Authors: Rebecca Hart
She had the good sense to remain silent, but made her displeasure known when she balled her hands into fists at her sides.
“For now, I am captain and you will listen. You won’t bunk with the men for a number of reasons. The least of which being your gender and the fact that a man would have to be blind to not see you for what you are. Harris’s men may have been stupid, but I assure you, your father’s are not. We also have plans to make with respect to hunting down your father’s murderer, and I for one would like those plans to remain private. Most important, I thought you might appreciate some privacy while you go through your father’s things and a reason to spend the time here doing so.”
At her stunned expression, he continued. Who knew when she would remain silent this long again? “On a related note, I think you should consider telling the crew the truth about who you are. If you really plan to sail with them after this voyage, take over for your father, it’d be in your best interest to use this time to earn their trust. Show them Ellie Winters is capable of being their captain.”
“I’ll consider it. Speaking of my father, when were you going to tell me it was my fault he died?”
Daniel blinked. “How the hell did you come to that preposterous conclusion?”
“I read the log entry for the day of the attack. You followed us to Gibraltar. We were even in the city at the same time. If he hadn’t been chasing me, he wouldn’t have been there.”
“We’ve been tracking you for years, Ellie. Believe me, it had nothing to do with why we were attacked.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You know why you were attacked?”
Jashir’s laughing face flashed in Daniel’s mind. His jaw twitched. “I not only know why, I know right where to find the bastard.”
Chapter Fourteen
How can he be so sure?
Ellie’s eyes widened. “You know him, don’t you?”
“I know who he is, yes. Your father knew him. The man who shot him was a business associate. Their affiliation had nothing to do with you.”
Could he be more cryptic?
Ellie moved around the desk, taking her time while she collected her thoughts. She settled in her father’s chair. Despite the hardness of it, sitting there, in her father’s place, soothed her spirit. Ellie took a deep breath, leaned on her elbows, and leveled a cold stare at Daniel. “Stop being coy. I’m not the little girl you fished out of the ocean anymore. I can take care of myself and I don’t need you to shield me from the truth. What kind of business associate?”
Daniel strode to the other side of the desk and dropped into the upholstered chair facing her. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you that.”
Her fists crashed down onto the desk. “Are you insane?”
He had the nerve to grin, sending shards of anger through her limbs. “Not that I’m aware of.”
The only thing she found more infuriating than his flippant attitude was her heartbeat’s reaction to the way his wide smile changed his face, softened it. The twinkle in his eyes sparked a chord of familiarity, a sense of comfort. She shook it off and clung to her annoyance. “You think this is funny?”
His smile faded, the teasing light left his eyes. “No, not really. I’m sorry, Ellie. I can tell you everything except what business your father had with Jashir.”
“Jashir? Is that the bastard’s name?” A tingle raced along her spine. Something about the name was familiar. She searched her memory. Where had she heard it before?
Daniel nodded, folding his hands in his lap. “Yes.”
“Why can’t you tell me the rest? Did you promise Papa?”
“No, but I did swear an oath I can’t break. One I know your father would also expect me to keep.” He straightened in his seat. “You don’t need to know why they were acquainted to avenge your father. I promise to help you in any way I can.”
“It doesn’t appear I have much choice in the matter.” Ellie huffed. “You can tell me where to find this Jashir?”
“Yes.”
She gathered her brow. Why did he have to be so contradictory? “And you’re willing to aid me in killing him? Because make no mistake, Daniel, I’ll not rest until I have spilled his blood and watched the life drain from his murderous eyes.”
His brown eyes hardened. “If you didn’t, I would. Captain Winters was like a father to me. I want that cur dead as much as you do.”
His words relieved some of the weight on her shoulders, thought she’d never admit as much to him. “Good. So where do we find him?”
“He calls Gibraltar home. He won’t be hard to find, but getting close to him might pose a problem. Jashir is well-connected and very well guarded. The Spaniards ignore his activities because he keeps their pockets well lined.”
Ellie rubbed her temples.
Great.
“Where does the money come from?”
