Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 163328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 817(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 817(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
It was a beautiful thing to watch—the two of them together, thrusting, grunting, and putting those mouthwatering muscles to practical use. Their physiques were so much more than just an indulgence for the female eye. Strong as oxen and skilled with weaponry, together, they were a mighty force to reckon with.
How did they know each other? Had they met through Ashley’s sister, Arabella?
I desperately just wanted to take a moment and appreciate the view, soak them in, and commit every gorgeous detail to memory. But as Ashley’s blade came up and knocked the blackguard’s dagger from his hand, I knew they had it under control.
Turning toward the door, I headed out to look for Madwulf. If he was already off the sand and on his way to the ship, I’d let him go. But I also needed to see who was lingering out there and clear the perimeter for escape.
Clutching tight to the hilt of the cutlass, I crept on silent feet and picked through the sounds of waves crashing on the shore, seagulls screeching overhead, and in the distance, Madwulf’s crew laughing on the ship.
I cautiously stepped over the threshold, my senses on high alert. The angle of the doorway faced away from Blitz. I needed to round the corner to view it.
“Priest…Ashley,” I whisper-hissed over my shoulder. “Let’s go.”
A muffled feminine cry hit my ears, spiraling tingles across my scalp.
The sound came from around the side of the cottage, garbled as if a hand was smothering her mouth. Then another wail joined in, higher-pitched, younger, female.
A child.
My heart felt the chill of winter in Carolina, my limbs frozen in horror. I hadn’t had time to ponder what might have become of the women on this island, but I was about to see it firsthand.
With a shake, I pulled myself from the grip of fear and started forward. Until a hand grabbed the back of my shirt.
Over my shoulder, I found Ashley’s eyes harder than I’d ever seen them, his teeth bared now that the gag was gone. Beside him, Priest’s mean mouth anchored itself in a scowl.
I didn’t have to tell them to listen. The sounds of crying grew closer, louder. Seconds later, Madwulf emerged from around the corner, dragging a petite blond girl who couldn’t have been older than thirteen.
With a fist in her hair and a knife against her tiny throat, he jerked his chin at something out of view.
Footsteps advanced. Pirates rounded the corner, and I found myself staring at the six or so men who had left the cottage only minutes ago. One of them restrained a sobbing woman in her thirties, presumably the child’s mother, with his hand covering her mouth.
My hopes for escape sank like a burning ship to the bottom of the sea.
I tightened my grip on the cutlass. Priest and Ashley flanked me, fisting knives in both hands.
“What do you want?” Ashley shifted closer and slightly in front of me as if preparing to shove me back. “You already have my ship and my soldiers. My career is ruined. I won’t be able to show my face in London again. My life is over.”
He didn’t cant the words in a whining, pompous voice. He spoke coldly in a tone he reserved for low-ranking servants. Or for fools who made the mistake of inciting the murderous side of his unseemly manners.
“Your life isn’t over,” Madwulf said, “until your head is separated from your body. Set down your weapons.” He wrenched hard on the girl’s hair, making her sob. “Or this pretty little lass won’t see her next sunrise.”
The mother shrieked behind the pirate’s hand, her fear trickling sparks of pain through my chest. Madwulf hadn’t made a hollow threat. His eyes burned with vindictive anticipation in cutting the child while we watched.
With effort, I loosened my grip on the cutlass enough to drop it. But Priest and Ashley didn’t move.
“Do it,” I said to them. “He’ll kill her.”
The potent masculine energy on either side of me held still.
Twisting my neck, I found Priest staring furiously at me with those blade-sharp eyes. Yes, he despised this as much as I did. But he didn’t have to hammer the point home with his withering, belligerent glare.
I refused to back down and returned his scowl with one of my own.
At last, with an enraged grunt, he surrendered his weapons.
Meeting the same resistance with Ashley, I stood my ground until he dropped his blades. Between the two of them, I’d never seen such torment. It was true that, disarmed and defenseless, our chances of survival were slim to none. But I had a plan.
“Release the girl, Madwulf.” I crossed my arms, shielding the rapid rise and fall of my chest. “We did what you asked.”
Without warning, a new swarm of pirates spilled out from around both sides of the cottage. All at once, we were overrun with nowhere to go. The hostile mob fell upon us too fast, with too many weapons. Some held us down. Others restrained our arms with rope.