Wrong Kind of Paradise (24 page)

rums and be on your way.”

Jezel eyed her curiously and attempted to peer under the hood. Angel slapped the table top with her

hand. “Now!”

Jezel leapt into action and rushed to the back of the building. A deep chuckle sounded next to her,

and she faced Blac. “What are you laughing at?”

“Your little display of jealousy.”

“I’m not jealous.”

He laughed. “I can tell.”

Before she could respond, the heavy, oak door swung open and cool air rushed in. A young seaman

ducked inside and scanned the room. When he spotted Blac in the corner, he made his way toward them

and took a seat.

“Ahoy, Cap’n.” The young man nodded at her and leaned forward.

Blac set both elbows on the table’s edge and leaned forward. “What’s the latest news?”

“We’ve been in port for a fortnight, Cap’n. He’s growing anxious, waiting on word from ye’.”

Blac nodded. “I’ve got the commander stashed away in a safe place here. We’ll make the trade

tomorrow before noon.”

The man nodded.

“How is Logan? Have you seen him?” Blac asked.

“Cap’n Logan is being held in the Lieutenant’s home in the cellar. He’s been chained to the wall,

fed once a day and the lieutenant visits him quite a bit. He’s been beaten pretty bad, cap’n. He can barely

stand on his own.”

Angel released a soft gasp and tears burned her eyes.
Oh Father, just make it one more day and

I’ll get you out of there!

Beneath the oaken table, a warm palm squeezed her hand. She glanced up at Blac, sending her a

small smile before turning back to his informant. “Do they grow suspicious of you yet, Marco?”

“Nay, he is lax in his leadership. There is no order, and discipline is meted out to promote fear, but

his men laugh at him behind his back. They say he tries too hard to be like his father but fails miserably.

I’ve yet to meet his father so I cannot say for sure, but I know he is a weakling. He likes to beat men while

they are down, or chained to a wall. It makes him feel powerful.”

Anger churned in her gut. How could anyone treat another human being in such a way?

Blac nodded. “Don’t get caught. If they become the least bit suspicious, leave at once.”

“Aye...and Cap’n, be careful,” the young man said and got to his feet. “His hatred for Logan is

dangerous. Rage like that makes a man crazy.”

“Indeed. Be careful, yourself. Until tomorrow.”

~*~

Almost before the sound of the footsteps faded, another dark figure detached itself from the dark

niche between the two buildings.

As Angel and Blac exited the Black Dog and disappeared down the street, Charles eased around to

face the boy before him. Smooth-faced and nervously clutching his tricorn hat in his hands, Harry

Chapman pressed his back against the brick siding. The scurry of a rat echoed through the dank alley and

Charles frowned in distaste. His boots scraped across the gritty cobblestones and kicked layers of trash

out of the way. Charles eyed the boy, and silence descended.

A steady drip of water and the muted sounds of revelry droned on in the distance. Chapman’s gaze

flickered from Charles then back to the entrance of The Black Dog. The boy shifted uncomfortably.

Charles decided to ease the lad’s fear and asked, “How did you come by this information?”

The boy swallowed and ran a sleeve across his sweaty brow. “I be a member of Miss Angel’s

crew.”

Charles masked his surprise. “And you decided to betray your captain?”

The boy’s dark brows rose and then furrowed. “I owe the lass no loyalty. I only hired on this past

year.”

Charles stilled, a smile smoothing across his features. “Interesting news, indeed.” Charles settled

his gaze on the boy again. “I should imagine you’ll be in need of work now then.”

“Depends on how much yer offerin’.”

Charles chuckled. “A like-minded man.” He slipped the boy a small bag of coins and immediately

brushed his hands across his pants as if to rid himself of any germs. The lad smiled, exposing his lack of

teeth, and Charles grimaced. “So you can take me to where the commander is stashed then?”

Harry nodded. “That’ll cost ye more.”

The grind of his own teeth grated in his ears. “Indeed.” Charles indicated with a flick of the wrist

for his solicitor to hand over the rest of the money. After the exchange, Charles impatiently urged the boy

into his carriage.

“Lead the way then,” said the lieutenant as he climbed in behind Harry.

Charles knew he couldn’t trust Blac. It was the very reason he’d sent the assassins and had them

followed. Now a member of Angel’s own crew had betrayed her. Poetic justice, perhaps?

Charles grinned. It was surprising how easily this scheme to kill Logan and his daughter was

coming together. Indeed, he couldn’t have planned this any better himself.

He hadn’t expected this new turn of events, but he was pleased beyond measure. So Blac planned to

hand over his commanding officer in return for Logan. And Charles was supposed to just watch them walk

away scot-free.

Well, Blac you’re sadly mistaken.

Charles chuckled out loud and the boy’s gaze shot to him in the darkened carriage. “Don’t you love

it when a plan just comes together with so little effort?”

The boy’s smile diminished and he shifted nervously in his seat. “Are you going to hurt Miss

Angel?”

Charles couldn’t help but rub his hands together with glee. “Oh, don’t get a weak stomach now,

dear boy. You should’ve realized once you set this action into motion what would happen. Surely you

aren’t having second thoughts now?”

The boy swallowed. “I—I don’t know.”

Charles laughed. “It’s amazing what greed will make even the good-hearted do.” With a single twist

of his wrist, the hidden sword slid free from his cane and jabbed under the boy’s chin. “I will not tolerate

weakness of any kind.
You
came to me. Do not grow lily-livered now.”

The boy raised his hands in surrender and scooted as far away from the weapon as he could. “N—

nay! I do not renege on my word, I swear.” His voice cracked in his horror. “I simply asked a question.

Besides, the bitch never did pay me before she was captured.”

