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“Well, I just wanted to make sure you’re good.”
“Never better, love,” he smirked, those ice blue eyes sparkling, though I detected a hint of tiredness in them he tried to hide. “But if you don’t mind, I’d be more than grateful if you could bring me another one of those…ah, what is it…Mr. Pepper drinks.”
“You mean Dr. Pepper?” I laughed, eyeing the mound of empty, crushed cans at his feet. “Sure, I’ll go get your third one today.”
“Thanks.” he winked. “Now if you could just find some rum to mix in…”
I rolled my eyes as Bellamy’s laughter faded behind me. Walking to the kitchen, I reached into the cooler to collect another soda for Bellamy. But as I walked back up the helm, I saw my mom stepping out onto the deck from her room. And I immediately regretted what I promised McKenzie I would do. Because now I felt like I would have to do everything possible to keep from having to face her again and give her answers she wasn’t ready for.
But I started singing.
11
Eighteen Sixty-Six
Bellamy
Ibreathed a sigh of exhaustion. Despite what I told Katrina, I was tired. But not from driving the ship. I was just tired of staring at nothing. Tired of thinking. Bastian was a slimy dog, with an eye always open for a bargain that benefited him. So I knew we’d have to be just as crafty at his game. I also wondered if he’d remember me. The cocky, proud son of Valdez who sniveled at the sight of him. As though we were any better than him.
For some reason, I eyed him with such disdain back then. As though he was somehow less worthy of his notoriety because he didn’t ravage and plunder on the high seas as we did. As if his way of clawing his way to the top was somehow inferior to ours. Now I realize what a lead he had on us, if he really was still alive. We were the fools. Look at which one of us came out on top without a siren’s curse damning him to hell. Well—I’m sure I’d see him in hell—but not for the same reasons. And with an easier way of getting there.
Whatever, I thought, refocusing my attention on the lush landmass in the distance. We’d be there soon. I wondered when the last time Bastian had a visitor. I doubt he’d had many from beyond the grave.
“I hope you’re all ready. I don’t know what kind of welcome we’ll receive, but I doubt it’ll be pleasant once he sees me.” I left the helm long enough to call out down below deck. McKenzie, Noah, and Katrina peered up at me.
“You’re sure he won’t kill us?” Katrina called up, holding her hands over her eyes to block the bright sun.
I chuckled, “I never said that. Besides, it’s your lad who sent us to him.”
“Like you have a better plan!” Noah shouted up. I admired his boldness and constant desire to buck the system.
“I never claimed to have a plan at all!” I flashed a grin their way before spinning around back to the helm.
As I eased the ship near the island, I quickly remembered this coast. The shoreline was an illusion, appearing easy enough to sail straight into, but in reality, it was hiding sandbars and reefs jutting up from the sea floor, making a complex path for even the most skilled sailor. If I took this yacht in, we’d be run aground in no time. No one wanted to venture near this maze of sand and sea, making it Bastian’s perfect hideout.
“Get the dinghy,” I said, shutting off the ship’s engine. I scurried to the windlass to drop anchor. “We’re here.”
“But we’re miles out,” McKenzie whined, “Look how far it is.”
“Yes, well, unless you’d like to peel back the bottom of this boat like an onion, it’s the only way to get to the island.”
I waited as Noah left to ready the dinghy, glancing between McKenzie and Katrina who seemed oddly nervous. “What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” they said in unison. I glared at them, suspicious, until my attention was captured by a fourth figure rounding the corner. Katrina’s mother.
“What is she doing awake and walking about?” I shook my head, shooting a piercing gaze toward Katrina.
“I couldn’t keep putting her under my spell, Bellamy. She deserves to know what’s going on. At least some of it.” Katrina’s desperation drowned out my concern, but I still felt uneasy about the woman being loose on the ship.
“She stays here. On the ship. The whole time.”
“Yes, that’s fine,” nodded Katrina. “McKenzie is going to stay with her.”
“That works,” I turned away, walking toward the back of the boat where Noah was lowering the dinghy into the water. “It’s not ideal, but it works.”
Katrina and I climbed down the ladder and joined Noah in the little inflatable gray raft. Its engine sputtered, hardly used to firing, it seemed, and we set off to the island.
“Careful,” I warned, watching as we slowly drifted through the shallow dips and bars threatening to snag our inflatable vessel. Weaving through the trail of twists and corners proved more difficult than I remembered, especially when the dinghy seemed so delicate compared to our sturdy wooden jolly boats of old.
