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It was half a mile dead sprint. Lord, it had been some time since I’d had this much excitement. Bash’s reign had made everyone fearful, and while we ran more lucrative missions with my crew, there was nothing quite like being chased by the navy again. As dark as it may be.
The chaos of the village still under siege was all that had saved us on many occasions. Poor aim, as well, although the innocent scurrying of those fleeing burning buildings had also been a plus.
It wasn’t long before I began observing the skies as I kept time with Jo and Ainsley, searching for my sails.
“To the right,” I commanded Jo as I spotted the Phantom Saber hovering in the distance.
A few more buildings to pass, and then we would be sitting ducks out in the open until we reached the ropes of the ship. I silently prayed our advantage was large enough that the soldiers shouting at our backs wouldn’t catch us with a bullet the moment we were in the clear.
“Faster at the clearing,” I shouted, knowing I didn’t need to tell either woman we were about to arrive at the most difficult part of our escape.
I sprinted past the final structure, practically holding my breath now as Jo continued a weaving pattern. Smart woman.
Rek was hovering high enough that our escape would be quick, but the rope we’d jumped from was an issue. And my yelling wouldn’t be heard by Rek in time.
Ainsley noticed it as soon as I did. “How will we get to the rope, Killian?”
I racked my brain, trying to find an answer, and inhaled a deep breath, prepared to shout till my lungs ached if need be.
“Don’t worry about that,” Jo said. “Jump on three.”
“What?” Ainsley’s voice sounded at the same time mine did.
“Trust me and do it!”
Shouting broke through the row of buildings behind us, and our lull in dodging bullets had come to an end. The guns blazed and we were now tempting fate.
“One.”
I eyed the rope dangling from the skies far beyond what a jump would reach.
Ainsley’s steps hadn’t faltered in front of me, and she stayed true on course to the ropes of the Phantom Saber.
A bullet whizzed by my head close enough to tingle my eardrums.
Bloody hell, that was far too close.
“Two,” Jo shouted above the yelling and gunshots growing louder as more of the Royal Navy broke past the last few houses.
I blocked out the noises around me, waiting for Jo’s final command. A bullet ripped past me again, but this time, it hit Jo directly in her arm.
“Three,” she screamed anyway, thrusting her hands outward.
I jumped, watching Ainsley leap from the ground as well. I extended my arms, one for Ainsley’s waist and the other toward the rope ladder that swung in the sky.
Jo’s wind gusted us upward, and the three of us grasped parts of the ladder.
Jo grunted and Ainsley reached out, holding her under her arm. “I’m fine,” Jo wheezed, but Ainsley refused to let go.
“Rek, move. Go. Go now,” I yelled, tugging at the rope.
Rek’s head peeked over the side, and I could hear his cursing and hollering at the men as the ship came to life and began its ascent. The ladder wobbled, and we were in for one more hurdle before truly heading to safety. Climbing this damn thing midair while flying.
“Ainsley,” I shouted up at her. “You have to move, love.”
“A little busy here, Captain,” she retorted.
She was reaching around, ensuring Jo had solid footing on the ladder. I could see the bullet had been a direct hit to Jo’s arm, and the bloodied shirt meant climbing would be difficult.
