Page 90 of Ruthless, But for Her

The accusation sat there between them. No further words were spoken.

As they came around the coast, the spit came into view. A sliver of rock and shrub sticking out past the tideline, it was the only clean approach to the Reach from the water.

Smoke and a small fire, along with six men, greeted them. Ashton noted two more moving cargo up from a boat. No banner or colors could be seen at this distance. Figured. De Grey would never send men with his colors on a task that could go disastrously wrong.

Like this one.

“You’re right. He’s testing us,” Ryker said. “Or maybe hoping we wouldn't come at all.”

Ashton agreed, watching the men. Six of them had weapons within easy reach. Two were hauling. He spied no lookout, which meant they hadn't been expecting anyone from open water, at least not so quickly.

“How many can we put ashore before they see us?” Ryker asked him.

“Five,” Ashton responded almost before Ryker had even asked the question. He continued to watch as Ryker ran toward Leif who'd already moved toward the tiller.

Leif held The Einar back around the point, out of sight of the fire, sail down.

They put the smaller boat over without a sound, wrapping the oars in wet cloth. Five of them went in, rowing for the blind side of the spit where the rock broke the sightline from the fire.

They made it ashore without a sound, the sand giving way beneath their boots the only warning any of de Grey’s men had.

Ryker went in first. He always did.

By the time the nearest man turned toward them, Ryker already had a blade to his throat. Although he couldn't see his face from his vantage point, Ashton knew his brother was grinning. Not because he relished in the kill, but because they'd outsmarted them. The first few of de Grey’s men were dead before they'd even come ashore.

The rest went fast. Two down before the others understood what was happening. One broke for the boat. Ashton caught him before he'd gone ten steps and drove him face-first into the sand, a knee in his back, forearm hard against the back of his neck until he stopped thrashing.

A blade caught him along the ribs before the last man dropped his own. The cut burned beneath his tunic, but Ashton kept moving.

The last of them dropped his blade before Ryker asked him to.

Ashton crouched in front of the one still breathing the hardest. “Tell de Grey the spit isn't his. Tell him it never will be.” The man's eyes begged to be spared. Luckily for him, the bastard Englishman would have his wish. For today. “Tell him what happened to the men who tried to take it.”

They were back aboard The Einar before full dark, the spit behind them, the fire left to burn out on its own.

Ashton stood at the rail as Mere's End came into view. He'd bought time, though not much. Still, it was enough to get her out before de Grey tried again. Tomorrow, he would execute the plan. If not for de Grey's men moving in, Ashton may have found another reason to delay.

Another reason to keep Cassia close.

And for that, he silently thanked the warden who had taken their livelihood and forced them to the sea.

CHAPTER 51

Cassia

He never came back. When Cassia woke, Ashton was gone. He'd arranged for her to break her fast, the bread and ale already present, even though Tam had not yet begun his work.

She dressed, then walked toward the docks. She couldn’t see either Leif or The Einar. She even spoke to one of the fishwives about when The Einar might be expected back but she got no answers. When she returned to the ropewalk, Tam was working. She made no comment about his late start. She would have, if Tam were the kind of man who tolerated jesting. But somehow, she doubted it.

“I've been invited to Cuthbert's,” Tam told her as the sun began to set. He’d left bread and cold fish on the table before he went, along with a candle long enough to last the evening.

She took the bread out to the docks. Some of the men knew her by now and either waved or nodded. Cassia knew she was insulated here. Knew she was under the Black Sails' protection. But she could almost believe she could walk freely, a widow in a town such as this, and remain safe.

That, of course, was an illusion.

She would remain awake long enough to speak with Ashton this eve, no matter the hour of his return. Cassia understood there was much happening, but since her father was now safe, it was time for her to look to her own future.

Could it include him?