I sucked in adeep breath and gathered up all the nerves I could muster beforeopening the door and entering his quarters. I walked over to hisdesk where he sat and set down the tray of soup and dumplings.
“Lunch isready. You didn’t come down with the crew, so I thought I’d bringit up to you.”
He stoodand peered into the bowl. “Well, then. This is a pleasantsurprise.” His sleazyeyes lifted and cascaded down my body. “A pleasant surprise,indeed.”
He moved andsauntered around to the front of the desk where I stood, his grimygaze still sizing me up. With what I knew, it was hard to tell ifhe wanted to have his way with me or eat me. Probably both. Isquashed down the bile that threatened to rise and spread on a weaksmile.
“Well, Ihope you enjoy it,” I told him and pretended to turn andleave.
“Where ismy dear brother?” the captain asked. “He’s not hovering overyou.”
I turned backaround. “He’s downstairs, waiting for me on the mess deck.”
“Whydon’t you stay a while,” he offered.
“I reallyshould get–”
Like a dart,his hand whipped out and grabbed mine. “Please, I insist.”
I noted hisshelf overflowing with books. “Well, perhaps just for a moment. Ihad been hoping to ask you about your collection of books. I’d lovesomething good to read.”
Surprised, theman moved aside and let me pass. “By all means, take what youwish.”
Oh, I will, I thought to myself.
I pretended toscan the titles with interest while attempting to ignore the warmthof his heavy breath on my shoulder. I felt a hand caress the backof my neck as my hair pushed to one side and a shiver crept up myspine. I tilted my head and gave him a shy smile to mask my disgustwith desire.
“Such abeautiful woman, you are,” he told me.
“Thankyou,” I replied and plucked a book from the shelf before backingaway toward the desk again. I set the book down and flipped itopen, pretending to examine its contents.
Captain Cookcame and sat down in his chair at my side. He leaned forward andplaced a hand on my thigh before slowly moving it up my body,caressing my curves with a slow hunger. Suddenly, he grew too eagerand grabbed both my hands, pulling me toward him.
Keep ittogether, Dianna.
“I’mlucky the heavens saw fit to spit you out on my island.”
“Well,I’m just lucky they saw fit to let me live.”
I allowed theman to take me close and then eyed the giant green gem that hungfrom his neck. Reluctantly, I took a seat on the captain’s lap andwrapped my hands around his greasy neck. It took everything in meto maintain the act, to project a sense of want rather than thepile of disgust I felt for the man.
“That’s agood girl,” he cooed and tipped his head up to kiss me.
I swiftlydodged the advance and nestled my face into his shoulder. Thepirate stunk like decades-old body odor, but it was better thanletting his rotting mouth touch mine. I feigned a nuzzle to hisneck while my able fingers gently fiddled with the ties of thenecklace. If I could just get it undone, I could slip the gem intomy pocket without him even noticing.
But the pirategrabbed hold of my hands, tearing them away from their task, andthen stood up from his chair. The captain walked to the bed,pushing me back toward it. I began to panic. My heart beat fiercelyand my mind raced to think of a way to prolong what was happening.Suddenly, the siren’s heart fell from his neck and hit the floorwith a loud plunk. The captain glanced down and then glared up atme with a new kind of hunger in his eyes.
“What’sthis?” he bellowed. “Trying to steal my treasure, areyou?”
Part of me wasrelieved that I could drop the act. I yanked the dagger from myside and pointed the tip at his face. “Back up, mister.” Slowly, hedid as I said, and I bent down to fetch the heart. “I’m leavingyour cursed ship today and returning this gem to where itbelongs.”
Hiseyebrows raised, but he was still furious. The unhinged fire in hiseyes said as much. “You shall not be going anywhere. That’s mytreasure. I stole it fair‘nsquare. I gave up my life to have it!”
I advanced,tightening the grip on my weapon. “And what good did that do?You’ve been trapped here for a hundred years, Abraham! And youdoomed your crew to carry the burden of your curse. Let me set themfree.”
A deep,guttural roar erupted from his body and he charged for me. I swungmy blade at his neck, but the man swatted my hand with his baseballbat arm and it fell to the floor. His thick, solid body crushed meagainst the tall bedpostand I cried out in pain as my spine took the brunt of theforce. I gathered up the strength to thrust a heavy kick to hisgroin and sent him reeling back in breathless pain. Takingadvantage of the brief opportunity, I bent down to fetch my dagger.But the captain was relentless. Before I could blink, a fist cameflying upward and smashed into my face, sending me flat on my back.My ears pounded with the thwomp of blood rushing to myhead.
I tried toshake out the dizziness that filled my brain and watched as myattacker triumphantly bent to scoop up both my dagger and the gem.I winced in pain as I inched away from his advancing boots. Hestopped at my face and pointed the dagger right at me.
“No oneis takin’ my treasure,” he muttered and drew circles in the airwith the tip of my blade. “I was goin’ to save you for a while.Keep you alive. I’ve been wanting something to play with.”He squat down andtouched the tip to my cheek. Droplets of spit touched my skin as hespoke, “But I think I’ll just have Pleeman chop you up for dinnerinstead. Been a while since me men had a good meatytreat.”
Suddenly, thedoor flew open. It was Pleeman. A pistol in his frail hand. “Getaway from her, Captain.”
“Getoutta here, old man,” the captain warned menacingly.
Pleeman raisedthe pistol. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Sir.”
Angrily, Cookjumped to his
