Her Pirate Master (Entwined Fates) Read Free

she assumed was Haydrien called. “No point hiding from me. We’ll find you eventually, just like we have the rest of your crew.”
    She glanced down and spotted a long metal pole. It wasn’t much, but it could do some damage. Maybe enough to allow her to escape. Although, escape to where was the question. She very slowly wrapped her fingers around the handle, determined to not give in without a fight. Her crew depended on her. She had to do something.
    “Don’t,” Agnus shouted.
    The distinctive sound of someone getting slapped, and then a soft groan made Jack’s stomach knot in terror and guilt. She would die if anything happened to Agnus. Footsteps moved closer, and she tightened her grip around the pole. She raised it shoulder height, holding it like a bat. Taking a slow, deep breath, she prepared to swing with all her might.
    Arms wrapped around her from behind. She gasped in surprise and struggled against the hold around her upper arms. “Drop the pipe,” her attacker growled.
    Jack shifted her weight instead and moved slightly to the right. She bent her elbows, then swung her lower arm down. Her fist made contact with his groin, and the man grunted, loosening his hold on her arms. She shoved out of his hold and turned to face him. Swinging as hard as she could, she hit him in the side of the head with the metal pipe she still gripped tightly.
    The man staggered sideways. As she was preparing to hit him again, someone grabbed her arm. He slung her around, forcing her hard against the column. Her back hit metal, and air whooshed from her lungs. The metal pole fell from her hands to clang against the floor.
    Jack brought her hands upward, hoping to catch him under the chin, but he anticipated her move and blocked it. He wrapped his fingers around her wrists in a punishing grip and shoved them over her head, pinning them against the column. He lifted her up, forcing her onto her toes, and Jack winced at the pain in her shoulders.
    “Enough,” the man called Haydrien snarled.
    Jack glared at him in hatred. Stunning whiskey-colored eyes stared back, but instead of anger, Jack saw amusement and a spark of interest. She lifted her chin in defiance. “Who the hell are you?” she demanded.
    “Captain Haydrien Victis,” he replied. “And who might you be?”
    Jack licked her lips, suddenly very aware of how helpless she was, but she refused to show fear. Stiffening her spine, she opened her mouth to answer, but Agnus cut her off.
    “She’s my daughter.”
    Jack froze and watched him warily. Haydrien’s gaze slowly slid down her body, pausing at her breasts before sliding back up to her face. She narrowed her eyes, hoping he got the message she was off-limits.
    Full lips tilted upward on one side as though he found her defiance amusing. He raised one hand and rubbed them over the whiskers covering his strong jaw and chin. If not for the fact that he held her captive, she would definitely find him attractive. Hell, he was gorgeous.
    “Somehow I doubt this beauty is your daughter, old man, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt if you give me her name,” Haydrien said as he kept his gaze on hers.
    “Her name is Jacquelyn. She was named after my captain, Jack Marcone.”
    Jack swallowed. Haydrien’s eyes narrowed. This was not a stupid man. Would he believe Agnus’s lie? If he didn’t, then Agnus believed this man would do her harm.
    “Where is Jack?” he asked, still staring at her.
    “He’s on his way to Tilarus. A family emergency,” she replied.
    “You expect me to believe he left you on this ship? A crew without a captain?”
    Jack nodded. “Yes.”
    “I’m a very capable first officer,” Agnus said as he took a step forward. “It was a simple delivery. I’m sure you’ve run a life scan. I’m sure you know exactly how many people are on this ship, and as you can see, you have them all.”
    Haydrien watched her thoughtfully.
    “They are most likely telling the truth, my lord,” one of