Page 87 of The Worst of Them

Jack smirked. “Just one rule.” He looked down at her. “If he hurt you, I’d kill him.”

Jack and Cecily had hardly arrived on the beach with her arm around his waist and his slung over her shoulders before money began changing hands among five of the six, since no one would gamble against Fay.

For those who lost a bet to one, they won against another, and it took several minutes for them to exchange their gold and silver amidst a quiet thrum of muttering, math, and reminders of who said when, how, and where Jack and Cecily would get together.

Hester had the largest haul from her bets. She nodded to Cecily, lifting her money bag like a toast. “Bless you.”

Greyson regarded Jack solemnly. “I’m disappointed it took you this long.”

“Don’t think I didn’t try my best,” Jack said, and then he took advantage of having everyone’s attention to tell them Hein had abandoned the heist, and they’d lost their way in.

“Because you and Cecily tried to skewer each other?” Frederick asked with a loud guffaw. “We heard.”

“You had to try to kill her and ruin weeks of planning,” Maria said, folding her arms over her chest. “Nice, Jack.”

Jack made a face. “Any ideas, Maria, or are you just providing commentary?”

She stuck out her tongue.

“Should we call it off?” Hester asked, and the pirates looked to her all at once with varying degrees of shock, horror, and disappointment.

Greyson gently set his hand on her shoulder. “S’not really an option,” he muttered. “The heist is tradition.”

“We could kill the guards,” Killian offered. Next to him, Fay peered at the others, searching for signs of agreement.

“As little bloodshed as possible would be preferable,” Jack said. “If only to be less of a headache for Hector.”

“Remember this is for fun, Killian,” Maria said.

Killian shrugged. “It’d be easiest.”

“Knock out some guards,” Greyson said. “Don’t kill ‘em, but…” He shrugged. “Incapacitate ‘em.”

“Incapacitate,” Frederick said, impressed. “That’s a big word for you.”

Hester slugged Frederick in the arm hard enough to make him stagger and curse.

Cecily looked at Jack, then the group. “They don’t know who’s robbing the house, right? But they assume it’s the same people every year.”

“Probably,” Jack said. “Though they’ve never suspected any of us.”

Cecily pursed her lips as she thought, her eyes unfocused as she recalled their weeks of planning. She gave herself over to the cunning calculations that came so naturally, and an idea began to form.

“Oooh,” Fay said, her eyes focused on Cecily as though she saw into her mind.

“What,” Jack said, watching the brief exchange.

Cecily opened her mouth to speak, then hesitated. They’d think it was scandalous, but it was sure to be better than anything else they might concoct in so little time.

She met Jack’s gaze, and he nodded once. It was all the encouragement she needed to turn to the rest of the group. “The guards expect you to be good at sneaking in, but without weeks of planning, we’re sure to get caught.” She smiled. “So let’s get caught by the worst person possible.”

They all looked to Jack.

Jack looked at Cecily—and grinned.

21

THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION