Eden's Pass Read Online Free Page B

boy. No more and no less. I assume you expect the same of me—the same duties and responsibilities?”
    Captain Sebastiano nodded. “I would expect they are similar. Of course, you will have to swear your allegiance to me now. As I said, I was most impressed with the way you yielded your childish saber, and I fully expect the time will come where I might trust you with steel once again.”
    This was a surprise. Her spirits rose. “You mean, you will one day return my steel?”
    “One day, yes.”
    “And until then?”
    “You’ll have little time to worry about it, dear boy. I am a demanding man and expect much of those who serve me. Your days will be far too busy for you to even miss this child’s plaything.” He held up the cutlass clutched in his free hand.
    They stopped at a closed door. His cabin. He thrust open the door and gave her a shove, leaving her no choice but to lurch over the threshold and into the room. He followed, closing the door behind him before setting her cutlass on the small, round table in the middle of the spacious room. He turned to face her again, crossing his arms over his chest. “Raise your hands, lad.”
    “Why?”
    “Do as I say, boy. Trust me, you do not wish to try my temper.”
    Finn fought down a shudder at the tightness in his voice. Reluctantly, she did as she was told, holding her breath as he skimmed his hands over her. She fought to keep from going stiff as those hands smoothed across her chest. Biting the inside of her cheek made it possible to keep from flinching, even as he moved over the bandages. If he noticed them, he gave no indication, but patted down over her belly.
    A shockwave tore up her spine the moment his hands brushed her, followed by an unfamiliar heat. As he continued patting her down, the heat swelled. When he slid one hand down along her inner thigh, her first instinct was to suck in her breath. Though his touch was nothing but perfunctory, her skin rose into a tingle of gooseflesh. She struggled to keep from moving as he moved up her other thigh. When he dropped his hands and stepped back, she breathed an inward sigh of relief. She’d not been unmasked.
    He smiled coldly, withdrawing the small, but lethal-looking dagger tucked into her belt, beneath her tunic. “Very clever, boy. Unfortunately for you, I am not a fool.”
    She glared at the ivory-hilted weapon now in the Spaniard’s fist. Anger bit into her at his smug grin. “I only wish I’d drawn it sooner.”
    “Regret is a terrible thing, boy. Next time, mayhap you ought be a mite braver.”
    “Oh, you can be certain I will.”
    The Spaniard arched an eyebrow, but said nothing as he finished his search and tucked the dagger into his belt. “Your valiance is commendable, dear boy. You might wish to consider reeling in your tongue, though. It will only lead to trouble.” He retrieved her cutlass and moved to the door. “Search to your heart’s desire, boy. I guarantee you’ll find no weapons to arm yourself with.”
    She glared at him, but remained silent, willing her gaze not to dart about the cabin, as she was certain he was awaiting her to do. The Spaniard glowered at her a moment longer before pulling open the door to step out into the corridor beyond. As the door slammed shut behind him, she stared in disbelief as a key grated as it turned in the lock.

 
    Chapter Three
     
    Finn could do nothing but glare at the closed door. “At least he didn’t seem to notice all was not as it seemed. I can only pray that continues to remain so.”
    It might not be too awful, this sudden twist of fate. The captain was fierce in battle, no doubt, but he did not seem to be particularly sadistic otherwise. He even spoke of returning her weapon. Did it matter which man she served?
    “I suppose I could have fared worse,” she muttered, glancing around at the sumptuous cabin. “It seems this man is not quite the pig Beauregard was. No, the Spaniard does believe in spoiling himself.”
    She turned