Keeper of My Dreams (St. John Series Book 4) Read Online Free Page A

bad. We could have used us some women. Gather whatever valuables ya can locate and let’s go.”
    David nodded and looked back down at Reanna. “Damn fool woman,” he mumbled to her body as he left.
    Reanna slowly let her breath out and partially opened one eye as the tears brimmed, blurring her vision. She cautiously turned her head and watched as David and Harold went up the steps. Don’t shed a tear over him. She laid her head back down and looked up at the ceiling. Despite her desire not to cry, tears streamed down her face. David was a pirate and was responsible for Mr. Moore’s death as well as the others on this ship. All the hours she had spent worrying about him were for naught! He had no intention of returning to England for her. He had abandoned her for what? For adventure? For money? She left England, defied her father’s trust to come find him. And for what?
    She listened as the pirates left the ship. She could hear their voices shout to each other. “I hope he chokes on his own spit.” Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, she sat up and walked over to the large hole that was blasted into the side of the ship. As she peered out, she was greeted with the view of the side of the pirate’s ship and watched as the vessel moved further way. Once she thought it was a significant distance away, she shouted, “I hate you, David Snowdon! I hope you die a slow miserable death!”
    To her horror, the pirate ship fired again. The moon’s light shone brightly, reflecting off the projectile. Her eyes grew wide as she observed the cannonball close the distance to her ship. The mortar seemed to be traveling in slow motion. Reanna watched in dismay as the heavy lead ball came at her. She screamed and attempted to flee. The last thing Reanna remembered was a loud explosion. Then the blackness came.

 
     
    Chapter Four
     
    Eli took a frustrated breath as he looked around his home. Of all the places for his father to want to meet with the family, why here? Why not at his parent’s home? It was quite a bit larger than his home. It had to be since there were nine St. John children.
    Not that a family gathering was a bad thing. Especially now, since all the brothers were in port, which was a rarity. The corner of Eli’s mouth twisted upward as he watched his younger brothers. They were all doting over their niece, Alexandra. She’d turned two several months earlier and she was already a heartbreaker. She had her mother’s looks with auburn hair and emerald green eyes. Eli looked at his sister, Madison. She was an excellent mother even after the tragedies in her life. Not many women can say they survived being kidnapped by pirates twice, have their husband murdered by the same pirate, and then find love with your rescuer.
    Eli looked at Madison’s husband, Nicholas Sinclair. His father, Jonathan, was the governor of Eleuthera, as well as Robert’s business partner in Emerald Shipping. Nicholas was a handsome fellow. He was tall and quite muscular. He kept his blond hair unfashionably long and flowing free about his shoulders. He constantly sported a short, neatly trimmed beard. His blue eyes took in all things surrounding him, as if watching for enemies—reminding Eli of a bird of prey searching for its next kill. Funny thing, even though the governor and his father were partners and worked closely together, Eli and his brothers never socialized with Nicholas. But then again, Nicholas was an odd character. He was always getting into trouble and running with Maxwell Hart. Max’s mother was a prostitute at Red’s tavern. What a scandal Nicholas’s association with Max caused. And the damnedest thing is that when Nicholas decided to stop running Emerald Shipping’s affairs at Nassau and do so here, he somehow managed to arrange for Max to run the business there as well as to oversee security issues. Max had managed to acquire a former pirate ship with a fully functioning crew just shortly after Nicholas’s