him sadly.
“It’s all right, Jonathan,” she said. “Just give him what he wants and this will all be over.”
“That’s right,” Stanton said, summoning his men with a jerk of his head. “We’ll be waiting on the beach. The rest of your men will be released to help you retrieve the treasure. I expect a full accounting to ensure you aren’t cheating me, Jack. Do so, and your little wench here will pay. Don’t doubt it for a moment. Deliver half, along with Kane and his men, and I’ll see to the pardons for whatever members of your crew wish to leave the pirate life behind. As for you, I’ll give you a head start before I inform my commanding officer of your last known location. Once I’m in London, I won’t spare you or any of this a second thought.”
Jonathan looked into Sarina’s eyes and saw her willing him to accept. “Let me do this,” she said quietly. “It’s all right.”
With a heavy sigh, Jonathan nodded, sending Max and Hutchins with Stanton to fetch the rest of the crew and get help for Charlotte. Once they were out of sight, he ordered his men back into the caves. It would take days to bring out all the treasure.
With Sarina’s freedom at stake, Jonathan planned to cut that time in half.
Two Weeks Later, Charles Towne, South Carolina
Rina stood in the shade of a twisted oak tree, wiping tears from her eyes. A few feet away, Jonathan knelt before a carved headstone, his fingers tracing the name idly.
Elisabeth Jacobs Tremayne, Viscountess Coffey
His mother.
He had brought Rina here, saying simply that he needed her. When she’d seen the small graveyard on the edge of the Tremayne property, she had faltered, surprised that he would share something so personal with her. Jonathan hadn’t pressed her forward, instead leaving her by the tree as he approached his mother’s grave and fell to his knees, speaking quietly in the stillness. Rina couldn’t hear his words, only the low rumble of his voice mingling with the song of the birds in the treetops.
To be honest, she was amazed she was there at all.
Stanton had kept his word, and no one was as shocked by that as Rina. She’d half suspected when he took her away that she would be bound in chains and turned over to be hanged. She’d felt she had to at least try, however. Do her part to help the others—Max and Charlotte . . . James . . . everyone on board the Arrow. It had taken a day and a half for the crew to bring out all of Mellick’s Gold, and Rina had a sneaking suspicion Stanton had ended up with more than half. He’d returned her to Jonathan, however, along with written pardons for the members of the crew who wanted to leave the ship. There had been surprisingly few, in the end—Max, of course, and James . . . a handful of others—but most had no desire for a normal life. They’d packed away their part of the treasure and were ready to start off again on another adventure.
They’d stopped in Charles Towne to finally deliver Max to his new home. When they’d set foot on Tremayne land, Charlotte had turned to Jonathan with tears brimming in her eyes.
“Thank you,” she’d said, enveloping her brother in a hug. “Thank you for freeing him.”
Jonathan had flushed and shrugged, finally bending to kiss Charlotte on the cheek. “Be happy,” he’d said, repeating the words to Max with a manlier slap on the shoulder.
Charlotte had looked from Rina to Jonathan then, saying simply, “Sometimes things don’t happen as we’d hoped, Jonathan. It doesn’t mean we can’t have what we want.”
Jonathan’s brow had creased in confusion. “What on earth does that mean?”
Charlotte laughed. “It means that you should take your own advice.” She reached out to take him by his upper arms, squeezing gently. “Be happy, Jonathan.”
Max and Charlotte wasted no more time and were married before they’d been back a full day. They’d disappeared into a small house near Grace’s and hadn’t been seen much since.
Rina smiled at the thought.
As for James, he disappeared one night without saying goodbye. Rina was a little hurt that he’d left with no word, but she hoped she would see him again someday. Even more, she hoped he would find what he was looking for.
Hutchins, on the other hand, opted to stay on the ship, although he planned to use his part of the treasure to go into business with Pearl and expand the Red Pearl. He hadn’t said it in so many words, but Rina knew he hoped his influx of coin would mean Pearl could stick to managing the business rather than actively participating in it. She hadn’t spent much time with Pearl, but after seeing the two of them together for even a short time, she thought Pearl might feel the same way.
Jonathan reached for his dagger, bringing Rina out of her thoughts. She watched him curiously as he lifted it to one of his braids and sawed through it, close to his scalp. He placed the twisted locks on his mother’s headstone, before he kissed his fingers and pressed them to her name, bowing his head for a moment before he stood and turned toward her, wiping at his own tears.
“Are you all right?” she asked quietly.
He nodded, taking her hand and lifting it to his lips. She reached out with her other hand to touch the spot on his head where he’d cut off his hair, her gaze questioning.
Jonathan cleared his throat, looking back at his mother’s grave. “When she died, I vowed not to touch a blade to my hair until I avenged her,” he said, his voice a gentle rasp. “Every time I saw my reflection in the glass, it served as a reminder of my purpose.”
Rina swallowed more tears, twisting her fingers into the shining length of his hair. “So you’ll cut it now?”
He shrugged. “The vow has been fulfilled.”
She nodded, turning to walk away from the graveyard, her fingers entwined with Jonathan’s. Kane’s death had not come at the point of Jonathan’s blade as he’d hoped—nor at hers—but at the end of a rope. He’d been hanged only a day after Jonathan had turned him over to Stanton, as had all his surviving men. A short time later, the commodore had set sa
il for England, and Rina had no doubt he would end up with a title as well as wealth, no matter how much the idea turned her stomach.
She tried to put it out of her mind and focus on Jonathan. Their future was a bit more muddled. Jonathan would return to the Arrow by sundown. He dared not risk staying on land any longer. Stanton was no longer a threat, but Jonathan was still a fugitive, and it was only a matter of time before the Crown tracked him down yet again. Rina, however, was no longer considered a criminal, a fact that should have relieved her, but instead filled her with a quiet sense of dread. Jonathan had secured a pardon for her as well, and she could only take that to mean that he believed it was time they parted ways.
His actions seemed to belie that, though. Since they’d left the island, he’d been a constant presence at her side, touching and kissing her frequently. He seemed hesitant to let her out of his sight, and Rina wondered if he was storing up their moments together as she was—counting down the days, the hours, until they would finally say goodbye.
They ended up on the shores of the creek, once again looking out over the rushing water. The sun was low in the sky, casting gold and red into Jonathan’s hair. Rina faced him, reaching out again to touch it.
“I don’t think you should cut it,” she said.
He tilted his head, the corner of his mouth lifting. “No?”
“It suits you.” She swallowed a sob, turning away from him quickly.
“Smith?” He reached for her, but his hand fell short, drifting to his side. “Sarina, it’s all right. It’s all over. You can go home. Have the life you deserve.”
And with that, something snapped inside her. She turned on him, eyes flashing. “I don’t want that life. I want you.”
Jonathan jerked as if he’d been struck. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’d have no life with me.”
“Don’t call me ridiculous.”
“Well, then, don’t be ridiculous, Smith. You need to go home. Find a nice man. Have a family.”
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