frowned. That didn’t sound right. The woman who’d rescued him was kind and caring and willing to risk her own life for a complete stranger. Not a notorious criminal. And the surname—surely it had to be a coincidence. The woman who’d saved his life couldn’t possibly be related to the man he’d come to the Caribbean to hunt.
‘What happened next?’ the Governor asked.
‘I can’t really remember any more,’ Will said, pushing the very clear memories of kissing Mia’s soft lips from his mind.
‘It’s a tragedy, a real tragedy,’ the Governor said, ‘but at least you’ve survived. We’ve been awaiting your arrival eagerly these past few weeks.’
Will sensed the change of tone of the conversation; they were getting down to business.
‘We will give you whatever help you need to succeed,’ the Governor promised, and looked enquiringly at Will.
‘I’ll need a ship, full crew and someone with good local knowledge to assist me, preferably someone with first-hand experience of dealing with these pirates,’ he said.
The Governor smiled. ‘We can do better than that.’ He motioned to Thatcher, who disappeared out of the room. Will wondered what they were going to come up with.
‘We’ve had reasonable success in dealing with most of the privateers and pirates in the waters around the Caribbean,’ the Governor explained, ‘but there are pockets left. Pockets we can’t seem to find.’ He tapped his fingers on the table in irritation. ‘They seem to go to ground whenever we get close. Someone is sheltering them, must be.’
‘Sounds a likely theory,’ Will said. ‘In my experience a little local support goes a long way.’
‘Quite. But it will not be tolerated any longer. I have vowed to clear these waters of pirates and I do not intend to break my vow.’
‘Of course not, sir. And whilst the Navy is brilliant in beating the pirates when it comes to an out-and-out fight, often the pirates fight dirty.’
‘That’s why we brought you in. You come highly recommended.’
Will took another sip of wine and grimaced. ‘Sometimes you need someone who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty for the greater good.’
And he didn’t. He hated pirates. They were greedy, cowardly, arrogant fools. Fools who had killed his brother. Governor Hall wasn’t the only one who wanted the Caribbean to be free from the plague of pirates. Will had worked for two long years to build his reputation so he would be deemed a suitable man to entrust with hunting Captain Del Torres and his crew.
‘Ah, here’s the local knowledge,’ the Governor said.
Thatcher re-entered the room, pulling a struggling woman behind him. In an instant he saw it was Mia.
‘Mia,’ he said, standing up.
She glared at him with hatred in her eyes.
‘We have been trying to apprehend Miss Del Torres for some months now,’ the Governor said. ‘Thanks to you we succeeded today.’
‘I...’ Will started, but realised he didn’t know what to say.
‘Miss Del Torres’s brother is the Captain of The Flaming Dragon, the scourge of the Caribbean. In exchange for her life she has agreed to assist you in locating her brother and his crew.’
Will smiled tentatively at Mia, but she just scowled in return.
‘Miss Del Torres will be released into your custody for the duration of your expedition and knows she will be killed immediately if she tries to escape or warn her brother you are coming for him. Killed in a most unpleasant fashion.’
‘What is her crime?’ Will asked.
‘Her crime?’ the Governor repeated.
‘For her to deserve the death sentence.’
‘Aiding and sheltering known pirates.’
Slowly Will nodded. He stood and took another sip of wine before walking towards Mia.
‘Your brother is a pirate?’ he asked.
Mia looked defiantly at him, but nodded after a few seconds.
‘And you know where he is?’
‘No.’
‘But you know where he might be?’
‘No.’
He stood directly in front of her and gently lifted her chin so she was forced to look into his eyes.
‘I’m not going to hurt you, Mia,’ he said quietly, ‘You saved my life.’
Her eyes remained stony and no emotion was displayed on her face.
‘I have a job to do, a very important job, and I will need your help.’
‘What choice do I have?’ she said quietly in a voice that betrayed every ounce of contempt she held for him.
‘You’ll never catch them in that,’ Mia mumbled quietly.
Will turned to look at her with inquisitive eyes. It was the first time she’d spoken since they’d left the fort, despite his valiant efforts to engage her in conversation.
‘Well, you won’t,’ she said after a few seconds.
‘I won’t be able to outrun them,’ Will corrected her. ‘I will be able to catch them.’
Mia fell silent again and looked around the dock. She knew some of the sailors judiciously avoiding her eye—she wasn’t going to get any help from them. And the shackles that restrained her wrists weren’t conducive to escape, either.
‘I hope you’re not thinking of running away, young lady,’ Thatcher said sternly.
She smiled her sweetest smile. ‘Why would I want to do that?’
Thatcher grunted.
‘I’m being treated so well.’
‘Were the shackles really necessary?’ Will asked, turning back to look uneasily at the chains on her wrists.
‘Can’t be too careful, Greenacre. This little lady had evaded us for months.’
‘Would have been longer...’ Mia muttered, looking pointedly at Will.
Not that she really regretted saving him. If she hadn’t jumped into the sea he would have been dead and she would have been free, but her conscience would never allow her to forget she had killed a man. And in her eyes allowing him to drown when she had the capability to save him would have been murder as sure as