A rigid silence settled within the dark confines of the carriage. The lieutenant eased back against

the plush velvet seat and smiled. “I am not really interested in the girl. She’s just a weapon used to inflict

pain. It is Logan I want. De’Haviland will pay for what he’s done to me.”

“Logan De’Haviland?” The boy’s eyes widened.

“Aye, surely you knew you worked for his daughter. Even you cannot be that dim-witted.”

The boy’s mouth clapped closed. “I had not realized — I did not put the two together. He is
The

Black Logan
you speak of?”

“Do not talk of him as if he is a god. You cut him and he bleeds, a fact of which I look forward to

proving on the morrow. You should stick around. After all, I could use a new informant. After I bring the

tale of Logan’s demise, I shall be the talk of all of London. I am certain to have acquired a few new

enemies.”

Charles chuckled and it turned into an almost high pitched giggle. “I cannot wait to tell my father the

good news.”
Perhaps now, Father will give me the respect I deserve.

After all, the viscount wouldn’t have ever been able to pull this off without him.

Eighteen

Morning of June 7, 1692

Dawn broke over the horizon in a brilliant display of reds, oranges and yellows. Sunlight poured

into the opened veranda doors and spilled across the hard-wood floors, pooling just beyond the bed.

Angel cracked first one eye open and then the second.

Squinting, she reached for Blac’s warmth but didn’t feel him. Movement from the porch drew her

attention. The slightest breeze tickled her cheek as she eased from the bed and placed her feet on the cold

floor. A shiver shimmied up her back. She tied the sheet firmly around her chest and headed for the porch.

He stood next to the banister peering down the cliff to the town below. His dark hair was loose

around his shoulders, tousled in the breeze. He wore breeches and barefooted and bare—chested, he

rested his hands on the rail. Angel had to admit he was the most stunning man she’d ever seen.

He glanced over one shoulder at her and gave a devastating smile. Her heart fluttered and she

crossed to him. He opened his arms and drew her close, kissing the top of her head. “Did you sleep

well?”

She smiled. “Yes, and you?”

He nodded. The dark stubble on his chin scraped gently across her forehead. He leaned back and

held her at arm’s length. “Are you ready?”

She nodded.

“I don’t know what the outcome of this is going to be, Angel. I hope a good one, but I’m a realist.

Nothing ever goes the way we plan...do you understand that?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “I know what you’re trying to do—”

She attempted to turn from him but his hand on her arm brought her back. “Good. Then listen to me.

We go by the plan—my plan. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. We do this
my
way.”

She threw her hands up in defeat. “We’ve already had this conversation, Blac. What do you want

me to say?”

Both of his hands captured her cheeks. “Then realize this...I’m in love with you, Angel. I’ve loved

you since the day I met you aboard my ship when I found your little arse stowed away and you raised

those defiant, blue eyes up to me. I’m not going to lose you now. Not because of your stubborn defiance or

any mistakes.”

Her heart softened and she raised a palm to his jaw. “I’ve loved you all my life. This is too

important to me to blunder it now.”

He seized her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckles softly. His intense gaze searched

her face as though he intended to memorize every detail. “Then understand this — nothing is more

important to me than your safety. If it comes down to you or your father...”He paused. “Do you understand

what I’m saying? I want a life with you...life without you would be unbearable”

Angel placed her finger to his lips and shushed him. “Don’t say anymore. I understand. But...” she

whispered. “Please understand he’s my father. I’ve loved him all my life as well. Don’t ask me to choose.

Please.”

Fear crept inside her chest. She could lose him. Today might be the last time she ever felt his

embrace. She could also lose her father. Tears burned her eyes and blurred her vision. Blac gathered her

into his arms and squeezed her close. She buried her face in his neck and smelled the salty scent of the

ocean on his skin. She didn’t want to lose this now but — how could she choose?

Her heart seemed to crack down the center, and she knew a piece of it would always belong to the

man who’d raised her. The man who’d tucked her in every night with a kiss and a smile. The man who’d

over-indulged her and tolerated her tantrums with a chuckle and a whispered, “I love you.”

What kind of choice is this? How could she ever turn her back on the only opportunity she’d ever

have to make sure her father escaped an English prison? She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t throw away an

opportunity just to save her own life. Her own happiness. And she knew this. She just didn’t have the

strength to tell Blac the truth.

He took a deep breath and she laid her head against his chest, listening to the air fill his lungs.

Don’t make me choose, Blac. I’m not sure I can.

His arms tightened around her and he swooped down to capture her lips in a ravenous kiss. A tiny

thrill shot down her spine and caused her to quiver.

A knock sounded and Blac strode to the door. Angel scurried behind the screen to get dressed. She

heard the soft tones of the voices, but the words didn’t quite reach her.

Once dressed, she strapped on her weapons cutlass and dagger, shoving the dual flintlock pistols in

her waistband. She stepped out from the screen. Blac, Bruno, Rigo, and several of the ship’s crew

huddled in the middle of the room.

“Rigo, stick with Bruno,” Blac said as she came to his side. “Go get Logan and meet me just south

of the docks. Everything must go as planned. No hesitations. If things go awry, leave and we’ll meet back

up on the ship.”

“Has anyone seen Harry this morning?” Rigo questioned.

Everyone shook their head. “When was the last time you saw him?” Blac asked.

“Last evening before we departed the ship. I haven’t seen him since and neither has any of the

crew.”

“Well, keep an eye out but we don’t have time to wait on the boy. If he’s not back by the time we set

sail...” Blac shrugged to get his point across.

Rigo nodded and the small group made their way out the door. Everyone filed out, leaving only

Angel and Blac. She moved to follow but Blac seized her upper arm. He swung her around in another kiss

and heat exploded through her body. Her arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him close. His hands

captured her head as if to hold her still but she wasn’t going anywhere. His lips sucked and nipped at the