The Pirate Read Online Free Page A

think if I were curvy you’d be treating me differently.”
    Laz shook his head. “Regardless, get below.”
    Fridjtof looked like he was going to argue and Laz took a step toward the man. His command had to be absolute; there was no time to argue or run the ship like a democracy. “Or I can put you in lockup.”
    Fridjtof held his hands up. “I’m going, Cap.”
    Laz watched the other man disappear.
    â€œDamn it, I don’t like that guy,” Hamm said, joining Laz at the railing.
    â€œI don’t trust him,” Laz admitted.
    â€œWith the women?” Hamm asked.
    â€œWith anyone. Is the rest of the deck clear?”
    â€œAffirmative,” Hamm said.
    â€œTeam, you are clear to retreat.” Laz spoke softly and knew that his message had been received when the other four members of the Savage Seven appeared on the deck. Aside from Savage, there was Kirk Mann, who was the second in command for their team. He had been a marine sniper before joining their unit. No one shot with more accuracy than Mann. Wenz was their medic and Van was the team’s computer expert. He was the one they were all relying on to track Samatan’s ship when it surfaced.
    Samatan was the leader of a particularly bloodthirsty group of pirates. The Savage Seven had been hired to capture him. The general belief was that if the head of the viper was cut off it would lead to the nest of the pirates. Then the attacks would launch.
    Hamm took up a post near the gangway so that they wouldn’t have any more surprise visitors. Slowly the men departed over the side railing.
    â€œWe’re not going far. Just out of sight of the ship. We’ll be in radio contact if you need us,” Savage said.
    â€œI’ll alert you the minute we see anything suspicious.”
    â€œGood. Once you let them on board don’t fight. Their MO is that they take the ship with a show of force but usually don’t kill their captives.”
    â€œYou’re telling me stuff I already know, boss.”
    Savage put his hand on Laz’s shoulder. “I don’t like having those civilians on here. The tanker crew knows how to handle this kind of thing.”
    â€œI’ll take care of them,” Laz said.
    â€œYou do that. I’m going to have Wenz dig up what he can on the doctors’ group. I’ll send you back what we find. Good luck.”
    â€œThanks, boss.”
    Though everything was in place Laz didn’t relax. Experience had taught him there was no such thing as an easy mission, especially with all the variables they were dealing with here. The added passengers and stopping to deliver them to their destination was not going to be an easy matter. But their schedule did have the time for a one-day stopover.
    He almost wondered if someone knew that the Savage Seven was watching over this ship and that’s why they’d arranged for the Doctors Across Waters group to travel with them.
    Laz would keep the group safe. Savage would want them protected as well. He was keen on keeping as many civilians alive as possible on their missions. That was one of the things Laz liked about working for Savage. That and the fact that he was a valued member of the team. Despite the fact that Savage was their leader, the group respected everyone’s opinion and skills.
    Laz couldn’t ask for a better life, he thought while standing on the deck and looking out over the moonlit ocean. So what if sometimes when he was at home he felt lonely?
    This was the best job in the world for him, and he knew that nothing and no one would ever make him give it up.
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    â€œThe deck is busy tonight,” Hamm said.
    â€œDamn straight. I got an itchy feeling on the back of my neck that something is going to happen.”
    â€œHaving Fridjtof up here was odd. That man is always creeping around.”
    â€œI agree. Keep a close eye on him.”
    â€œI am.”
    Hamm and Laz had been in some