Read Online My Pirate Lover by Lexie Stewart - Free Book Online Page A

doing o’er here? I thought ye’d be on Ripple Thief, drinkin’ yerself up to pukin’!”
    “Didn’t think I’d forget me old mates back here, did ya?” said Lenny. “See, I bought ye something’. Fancy a wee sip, do ya?”
    Burke gave an affirmative growl and Josephine heard the squeaky twist and pop of a cork.
    “Why, it’s naught but wa-”
    There was a thump. Josephine peeked around the corner to see that Burke was sprawled on his face.
    “Ye didn’t think I’d waste perfectly good grog on you, did ya?” said Lenny, searching his ex-comrade for the keys.
    Josephine ran down the aisle to Lance. Lenny had warned her of the condition they would find him in. Captain Bloody had left orders for his crew to make sure Lance’s life was particularly awful and they had gleefully obliged.
    Water and rest had been withheld from him and terrible red welts criss-crossed his back. He was dripping with blood and sweat and seemed barely aware of his surroundings.
    When he was freed from the shackles he fell back against Josephine and lay with his head in her lap while his newly liberated men gathered around.
    “Oh, Lance. What have they done to you?” Josephine asked, stroking his matted hair.
    “You’re one of Bloody’s men,” said Lance, peering at Lenny. He looked at Josephine. “You switched sides?”
    “Not her,” said Lenny. “Begging your pardon, it’s me what’s swapped sides.” He squared up his narrow shoulders and said, “I mutinied!”
    “I think he’s telling the truth,” said Josephine. “If not for him I’d still be on the island and you’d still be in chains.”
    “It’s all too late,” moaned Lance, letting his eyes flutter closed. “I shan’t rise again. So ends Captain Breakheart, in the bowels of his enemy’s ship.”
    Most of the men didn’t have hats to take off so they took off their bandanas instead and held them over their hearts.
    “What?” said Josephine. “You’re just giving up?”
    “I‘m spent. It‘s over,” sighed Lance.
    “Captain Bloody has won then,” said Josephine. “He’ll use his future toys to make the world think he’s a god.” She sighed and shook her head. “I guess he’s Ripple Thief’s captain now.”
    “Stop, stop,” moaned Lance, but Josephine persisted.
    “He won’t bother to keep her clean, you know. He’ll toss all your books into the sea. He’ll read your log. He’ll make a mess of your cabin. He’ll try on all your clothes and rip the seams. Oh, and he’ll probably finish what he started with me.”
    Lance’s eyes grew wide like those of a tortured man.
    “Oh, yes,” said Josephine, almost conversationally. “He’ll do whatever he pleases with me. And he’ll do it in your bed!”
    “Why are you saying these things?”
    “I’m just telling you what a Lance-less world will be like.”
    “Josie…” moaned Lance.
    Josephine’s tone turned serious. “The world needs you, Lance. Your crew need you.” She bit her lower lip and added softly, “I need you.”
    Lance stopped moaning and stared up at Josephine. A spark ignited in his eyes.
    Slowly, painfully, he moved. He raised his head, bent his knees and pushed himself to his feet.
    From where Josephine sat, Lance looked like a statue righting itself.
    Lance raised his chin and squared up his broad shoulders.
    The men cheered. They had their captain back.
    Josephine handed Lance his sword. His fingers slid like snakes beneath the four bars that swept upwards around the tang.
    Lenny draped a waistcoat over Lance’s shoulders like a cape. Whether by luck or intuition, he’d brought the red one.
    Oh yes, thought Josephine, looking at the fierce glow in Lance’s eyes, the day of reckoning had come.
    #
    The galley slaves’ joy at their liberation was somewhat deflated when their captain ordered them to, ‘sit down and start rowing you squid-eyed crustaceans!’.
    Lance’s reasoning was that if Captain Bloody or any of his pirates saw the oars had stopped,