He takes a step back, his eyes hazy and relaxed.
“If that’s what you want, inocencia, but I don’t offer twice,” he rasps, and then turns and leaves the room.
Damn him.
He wasn’t meant to make me feel like I made the wrong choice.
“I have new sheets for you,” Jess says, coming into my room the next day with a bundle of sheets in her hand.
I’ve been wanting to ask her why she’s here, and after watching her flitter around the room, I finally get up the courage to blurt out, “Why do you do it?”
She’s just placed the sheets on the sofa, but at my words she turns and stares at me, her green eyes confused. “Why do I do what?”
“Stay here…with them?”
She looks around the room a moment, as if double checking we are really alone, then she walks over and sits down on the sofa beside me. She places her hands in her lap, and stares at Hendrix’s bed, just watching it for a long, long moment.
“He saved my life.”
“Hendrix?” I say, shocked.
“Yeah, he saved me.”
I don’t say anything, I just stare at her, willing her to go on with my pleading look. She closes her eyes a moment, and then she begins speaking softly.
“I was a foster child, thrown through the system after my parents died when I was only four years old. I went through family after family, but my last family…they were awful. Well, one person in particular was awful…my foster father. He was abusive, and cruel, and one night…he raped me. I was fourteen years old.”
My chest seizes for her, everything inside my body clenches tightly, as if recoiling from the words.
“It went on for about four years. When I was eighteen, I lost it, and I killed him. I was so tired of it, so drained. I wanted to be free. I wasn’t thinking, I knew killing him wouldn’t free me from my pain, but I had no other choice. It wasn’t going to stop. One night, I tucked a knife under my pillow. When he came in, I stabbed him so many times he was unrecognizable. I ran, covered in blood and frantic. I ended up at the wharf, I don’t know how, and I ran into Hendrix when he was docking to load his ship. I didn’t know what he was, I just knew I was beside myself, and he calmed me down and managed to figure out what was going on through my babbling. He told me he would make me a deal. He would take me, hide me and keep me safe, if I promised to become a medic on his ship. I had no medical experience, but he paid for some basic study, and the rest I figured out on my own. He told me after five years I could leave if I wanted; until then, I was under his protection.”
He saved her? He took her on and saved her from a life in prison.
“Will you ever go back?”
She shakes her head. “The police would have me in an instant if I went back.”
“And you’re happy here?”
Her face falls. “The guys are like my family, but I know I’ll never find love, or have children, or get married. That’s just the life I’ve been handed.”
“I’m so sorry,” I say, gently.
She turns to me, forcing a smile. “It’s nice to have another girl on here, aside from Senny. She’s awful.”
I chuckle softly. “She is awful, and I hope we can be friends.”
She smiles, and it changes her face. She’s a beautiful girl; it’s such a shame she has to live this kind of life.
“You know, he’s not an awful man.”
“Hendrix, you mean?”
“Yeah, he’s not cold-hearted. He just behaves that way.”
“He’s selling me…”
She frowns. “I don’t understand why, I know he has a massive deal with the other pirates…I really hate that he is resorting to barter someone’s life, especially after he saved mine.”
I swallow, and my body trembles as fear washes over me. I guess the reality of my situation hasn’t sunk in. Hearing it from her…knowing it’s real…it scares me. God, it scares me.
“I’m afraid,” I whisper, looking down.
Jess surprises me by reaching over and gripping my hand. “Fight,” she says softly. “Fight for your life, make him see it differently. He’s not a horrible person. Give him a reason to keep you.”
The door creaks, and she quickly lets go of my hand and stands. Hendrix steps in and stares at her with narrowed eyes, then turns his gaze to me. I give him a casual expression, and then turn my eyes to a magazine on the coffee table. Jess puts the sheets on the sofa, and then rushes out. As soon as she’s gone, Hendrix walks over, stopping in front of me. I focus on his boots, and the scuff marks up the sides.