Daniel hesitated, quirked a brow. “Any imaginable dark place. He has his hand in everything from politics to slave trading and is much more dangerous than a mere pirate.”
Needles of grief stabbed her flesh as she thought about her father, raising gooseflesh. She centered on her rage, using it to melt the pain. “Let me guess. You can’t tell me why he’d want to kill my father.”
“You’re getting good at this.” Daniel manufactured a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Ellie rolled her eyes. “So glad to hear it.” What could her father have been involved in that would warrant an assassination? Not likely Daniel would be providing that information.
Her gaze flitted to the pile of books and papers strewn about the floor. The logbook might have the answers she sought. Had Daniel considered that? Maybe that was why he wanted her to stay there, so he could keep an eye on her. Ellie leaned back in the chair.
A deep chuckle rumbled from Daniel. “You must be terrible at cards. I can see the thoughts chasing through your head.”
Her cheeks burned.
“I’m not the enemy, Ellie, quite the opposite. I have no desire to interfere with your investigations. Just because I can’t tell you the whole truth about your father doesn’t mean I don’t think you deserve to know it.”
She’d never met anyone more confusing in her life. Brow furrowed, she watched him from the corner of her eye as she bent, picked up the logbook, and deposited it on the desk. Her gaze caught on a dolphin carving, reminding her of the matching figurine nestled in her pocket. She removed the whale replica and held it out to Daniel. “Do you know where Papa got this?”
***
Daniel’s cheeks flushed. Why the hell would she ask that? He plucked the carving from her hand. “I gave it to him. It’s a terrible likeness.”
Her eyes widened. “You made it?”
He shrugged, studied the figure. His throat constricted as thoughts of the man he’d looked upon as a father rushed in to crowd his mind. “They were my way of repaying him.” He pretended he didn’t hear his voice crack.
Ellie searched his face, gnawed her lower lip. A smile pulled at her cheeks. “I think they’re adorable. How many did you give him?”
The way Ellie’s smile lit her blue eyes sent a jolt of heat down to his toes and scrambled his thoughts. “Just the two.” As soon as the words passed his lips, Daniel realized his mistake. The carving he’d given to a spindle-legged little girl years earlier flashed through his mind.
Does she still have it?
His eyes drifted to the logbook resting beneath her folded arms. No doubt Winters was smarter than to write anything down that might reference their covert operations, but he wasn’t as sure it contained nothing about the captain’s knowledge of his own secrets.
Tension took root between Daniel’s shoulder blades. If she noticed a similarity between the two pieces, she’d be sure to start asking questions he wasn’t prepared to answer. He needed a cover story—fast. “I did carve one other, my first attempt actually, but I lost it through a hole in my pocket before I could ever give it to your father. It was a pretty poor imitation of a swimming seal.”
Ellie slid her hands along the cover of the logbook, leaning back in her chair. “Oh, that’s too bad,” she said finally. She rubbed her chin, eyes slowly scanning the large compartment. “I’ve decided to accept your offer to stay here on the journey back to Newquay.” Her eyes settled on him. “It’s a smart idea, and will make it much easier to hide my gender. I appreciate your suggestion earlier, but I’m not prepared to tell the crew the truth. Not yet.”
Daniel tucked away his disappointment. He’d abide by her choice. “You can have the bunk. I’ll take the floor.”
Ellie shook her head. “That’s ridiculous. You’re the captain. If anyone happened to come in and find us arranged that way, they’d know something was amiss. No, we have to play our roles properly. I’ll bunk on the floor.” She inclined her head toward the corner of the cabin. “I can probably sleep in that chair comfortably enough.”
For the first time since he’d offered, Daniel really considered the implications of sharing a living space with Ellie. His eyes drifted from her face, along the curve of her neck, dipped to the opening of her shirt, traced her collarbone. He wondered what her breasts would look like unbound. How her fiery curls would look if she’d let them grow long and flowing, like they used to be.
The image of Ellie in bare feet sporting nothing more than a wide smile sent a rush of blood south. He shifted, trying to hide the sudden tightness in his breeches. Daniel ran nervous fingers through his hair.
