Vengeance (The Pirate Series)

by Bec Botefuhr

  “Damn, that was spicy!”

  The night goes on until I am exhausted and slumping in a chair. Being pregnant sure does take it out of a woman. My eyelids droop. Jax kneels in front of me and I whine.

  “Hey, you had enough mate?”

  “Yeah.” I whisper.

  “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”

  He scoops me into his arms and takes me back to the hut. I am out as soon as my head hits the pillow. When I wake in the morning Jax is out to the count beside me. I smile, so happy to have my husband back. I get out of bed, remembering we are going on a cruise. I haven’t packed a thing. I slide out of bed and shower. When I am packed and dressed, I sneak out of the hut to find Jack. He is sitting in the dining room drinking coffee.

  “Hey angel.”

  “Hey Jack, are you going to be taking Lilly to moms?”

  “She is coming here.”

  “My mother is coming to an island?”

  He laughs. “She was quite excited about it.”

  I snort. “I find that so hard to believe.”

  “The plane will arrive at lunch time.”

  “And you will be here, with the crew?”

  He smiles and stands. “Angel, Lilly will be fine. We are all here.”

  I nod and take a deep breath. “Well I am going to see her. Thanks so much Jack.”

  He kisses my cheek. “Anytime.”

  I head to Lilly’s hut and find her playing a Nintendo. I smile and sit on the bed beside her.

  “Hey baby, are you excited to see Grandma?”

  She smiles and puts the game down. “Yeah, I am going to miss you and daddy.”

  “We will call every day, and I will bring you back a really funky present.”

  “Really?” She chirps.

  “Yep, what do you think you would like?”

  She thinks a while. “I don’t know, something from the cool ship.”

  “I can do that.”

  Jax walks in then, his hair all disheveled from sleep.

  “Now there are my two favorite girls.”

  “Hi daddy.”

  I smile and stand, kissing him smack on the lips. “Hey handsome.”

  “Handsome? I have gone up in the world.”

  I laugh and shove him. “I will meet you at the ship ok?”

  “Yeah baby.”

  I hug Lilly, one too many times and kiss her furiously.

  “Be good and listen to grandma, and if you get scared call us.”

  “I will mom.” She smiles, rolling her eyes at Jax who winks at her.

  I leave before I change my mind. I get Jax’s bag and my own, then trod to the ship. Layla and PJ are already waiting. When I step on, old feelings of warmth rush over me. I smile.

  “This ship rocks!” Layla grins, looking gorgeous in a yellow summer dress.

  “It does, doesn’t it? We are going to have so much fun.”

  “Oh yeah we are!”

  Jax arrives half an hour later, looking gorgeous in his pirate get up.

  “Let’s roll.”

  “You look bad ass Jax.” Layla laughs.

  He grins and takes my hand. “That’s because I am.”

  “So, what time does this cruise ship leave?” I ask.

  “Tomorrow morning.”

  “Yay.” I grin.

  “Well, let’s get this ship out then we have the whole day to drink.” Jax grins.

  “I don’t.” I pout.

  “I will drink for you.”

  “Ass.”

  He laughs and kisses my head. He walks over to the wheel, and I sit with PJ and Layla, grinning and laughing. We spend a whole night doing just that, it feels so gratifying to catch up with them. When we arrive at the cruise ship the next morning, I am like a giddy child. It is massive, with levels and levels of entertainment, restaurants, shops, pools; you name it. Layla and I squeal and run off with our men’s cards, spending up and enjoying just being girls.

  Jax and PJ spend hours by the pool, drinking and being men. No doubt ogling women. We all go out to dinners, enjoy swimming and a little gambling. I am having the time of my life; nothing could beat this moment with my favorite people. One night, three days into the cruise, we are preparing to go out to dinner in our adjoining rooms. I am standing beside the mirror, curling my hair when Jax walks up beside me.

  “You look gorgeous.”

  I smile at him in the glass. “Thanks.”

  “How long till baby boy comes out?”

  I snort. “A few months.”

  “I…don’t know what to expect.”