“It’s roast night in the dining room,” he says. “You don’t have to spend your days in here.”
“Is my friend allowed to come?” I say, lifting my eyes.
“No, but you can take him food.”
I shake my head, and push to my feet. “Then I’m not interested.”
I step past him, and head for the door.
“I wanted to ask the other day, but…those scars on your…body. They’re from him?”
I stiffen, and spin around. “What is on my body is none of your concern. I’m no more than a sale to you, pirate. Don’t try to make out this is anything more. Or is it just that you are worried about what my new owner will think of the damaged goods?”
“I want to know,” he grinds out, “because I want to kill the prick for laying his hands on you.”
“Why?” I bark, gripping the door. “You’re no better than him.”
Then I step out and slam it.
I hear him curse.
Jess’s words play in my mind.
“Give him a reason to keep you.”
“You’re not seriously considering joining them?” Eric says, running his fingers through his matted blonde hair.
Hendrix has allowed him to shower, but he still looks awful. I adjust my stance, rocking from one foot to the other. “I have to try, Eric. If I can make him…like me…”
“You’re going to seduce him?” he rasps. “Aren’t you?”
“I never said that, but I need to give him a reason to keep me, or at least reconsider his choice.”
“And you’re willing to sleep with him to get that?”
I cross my arms, and glare at him. “Sleeping with him would be a small price to pay for my life, don’t you think? And I never said I was going to do that, so stop jumping to conclusions.”
“It’s a stupid plan, he will simply get angrier and hurt you. Then where will you be? Or worse, he’ll hurt me. Is that what you want?”
“Don’t you dare,” I spit. “I have signed my freedom away for you, Eric.”
“And I’m stuck in a cell for you!”
My body stiffens, and my heart begins thumping angrily. I feel my eyes narrow with rage, and I lean in and grip the bars.
“How dare you,” I snarl.
“If it wasn’t for you not following the law, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Are you serious?” I scream.
“You should have let the police deal with Kane, and we would have never felt the need to get on that yacht. I told you to leave it to the law, but you refused…”
My mouth drops open, and I feel my eyes well with tears. “You’re my best friend, Eric. I have laid my life down for you, to keep you safe, but you know what? Fuck you. I’m doing this my way now.”
I turn and head toward the door, my shoulders stiff, my heart aching.
“Indigo!”
I throw my rude finger up over my shoulder, and walk up the stairs.
Screw him.
Screw it all.
I’m going to have some fun.
Loot, plunder, pillage and play!
“You’re not scared of a girl, are ye?” I snort, standing in front of a group of three pirates who are looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“Not scared of no lady,” one of the older ones says.
“Then let me join you.”
They all raise their brows, and then look at each other.
“Aren’t you a prisoner? We don’t dance with prisoners, so to speak,” the oldest of the group says.
“Hendrix and I have a deal. Besides, he invited me here tonight.”
They raise their brows.
“Truth,” I nod. “Now, who is going to give me a rum?”
They look at each other again, and then one of them thrusts a bottle of rum at me. The liquid sloshes over the mouth of the bottle and the smell burns the hairs in my nose. Jesus, what is in this?
“Sure you can handle it, lassie?”
I grin, and put my lips to the bottle, tilting my head back and taking a swig. It burns the entire way down, and the urge to cough is overwhelming, but I won’t allow myself to show that. The liquid hits my stomach, and shit, it’s lethal. I hand the bottle back, wink at the pirates, and then grab a stool and join them.
“So, tell me what your names are?” I say, crossing my legs.
They give me odd expressions, before shrugging and answering me.
“Jock,” says the first one, with long grey hair, a blue bandana and more piercings than any man his age should have. He has them in his nose, his lips, his eyes, hell, even his eyebrow.
“GG,” the second one says. He’s the youngest, and has salt and pepper hair, a body full of tattoos and eyes so green they stand out in his old, worn-out brown skin.
