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The Black Rose, only the gulls seemed awake this early. Their raucous
cries spilled through the open window as they screeched and fought
for tidbits dropped during the night.
I won t stand for this, gentlemen.
As she moved, her glance touched on each of them Trueblood,
James, Fowler, Hal and Quinn but most avoided her gaze. Only
Quinn, who lounged against the wall, slightly outside her intimate
circle, met her eyes. His gaze hadn t left her since they d moved Silas
back to The Rose and that single fact alone kept her focused. The
others avoided looking at her as best they could, but Quinn watched
her, and she was glad for it. If she thought no one watched at all, she
feared she d cry. She d come to love the little man, and Doc thought
he might never wake up. Silas was in a deep coma. So, she gratefully
accepted the watchful eye of the stranger.
No, he s not a stranger, not any more.
James stared at the ceiling, rocking his chair back on two legs. He
combed his fingers through his beard and appeared lost in thought.
Hal hadn t said a word since they d returned to the ship.
Trueblood sat quietly, twisting the rings on his fingers. Every so
often he sighed and that small sound wound through her heart and
threatened to tear apart the dam she d constructed to hold her feelings
at bay.
Sitting on the window bench, Fowler stared through the open
casement, seemingly entranced with watching the gulls vie for scraps.
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100 Amber Carlton
But Kit knew differently. Foster s mind never stopped working. He
lived in a quiet world by his own choosing. He never missed a thing,
until tonight.
Fowler twisted on the bench. Goddamn it, this is my fault. I
watch him like a hawk on this ship. I last saw him asleep in one of his
nests, but for some reason he got up in the middle of the night and left
this ship. Why would he do that when the angels told him to stay
onboard?
James s chair legs slammed to the floor. His dark stare focused on
Kit. Bloody hell, if the damn angels told him to stay, why would he
leave? He always listens to the angels.
Perhaps he went down to help someone else on the dock,
Trueblood said.
No one else was involved. Kit rubbed her fingers across her
scratchy eyes. Had there been a disturbance, Will would have heard
it. Silas apparently went willingly to talk to this Hennessey.
How would he know Hennessey? Hal asked. He barely talks to
anyone but you or Two Fingers. The rest of us& well, he makes me
damned uncomfortable. I was talkin with a man on the dock this
afternoon, and Watkins was spyin on me through a knot in the wood.
Did you know he has another nest in the gunwale? That makes three
that I know of. He s got hidey-holes all over this ship.
Who were you talking with down on the dock? Quinn asked.
Hal snorted. A man named McGuire. Claimed to be from Henry
Jennings and had a question regardin tribute.
Kit frowned. Why would Jennings send an emissary? If he
questioned our tribute, he d come to me personally.
The man demanded to see our logbook, Hal said. Like I d
fuckin let him look at it.
What does the logbook contain? Quinn asked.
Hal leaned forward and clasped his hands together. Every article
and bit of treasure we ve acquired in the last year, the disbursement of
those articles, and what remains in our hold.
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A Pirate's Life for Three 101
Kit paced to the end of the room and came to rest in front of the
dressing table. Before she could turn, she caught her reflection in the
mirror. She barely recognized the pale woman in the glass. She
looked like a sad, lost child who had no place on the deck of The
Black Rose.
They wanted the logbook because they re looking for something
specific, Quinn said.
The woman in the mirror frowned, and Kit whirled around,
suddenly filled with questions. Fowler leaned forward and peered at
Quinn.
What makes you think that?
Someone thought this logbook was valuable enough to attempt to
coerce it from Hal. Why? Because the logbook contains a list of
articles, and each of those articles has a crew name attached to it. He
knows what and who he wants. He just wanted to make sure they
were here. He didn t give a damn about the risks.
Any idea what they might want? Trueblood asked.
Quinn s gaze darted toward the window. Kit put her hands on her
hips, waiting for a response. Kit s right. Silas went willingly. If
Hennessey came here& Let me think for a minute.
Kit turned back to the mirror. That woman had to go. She grabbed
the brush from the table and yanked it through her hair. I m going to
slit someone s fucking throat. They planted a black rose to make it
look like I d ambushed my own crew.
I m not really surprised, Fowler said. We ve been seeing this
pattern for weeks.
A frown creased James s forehead. Fuck, Kit, this has been
happening for weeks? There s more than Hennessey and the shop
owner, and you didn t tell me? What am I? A bucket of chum?
Kit shrugged. I have a bodyguard, James. I don t need you
mothering me too.
James leapt to his feet. His boots thundered on the planks. Damn
it to bloody hell! I m fucking in love with you!
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102 Amber Carlton
I didn t want you in danger, James, Kit said.
I can take care of my goddamn self.
Trueblood shrank into his chair, and Hal stared at his hands.
Fowler stood, anticipating trouble, and Quinn moved forward. He
shoved James back into his chair.
Focus, James, Quinn said. We ve got bigger troubles right now
than your broken heart. Someone s trying to make the good Captain
here either leave this island or this ship.
Fowler nodded. Enough people think you re involved in these
disappearances and assaults, you re going to have a hard time keeping
that noose off your neck. We may live in a community filled with
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