  I turn to him, realizing he hasn’t experienced birth or a baby before. I touch his cheek affectionately.

  “Birth is a little daunting, and I will likely scream like a bitch.”

  He snorts.

  “It isn’t so bad though, and a baby is hard…they cry a lot…but it is worth it.”

  He smiles. “I kind of want to do it you know? Pirate or not, being a dad is something every man should get to experience.”

  Before I can answer, shrill alarms fill the room. I glance at Jax, who quickly rushes over to the hall and looks out. People are rushing down the halls frantically. Layla comes bursting in, followed by PJ.

  “Fire?” I ask.

  “No, apparently not.” PJ says.

  “I am going to check what’s going on.” Jax says.

  “No Jax, we should stay together.”

  We hear a ring of shots go off, and my heart freezes. Who would need to shoot on a ship? Jax reefs his gun from the bedside table and tosses a spare to PJ.

  “That didn’t sound good.”

  “Should we stay here?” I whisper, feeling my heart beginning to pound.

  “OH MY GOD, PIRATES!” I hear a woman scream from the hall.

  Jax’s eyes meet mine, and we both know exactly what is going on.

  “Ben.” We say at the same time.

  “Shit.” Jax roars.

  “What do we do?”

  “He will shoot this fucking ship down until he finds us. We have to get off.”

  “It’s too dangerous Jax!”

  “Fuck, I don’t want the entire ship to die because of us.”

  “What do we do then?”

  “We need to get out of this room, getting off this ship is smart Jade, he is likely to blow the bloody thing.”

  “I think he is right.” PJ says.

  “Come on.”

  We follow Jax through the mobs and mobs of screaming people, desperate to get up on deck. When we get up, it is frantic; people are running about everywhere and screaming madly. I see Ben’s ship in the dark water. Pirates are swinging over, shit. Jax grips my arm and swings me around behind him just in time, a shot zooms past my head.

  “Ben, we got him.”

  Suddenly, we are surrounded by pirates. Ben steps forward grinning wickedly; I tremble and Jax squeezes my hand.

  “Well well, thought you got rid of me did you?”

  “What do you want Ben?” Jax snarls.

  “You know what I want.”

  “I don’t have the treasure.”

  “Perhaps, but you know where to get it.”

  “Mack has likely destroyed it by now!”

  “I know that isn’t true, and so do you.”

  I glance at Jax, who is forcing himself not to change in front of all these people.

  “Drop your guns.” A voice booms and I see about thirty of the cruise ship men, lining up with guns. Thank God.

  Ben turns and grins wickedly at the men. “We aren’t here to cause any trouble men.”

  “Leave Ben.” Jax growls.

  “Not without warning, I will get my treasure, mark my words. If I have to bring it to the surface I will.”

  “What are you talking about?” I snarl.

  “Well, it heals does it not? It causes immortality? Fine, I will give your daddy dearest a reason to bring it home, and when he does, I will hunt you down. You can’t hide on that island forever, if you don’t g
et it to me I am sure I can find a way to force it out of you.”

  Ben raises his gun and shoots, I expect the blow to hit me, but it doesn’t. Jax stumbles backwards and blood spurts from his chest. I scream and drop to my knees when his body falls to the ground.

  “Now, if you want to save him, get your father to bring that treasure. This time girl, don’t try and run from me, I WILL find someone you love to kill. Men, let’s go.”

  Guns fire in all different directions as the pirates swing back to the ship. The men on the cruise ship shoot frantically, with no result. The pirate ship is gone in minutes. I turn my attention to Jax; whose eyes are closed. Oh God, no. I need my gift right now, and I don’t have it. I shake Jax, but he doesn’t move. I don’t even realize I am screaming until Poseidon drops beside me and feels his pulse.

  “He is alive, just. Call for help.” He orders the officers.

  “We already have, we need to get him looked at.”

  I watch sobbing, as they take a slumping Jax and carry him away. I follow only because Layla has my arm and is pulling me. I can’t hear, can’t think. All I can do is sob. Doctors rush Jax into the medical room and I am left sitting and trembling.

