I swallowedhard as a cold sweat broke out under my arms, my heart strainingfrom the stress of the constant bursts of fear. Fear for my life.The boy I read about in that journal was long gone, and I had noidea of Devil Eyes’ mental stability. He could kill me in a second.Especially now that he was aware I knew his deepest, darkestsecret.
“Henry,I swear, I will nev–”Before I could finish, he grabbed me by the arm and forced me to myfeet, then led me to the door. I tried to pull free, but he kept afirm hold, rough and painful with no regard for my body. “Henry,please! What are you doing?”
Aforceful yank on my arm brought me close to his chest so our facesmet, and the warmth of his breath splashed across my face. “Donot ever call me that aboardthis vessel.” His eyes were wild with anger anddesperation.
I continued tobe dragged across the ship’s deck and over toward the edge whereAlfred fell to his death just hours earlier. Suddenly, I realizedwhat was happening and a fight-or-flight response set in. Istruggled against Henry’s hold, but he was like a freakingbear.
“Please!No!”
It was no use.The crew came toward us, circling in and getting ready to watch thenext show. Henry grabbed me by the waist, his two massive handslike a vice, and hoisted me up on the railing.
“Youknow too much, Dianna,” he said low enough for only me to hear. “Weneed to do something about that.”
My voiceevaded me, so I pleaded with my eyes, to tell him that the secretwas safe with me. I’d never tell a soul. I would cook their foodand keep my head down. But all I received in return was a devilishgrin as he leaned intomy face.
“Ifyou’re going to stay aboard my ship, then you need a bath,” hewhispered in my ear, his breath tickling my skin. With arms wrappedaround me, I thought, for a moment, that he was hugging me, butsoon realized that Henry had tied a rope around mywaist.
My eyeswidened with a new fear, no longer for my life. But before I couldform a response, Henry gave me a shove and I fell to the oceanbelow. Even though it was the middle of summer, the deep-sea waterwas still freezing cold and the chill hit my body like an electricshock. I clawed my way to the surface and gasped desperately forair. The force of the waves swooshed my body around as the shipdragged me along. With the breath still knocked from my lungs, Ifelt a hefty tug at my waist as they finally began to hoist me backup to the ship.
My stomachthreatened to heave the very little it contained as the thick ropedug into me. Every tug acted like a weird Heimlich Maneuver, thelast couple of yanks rubbing a little too hard against my bottomribs. Captain Barrett pulled my body over the side and let me fallto the floor like a large fish and I coughed up the salt water I’dsucked in through my nose and mouth.
I peered up atthe men who stood around me, laughing at my expense, but I stoppedat the captain and narrowed my eyes. He wanted to scare me and itworked.
“Youcould have given me some warning, you know.”
He let out agusty laugh. “Now, where would be the fun in that?” He strolledover to me and bent down, scooping me up like a drenched ragdolland putting me on my feet. “Come, I’ll get you some dry clothes.”We both headed toward his quarters as he yelled to the crew, “Getback to work. We should meet landfall in three days time.”
Once inside,he closed and locked the door behind us. I couldn’t stop theshivering that took over my body and the saltwater still burned thecavities of my nose and throat.
“I’msorry for that,” he told me. “But the men needed somethingentertaining after this morning’s events.” I watched as he rummagedthrough a large chest next to his bed. He pulled out a white blouseand a pair of black trousers, then turned to me and grinned. “Andyou did require a bath.”
“Ithought you were going to kill me,” I replied and accepted the dryclothes from him. I tried to shrug out of Maria’s jacket, but itwas soaked and heavy, and I was too cold.
“May I?”he asked. I hesitated, but then nodded, and he proceeded to peelthe drenched coat from my body and then hung it on the back of achair to dry. “And I wouldn’t kill someone without a damn goodreason.”
“I justthought… because I know your secret.”
Our bodieswere so close, and I was extremely aware of the cool air and theabsence of a bra under my soaking wet tank top. Henry’s eyesaverted to my chest, taking note of the view. I self-consciouslycovered my breasts with my free arm and took a step back.
“Just tobe clear. I’m to provide meals for the crew. Nothing more.” Henry didn’t reply, only kept hishard gaze on my shivering body, then slowly moved his stare up tomeet my eyes. “A-are we clear?”
Finally, henodded. “Yes, of course.”
When he turnedaway, I quickly changed out of my wet clothing and slipped on thedry ones. They were far too big, but I didn’t care. They were warmand dry. I grabbed the key chain from my jacket and the belt frommy jeans, tightening it around the trousers, then tied the bottomof the blouse together in a knot at my waist.
“You canturn around now.”
“Verygood.” He straightened his jacket and adjusted his black leatherhat. “I have some things to tend to, but you’re more than welcometo stay here while you finish drying and warm up. There’s freshwine and bread on the table. But don’t take too long, the men needfeeding and dinner soon approaches. You must pull your weightaround here.” Before he reached for the door, his hand came up tomy face and held my chin a little too tightly. “And I’m well awarethat you know my secret, Dianna. Do not
