“What shouldwe do with her, Amos?” Jack asked the leader as he pressed his bodyagainst my back. I could feel him getting aroused from theexcitement and it made me want to vomit.
Amos flippedmy dagger around and pressed the tip to my belly. His face twisted into an evil grin when itelicited a slight yelp from me. Did I dare tell them I was withchild? Would they care? Would it make his act of revenge evenworse?
“Can’t justkill you,” he noted. “We gotta send a message. Maybe I’ll gut youhere on the road and leave a trail of your blood back to Kelly’sIsland.”
Enough wasenough, I couldn’t defend myself against all three men. “Finn!” Iscreamed, startling the street pirates.
I took thesplit-second opportunity to raise my leg and plant a heavy foot inAmos’s stomach, pushing me back and away from the knife. Finn camebarrelling out of the wagon like a crazed animal, sword drawn, and growling as he jumped to theground with a loud thud. Jack continued to back away, still holdinghis grip on my arms.
I threw myhead back as hard as I could, knocking into his face. I could feelhis teeth cut through my scalp and my mind spun from the impact.But it worked. He let me go. I ran toward Amos, grabbed my daggerthat he’d dropped on the ground and, without a second thought,sliced through the back of his leg.
The manscreamed in pain and grabbed at his appendage as he crumbled to theground. Finn held off the other two with sheer intimidation. Theyheld their hands up in defeat and pleaded for their lives.
“Just kill me,then,” Amos told me, desperation in his tone.
“I’m not amurderer,” I replied which caused a guffaw from the man.“Seriously. I have Maria’s dagger, but I’m not part of her crew. Iswear to it.”
“Why should Ibelieve you?” he asked and winced in pain.
I sheathed myknife. “You don’t have to. But I hope that our mercy is enough toprove it. Maria would never let a soul go free and you know it.” Ibent down to his eye level. “Look, I’m sorry for what she did toyou. But she did the same to me. Trust that I despise her just asmuch as you do.” I glanced at his leg, the blood had already soakedthrough his dirty pants. “Keep this as clean as possible. Wrap ittight. You’ll be fine.” I stood and began walking back to thewagon, signaling Finn to come. Hegrunted and followed, sword still pointed at the other two men.
“I owe you adebt, then,” Amos called after me. I stopped and looked back overmy shoulder in confusion. “You spared my life, I must repay thedebt.”
I lookedat Finn, pursing my lips as Ithought about it. He leaned and whispered, “Ye could tell him tokeep his filthy mouth shut.”
I smiled andturned my attention to Amos. “AllI ask is that you never speak a word of this. To anyone.Ever.” I let out a heavy sigh. “Is that something you cando?”
Amos chuckled.“What? Keep it a secret that meand my men were taken down by a woman?” He waved me off. “Goon, get on your Jesus wagon and get outta here.”
Finn and Ihopped aboard, and I whipped the reins, signaling the horse to get going. We left the streetpirates in a cloud of sandy dust and I sighed in relief as we gotfurther and further away.
“Aye, remindme not to mess with ye,” Finn said jokingly and slid over the backof my seat to take his hiding place under the blanket. “We shouldhurry, though. Men like that aren’t likely to keep their word.”
“You don’tthink so?”
“I know theyain’t.”
I flicked thereins once again, harder, and our trusty horse picked up its pace.The ride became rough and bumpier, but we had to hurry. Time wasnot our friend.
I’m not sureit ever was.
ChapterTen
We neared the community of Cupers Cove ahead ofschedule and Finn told me to bypass the main road that entered it.The farm property where they’d been hiding was just outside of thetown, but not far. I hauled back on just one of the reigns and ourtrusty horse obeyed, taking the turn with ease. Soon, the line ofan old farmhouse appeared in the distance. Next to it, a barn,surprisingly large and covered in wood siding that had been greyed and weather from theocean.
Finn pulledback the low canopy and hauled himself over the back of my seat.“Stop here.”
I gentlyreigned in the horse and we came to a halt just outside the barn’slarge front doors. Finn hopped down and then motioned for me tofollow. We entered the dimly lit structure and I followed Finn overto the far corner where I could hear the faint hum of a voice. Aswe got closer, I could make out the low and bristly tone ofGus.
“Gus!” Icalled and ran to wrap my arms around him from behind. The man,startled, whipped around in my grip and pushed me away. But whenhis eyes widened at the sight of me, he quickly brought me back inand hugged me tightly.
“Christ,” hemuttered, “where have you been?” We broke free from oneanother and he looked to Finn. “So, you were right, then?”
“Aye,” Finnreplied. “I knew it had to be her. I was careful, though. Nobodysaw me.”
Gus nodded andthen turned his attention back to me. He never smiled, but his eyessparkled with eager curiosity. “It’s good to see ya.” He heaved abig sigh and I knew what he wanted to ask. Where did I go? Whathappened that night? But he refrained.
I smiled andnodded. “It’s good to see you, too.”
But myhappiness quickly faded when I spotted a body laying on a heap ofhay covered in linens. Charlie. I pushed past Finn and Gus to kneelat his side and