  “The pirate was right, this will force Mack to bring the treasure back. Jade, it might be the only thing to save Jax. It isn’t looking good.” PJ says gently.

  “What if we don’t have the time?”

  “The quicker he gets here the better; we don’t know what will happen but if Jax lives, we need Mack here.”

  “I…I…can I have your phone?”

  PJ hands me his phone, and I tremble as I dial. I feel sick.

  “PJ, how are you mate?” Mack says, when he answers.

  “Daddy.” I choke.

  “Jade?”

  “Daddy, I need your help.”

  “Oh angel, my angel.”

  “Jax…has been shot. He…might not live. We need the treasure daddy; it might be his only chance.”

  “What happened?”

  “Ben, he shot him to draw you out. He wants the treasure. It worked, because we need it…please daddy, I can’t lose him.”

  “Where are you?”

  “On a cruise.”

  The doctor comes out then. “He is critical; we have managed to slow the bleeding, but nothing is clear. He isn’t waking up, and that isn’t a good sign. We are having him flown to the nearest hospital in America for urgent treatment. The chopper will be here in an hour.”

  “Did you hear that?” I whisper to Mack.

  “Yeah, which hospital. We are in America.”

  “Which hospital?” I ask weakly.

  The doctor rattles off a hospital and I tell Mack, who promises to meet us when we arrive. When Jax is wheeled out, my tears and sobbing starts again. He is pale, and his skin has lost all its life. He has tubes everywhere, and his chest it bandaged up heavily. PJ and Layla are able to fly out with us, and we arrive at the hospital four hours later. Worn, hurt and devastated. Just when we thought the battle with Ben was over, we realized it is just beginning.

  CHAPTER 4

  Mack arrives half an hour after we do, when I see him again; I crumble. He catches me as I fall to my knees and wail painfully. He strokes my hair, and whispers soothing words into my ear until my wailing subsides, and I am reduced to hiccupping. PJ briefs him on what is happening, and they come up with a plan to get Jax touching the treasure without causing suspicion. I fill out Jax’s forms under a fake name, knowing as soon as he wakes we will have to run for it.

  “Baby girl, are you ready?” Mack asks.

  I nod weakly, looking up at my father who I have missed so much.

  “He isn’t out of surgery yet.” PJ says.

  “No you are right. I am going to fetch Sam from the waiting room, if that is ok.”

  I nod, feeling awful. “Dad, before you go…”

  “Don’t, not now. I know we both have a lot to talk about, and I am not angry at you. I just want it to be in the past because I have missed you Jade.”

  I nod, and fresh tears stream down my face. “I missed you too daddy.”

  “I have to tell you something though…”

  I nod, hesitantly.

  “Sam is pregnant.”

  I really thought the day he told me those words, that I would feel such jealousy, but I don’t.

  “She is?” I smile weakly.

  “Yeah, she must be as far along as you.”

  “I am really happy for you daddy. Do you know what it is?”

  “A boy.”

  “Me too.”

  He smiles and kisses my head. I am a little relived it is a boy, I always want to be my dad’s girl. Mack pulls back and disappears, coming back a moment later with Sam. After hugging and apologies, on my behalf, we all settle into the chairs.

  “I can’t believe we are both pregnant.” Sam smiles.

  “I know.” I force a smile back.

  Jax is wheeled back into his room then, and I leap to my feet. The doctor walks over and smiles weakly.

  “We got the bullet out and stopped the bleeding, there is damage to his heart. We really don’t know how well he will recover until he wakes.”

  “Can I see him?”

  “Yes, give us a moment.”

  When the nurses disappear, we all go in. Mack shuts the door and looks around.

  “We don’t have long. They do obs every half an hour.”

  He pulls out a bag and glances down at the small, round treasure he holds in his hands. He is wearing gloves, careful not to touch it. He slides it into Jax’s hand and his body jerks. I tense and stare with fascination.

  “Holy crap.” Layla breathes, speaking for the first time in hours.

