But even as the words left his mouth, he just caught sight of the mast in the distance.
The captain up beside him. “Bloody Christ.” He spit over the rail. “Coincidence or foul?”
He grimaced. He’d like to believe coincidence. But his gut was saying something different. “We left London because we were attacked.”
The captain spat again. “Man your battle stations, men.”
“Battle stations,” Emily said next to him, her voice shaking. “What does that mean?”
“It means we’re preparing for the possibility that the other ship isn’t friendly.”
“You think they’ll attack?” Emily pressed into his side. “But you must see other ships all the time.”
“Aye,” the captain replied. “But not riding in our wake just out of sight.”
The ship drew closer and Brandon squinted to see the details.
He was just about to suggest Emily return below when he saw the ball of fire explode from the deck of the other boat.
He’d pushed Emily down before the noise reached them, cradling her body against his on the hard deck. The ball sailed wide of the ship.
“Make ready to return fire,” the captain boomed, even as Brandon rose again, pulling Emily with him. He swung her into his arms and started for the hatch.
“What’s happening?” Emily gasped as her hands came around his neck.
“Well,” he grimaced as he climbed down the ship’s ladder with her in his arms. “My guess is our merry band of thieves is following either you or me.”
She started in fear and he held her closer.
He pressed his cheek to the top of her head as he reached his cabin. Tossing the door open, he set her down. “Lock the door behind me and don’t open it for anyone.”
“Brandon,” she gasped as a cannon fired from the Return, shaking the entire ship with its force.
He wanted to tell her that he’d never allow anything bad to happen to her. But in this moment, he drew in a shuddering breath. His attempt to out these criminals and bring them to justice might just be their downfall.
“I have to go, love.” He pulled her tight to him and kissed her mouth, full and sweet. “Stay here and stay safe.”
She clung to him for a second or two and then stepped back. “Be careful.”
He nodded and then turned, even as he heard the door close and the lock click.
And then he was back on the deck.
Captain James turned to him. “We’ve hit their mast.” The man gave him a wide grin. “All those drills you allowed us
to run have paid off. We’re hanging back so that they can’t hit us with any more fire. The question is what do you want to do? Let them sit adrift or board and fight?”
He drew in a long breath. He wanted to fight. But he had more than himself to consider. “There are women on board.”
Captain James gave a quick nod. “True. If we draw any closer, we risk catching fire from their cannon.”
“But I ran once to protect Emily…”
Jack gave a quick nod. “And here they are.”
“Can you sink them?”
Jack gave him a large smile. “I can. And might I just say, that’s my kind of plan.”