“Lenny,” the third says. He’s the kindest looking of the three, with big brown eyes, wavy grey and brown hair, and a beard that nearly touches his chest.
“I’m Indigo, but you can call me Indi, or Lassie, or Poppet, or whatever the hell you want.”
They grin.
I broke the ice.
“You want another?” Lenny says, thrusting the bottle of rum at me.
My stomach twists in rejection of the idea, but I take it anyway, swallowing another lethal dose. Oh. Ew. Two sips later, and my head is spinning. The percentage in this rum is strong.
“So, what were you doin’ on the yacht out in the ocean anyway?” GG asks, lighting a cigarette.
“I was going to the United Kingdom. It caught fire, and we drifted. What were you pirates doing in those waters?”
“We just stocked up, we had to pass through. It’s dangerous waters, and we usually have to be quick. Picking you up was a risk,” Jock says.
“Well, lucky for you it ended well.” I wink.
“You’re a firecracker, ain’t ya, Indi girl?” GG says, smirking.
“I can be. Now, tell me, are you for real pirates?”
They all raise their brows.
“Seriously,” I slur a little. “I mean, I thought pirates were fictional.”
GG chuckles. “There ain’t nothin’ fictional about us, Indi girl.”
“Okay, so…is there like some big story behind it? Your papa’s granddaddy was a pirate…it’s in your blood…”
They all shake their heads.
“Ain’t no different to a motorcycle club on the land. We’re like them, but ocean-style.”
“The rebels of the ocean.” I grin.
Jock laughs. “Exactly. We just do our business out here. Less laws.”
“Smart thinking, ninety-nine.”
GG snorts, and hands me the bottle of rum again. I take it, swallowing it far easier this time around.
“How long have you been with Hendrix, then?” I say, leaning back and feeling myself sway.
“Ten years, maybe more,” GG says.
“That’s a long time. You are all older than him. Isn’t that weird?”
“Hendrix started his own crew, and he gave us all freedom by taking us on. We all have our own problems, our own secrets, and he lets us escape them. Young or not, he gave us something we couldn’t find on the shore.”
They make a valid point.
“So, do you, like, talk pirate?”
GG raises his brows. “No, love.”
“Well that’s no fun. I think I need to introduce that to ye scallywags.”
They all burst out laughing.
“I see you decided to join in like I suggested,” comes a husky, sexy voice from behind me. Oh damn.
I turn and grin up at Hendrix. “Aye cap’n, I took ye advice and joined in this party.”
He raises his brows. “Seriously?”
“Arrrr, seriously.”
GG laughs so hard he snorts, and that gets Jock going.
Hendrix raises his brows at me, and oh, he’s so gorgeous standing there, looking down at me. His dark hair is all ruffled, and I want to put my fingers in it and tug, I want to hear him growl. He’s so damned yummy; it’s rude to be that perfect.
“Have you been drinking?”
“Arrrrr, I have had a clap of thunder or two with these scallywags. And they haven’t yet drawn their cutthroats and sent me down to Davy Jones’ locker.”
Hendrix’s lips twitch, and my heart swells. Maybe Jess is right. Maybe there is a chance of changing his mind. Jock is laughing so hard he falls off the back of his chair, and it smashes loudly onto the ground. I watch as another group of pirates come into the room, the group that bothered me up on deck. They stare over at me, then at the men laughing, and their expressions seem to soften. Drake notices me, and I watch his eyes light up. I wave to him like a crazy lunatic.
“Hey Drake!”
Hendrix turns and stares at Drake, then turns back to me.
“I’m guessing dinner will be a good thing. You’ve had far too much to drink.”
“Nay, cap’n. I am just getting started. Ahoy!”
