Read Online In the Arms of a Pirate (A Sam Steele Romance Book 2) by Michelle Beattie - Free Book Online

Caribbean and he had the gall to look down on him ?
    “It’s nothing as simple as silver and gold, I assure you.”
    “How can we be expected to cooperate if we know nothing of who you are or what you are after?”
    Aidan fixed his eyes on Sarah’s. “I’ll tell you what I’m after, your father.”
    “My father? Why?”
    He ignored her question. “And you’re going to help me.”
    “Help you, how?”
    “By coming with me.”
    Sarah’s eyes widened. “You’re here to steal me?”
    “It’s the only way I can be certain your father will come.”
    The younger, meeker maid wrapped her arms around her middle and sniffled.
    “Let me be clear,” he said, addressing them all. “It’s Roche I am after, nobody else. No harm will come to you or Sarah if you all do as we say.”
    “And we’re to take the word of common thieves?” The butler sneered.
    “Once I have Roche, I will see to it Sarah is returned, unharmed. Until then, you may resume your daily lives.”
    With a nod to Chunk, the big man stepped to the butler’s chair and dropped a meaty palm onto the bony man’s shoulders. The butler shut his mouth, which was enough for Aidan. He could ignore the daggers shooting from both the old man’s and the old maid’s glares. He could appreciate Jacob’s seething as he’d be doing the same in the man’s position but the arguing was wearing on him.
    “What do you want with my father?”
    His gaze flicked to Sarah’s. “That is a matter between us.”
    “As your intent is to steal me from my home, I’d say it involves me as well.”
    “I’m not interested in what you have to say,” Aidan returned before signaling for Lucky. “How’s the cellar?”
    “Small, dark and putrid.”
    “A locking door?”
    “Aye, Cap’n.”
    “Excellent. That’ll do them for the night. By the time the morning staff finds them, we’ll be well under way.”
    Jacob leapt from his chair and, head down, rammed into Jack. Jack grunted and the two men stumbled into the cupboards. Dishes rattled, glasses wobbled, tipped and crashed to the floor. Jacob was a solid man but Jack had been a pirate for many years and he clearly had more fighting experience. Still, Jacob managed a solid crack into Jack’s jaw before Jack swung out, kicked the man’s knee. Jacob howled in pain and Jack pressed his advantage. In seconds, Jacob was on the floor cursing while Jack twisted one of his arms behind his back.
    “You don’t have to take Miss Sarah! Mr. Santiago is expected for her birthday, the day after tomorrow!” burst the timid maid.
    “Emma!” Sarah scolded. “Not another word!”
    Aidan couldn’t believe his good fortune. He’d thought it could be weeks, months before Roche came home, learned of his daughter’s fate, and began the hunt to come after her. But hardly more than a day and half until he could have his revenge? His lips curled into a smile and he couldn’t help taunting Sarah.
    “It appears we will both be receiving gifts on your birthday.”
    *
    Morning couldn’t come fast enough to suit Sarah, though the darkness of the cellar prevented her from seeing the hand before her face, let alone the time of day. Still, as much as the little space allowed, she paced. Paced and thought, considered and weighed. The captain would never be mistaken for a gentleman. It was more than the nearly shoulder-length, blond hair she’d seen beneath the bandana he’d tied around his head. More than the well-worn, black boots and the swagger of a man who’d spent hours at sea. It was the wildness hovering behind the golden brown eyes.
    He could be mean; she had little doubt, as Jacob had spoken of his proficiency with the bow in the backyard. Yet, he’d let them all have use of the bedpan prior to locking them up and he hadn’t hurt Simmons when he’d let the captain know, in no uncertain terms, whom awaited him on his death. He was patient, she concluded, and not without heart.
    They had a whole day before her father was