What have I gotten myself into?
Chapter Fifteen
To Daniel’s dismay, Ellie decided it would be best if she slept fully clothed. When it became clear she even planned to keep her boots on, Daniel put his foot down and insisted she remove them. After a surprisingly short battle, she acquiesced.
Grumbling the entire time, Ellie set the boots within arm’s reach by the front leg of her cushioned perch. After a bit of squirming about for what she called a proper “comfy spot”, she’d finally fallen asleep.
Curled up in the lounger, her knees wedged against the upholstered arm and feet tucked against her bottom, Ellie was the picture of tranquility. Soft red curls framed her heart-shaped face and long dusty lashes nestled against her flushed cheeks. Little pooh sounds blew past her barely parted lips with rhythmic regularity.
Daniel watched the steady rise and fall of her chest and the all too familiar urge to protect her surged within him. How could he let her charge after Jashir? She had no idea what the man was capable of, or how hard it would be for any of them to get within striking distance. He knew if he refused to aid her, she’d only find another way to hunt him down. Only he’d not be around to save her should she run into danger. Daniel ran frustrated fingers through his hair. No. He’d have to stay close while she risked life and limb in her need for vengeance.
He sighed and tore his gaze from Ellie, refocusing it on the logbook lying open before him. Dawn would arrive in just a few more hours, and he had about half still to read through. He couldn’t take the chance the captain had written anything that might reveal Daniel’s cursed bloodline to his daughter. Just the idea of Ellie learning the truth turned his blood to ice. She’d never forgive him.
Daniel read the same log entry for the fourth time, words blurring together by the time he got to the end of the paragraph. With a grunt, he pushed up from the desk. Maybe some air would clear his head.
Careful steps carried him silently around the desk and across the darkened room. Once outside, he inhaled a chest full of the crisp night air and lifted his face to the starry sky. Moonlight peeked through the smattering of clouds to illuminate the deck of
The Siren’s Call
. His skin itched as the song of the waves lapping against the ship’s hull penetrated his consciousness. He ached to dive beneath the inky depths and feel the rush of water over his skin.
An entire year had passed since he’d changed form for a full moon cycle, as his blood curse demanded. When they reached port, he’d have no choice but to transform. He didn’t know when he might have another opportunity. Ellie would be busy for weeks settling her father’s estate and tending to her mother. Knowing Mrs. Winters the way Daniel did, he doubted she’d let Ellie out of her sight once she laid eyes on her again. Plus, the damage to
The Siren’s Call’s
mainmast would need to be repaired and her coffers restocked. As he let the idea sink in, a smile stretched his lips. His fingers wrapped around the rail. His gaze scanned the breakers chasing them toward their destination.
Just a little while longer.
***
Ellie stood against the bulwark and squinted across the sun-kissed breakers toward the approaching shoreline.
Home.
Her fingers tightened around the top rail as Newquay came into view. Excitement tightened her chest while tiny fingers of panic tickled the back of her neck. Her emotions pulled her in two directions, caught between her joy at being home for the first time in five years, and utter terror at having to tell her mother that Papa was dead. Ellie couldn’t imagine Mama surviving without Papa. He was her life.
Ellie blinked away the tears burning her eyes and cursed her weakness.
“You all right, El?” Nelson placed his warm hand over hers. “You’re looking rather pale.”
Ellie tried for a reassuring smile. “I was thinking about my mother. Her entire life revolved around Papa. Getting his things ready for when he set sail, doing all that was needed while he was away. Her every action and thought seemed to revolve around what’d make Papa the happiest or most comfortable. I can’t remember her ever doing a single thing for herself. I’m worried she’ll be completely lost without him.”
“There’s little sense worrying over things that have yet to happen, child. Give your ma some credit. If she’s anything at all like her daughter, she’ll hold up just fine.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Do you want me to come along?”
“No. I’m afraid this is something I need to do on my own.”
Nelson turned and glanced over his shoulder at Daniel standing on the quarterdeck with Jacobs. “What about him?”