He shakes his head, and pulls out a cigarette, lighting it. He turns and walks over to the large table at the back of the room, and he sits down at it. A moment later, Senny saunters in, wearing a pair of too tight jeans and a top that has her breasts overflowing. I watch as she slides onto the table in front of Hendrix, and says something that has him chuckling. Oh lordy, when he smiles, he has these killer dimples. My heart begins thumping, and my head spins, giving me a light airy feeling.
“Is there any music on this here ship?” I say, turning back to the guys.
GG nods, and stands, walking over to a large stereo in the corner. He flicks it on, and moments later, some ridiculous seventies music comes blaring out. I raise my brows, horrified.
“Seriously, seventies?”
GG shrugs. “It’s the radio, Indi girl. We don’t control it.”
“Boo!”
I stand and walk toward the door. I really need to pee.
“Going already?” Hendrix says, just as I reach it.
I turn, meeting his gaze dead on. “Oh, I’ll be back, don’t you worry your pretty head about that.”
His lips twitch again.
I’m softening the shell….
I stumble out the door and down the hall until I find Hendrix’s room. I walk in, hitting four walls before reaching the bathroom. When I’m done, I wash my hands and head back out to see Drake standing at the door. He smiles at me.
“The boss man sent you to make sure I didn’t drop over the side of the ship.” I smirk.
Drake walks over, hooking his arm through mine. “Yeah, something like that.”
“Well then, Drakey-boy, let’s get this party started. Do you want to hear a joke?”
He snorts. “Not really.”
“I’m telling you anyway. Why can’t a pirate watch a horror film?”
He shakes his head, smirking. “You’re about to tell me.”
“Because it’s rated ARRRRRRR!”
He chuckles. “That’s the worst pirate joke I’ve ever heard.”
“Oh, oh, oh, I have another one. Why are pirates awesome?”
He doesn’t answer; he just shrugs.
“They just ARRRRR!”
Laughing, we walk back to the dining room. When we step in, Hendrix appears in front of us. “She causing problems, buddy?” he asks Drake.
“If you call bad pirate jokes problems, then sure.”
Hendrix raises his brows at me. “Bad jokes, eh?”
“You want t
o hear one?” I cry, removing my arm from Drake’s and putting it through Hendrix’s. He stiffens, like he’s shocked, but I don’t give him a chance to react.
We join the other guys, and I sit in the middle on the floor. GG hands me another shot, and I clap my hands together, shooting it back before beginning my jokes again.
“You boys want to hear the best joke?”
GG nods, chuckling “Go on, hit us with your best shot.”
“Why do pirates wear eye patches?”
GG shrugs.
“Because they can’t afford iPads!”
GG snorts and Drake chuckles.
“That the best you got, inocencia?” Hendrix purrs.
I crack my knuckles. “I’m just getting started, pirate. Why did the pirate go on vacation? He needed some ARRRR and ARRRR!”
Hendrix rolls his eyes.
“I’ll make you laugh, pirate,” I vow. I wiggle on the floor, and cross my legs. “What’s a pirate’s favorite doll?”
Hendrix’s eyes are dancing with amusement as he shrugs.
“A BARRRRBIE!”
He snorts, and a lazy half grin appears on his face.
It’s working.
We’re bonding.
“Oh my God!” I squeal, standing and spinning in a big circle. I am so drunk I can’t see straight, but I haven’t had so much fun in years.
I shouldn’t be having fun, this I know, but I have to believe there is hope for me if I get to know the crew. Maybe Hendrix will change his mind. Maybe he’ll let me go, or hell, keep me here. I’d rather spend my life here than as someone’s slave. I have better chance of escape
“I love this song!”
I spin in the middle of the dining room while the rest of the crew eat. I dance and twirl, completely oblivious to the people around me. I’m having the time of my life. I begin singing at the top of my lungs, waving my hands around. I spin too fast and trip, landing on my ass so hard I bellow a curse and fall backwards, flopping onto the floor like the tragic drunk girl I am. We girls are really classy drunks.
“Think it’s time for you to go to bed,” Hendrix says, suddenly appearing above me.