  Jax’s body continues to jerk violently, and I watch as color returns to his skin. After a moment, his eyes flutter open, and I yelp. I touch his cheek and force back my tears.

  “W-w-what?” He croaks.

  “We don’t have long to explain Jax,” Mack says quickly. “Ben came on the ship, shot you and Jade called me in to heal you with the treasure. You are in the hospital, and we only have minutes to get you out.”

  Suddenly, the door opens and a nurse begins stepping through it.

  “Close your eyes.” I hiss at Jax, who quickly shuts his eyes.

  The nurses comes over and takes his blood pressure, staring oddly at the machine as she does.

  “His pressure has improved so quickly, I have never seen anything like it.”

  “He is a fighter.” I whisper, still trying to look distraught.

  “Hmmm.”

  She walks out, and I know she is going to get a doctor.

  “We have to go!”

  We help Jax stand, and he is still dazed. He looks over at me and shakes his head.

  “Are you ok?”

  “I am ok. We will talk soon. Can you walk?”

  “Yeah, I feel really good.”

  Mack snorts. “The joys of the treasure, put this on.”

  Mack pulls a shirt out of his bag and Jax rips out the drip in his arm. He quickly pulls the shirt on and we group around him as we walk out of the room. We managed to get to the lower floor before alarms go wild.

  “Run!”

  We run out the door and into the car park, sliding into Mack’s car. He zooms off, and when we are far from the hospital, we all breathe a sigh of relief.

  “Jesus.” PJ mutters.

  “Wow, that was kind of scary,” I murmur, taking Jax’s hand. “Are you ok?”

  He moves and nods. “Yeah, a bit stiff but otherwise ok.”

  “Show me your shoulder.”

  I unravel his bandage and gasp, nothing but a small red mark is left on his skin.

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah it works quickly, but Jax you are immortal now. I can change it if you want but…”

  “No.”

  I look at Jax. “You want to stay immortal?”

  “After that, yeah I do, I would like if you would consider touching it too.”r />
  I moan. “Jax, I have been gifted once. Can I think about it?”

  He nods. “Fine, but expect me to be all over you until this shit with Ben is sorted.”

  “Are we going back to the island?”

  “No, we are going to the house. We need to draw him out. You and Lilly will be under CONSTANT supervision, but hiding is not going to get rid of him.”

  “I would rather Lilly stay on the island Jax.”

  “She won’t like that.”

  “Just for a little while; a few months at the most, I will go backwards and forwards.”

  “And you don’t want to go and just let me deal with this?”

  “No, I don’t want months without you again Jax.”

  He nods but doesn’t argue. He knows it is pointless.

  “Ok, I will get some calls in and work it out.”

  “So, I guess it is home we go.”

  “We got a long drive guys, get some rest.” Mack says.

  I thank God the man has a huge car, seven seats and heaps of room. Layla and PJ are curled up on the back seat, and Jax and I are in the middle. Sam is up front with Mack.

  “Thanks daddy, for everything.”

  “Yeah, cheers Mack.”

  “No problem. There is one thing though Jax; this curse undoes all other curses you have. So you will no longer be able to change.”

  I beam, thank God.

  “That’s ok. Being undead is far better than being a monster.”

  “Just know it is something you two will have to discuss, because as of this moment Jax, you will no longer grow old, and Jade will.”

  I huff. “I will think about it later.”

  “While we are on the subject, Lilly can be cursed also and will continue to age until she is eighteen.”

  “Oh…ok.” I mutter.

  “We will talk later.” Jax whispers, squeezing my hand.

  “You scared me back there.” I choke.

  He pulls me into his arm. “I got you, we are all good darlin.”

  CHAPTER 5

  I wake in pain, actually, the pain wakes me; a sharp stabbing pain in my stomach. I have felt this pain before, when I was in labor with Lilly. My head is on Jax’s shoulder, and his breathing is steady and deep. The car is silent. I peer over at Mack, who is still driving. I sit up and groan; Jax doesn’t stir. Mack looks into the review mirror and his eyes narrow.

  “You ok baby girl?”

  “I…think I just lay still for too long.”