In the Arms of a Pirate (A Sam Steele Romance Book 2) by Michelle Beattie Read Free Book Online Page A

work.
    *
    “Aye, you two, get out of here!”
    “You see, Jack,” Lucky slurred. “I’s told you there was someone here.” He grabbed the bars of the gate. “Mister, have you some rum to share with a couple of blokes?”
    “Rum,” Jack nodded, lifting his empty bottle. “That’s what we need, sure enough.”
    The guard poked his musket through the bars and into Lucky’s belly. “I said move on.”
    Another guard stepped forward. “What’s the trouble, Jacob?”
    “These two drunks won’t go away as I ordered.”
    Jack threw an arm around Lucky’s shoulder and the two of them broke out in a loud, bawdy song about rum and women. The words made little sense and the tune was terrible but it was perfect for drunken sailors on a midnight stroll. From his perch on top of the wall—Lucky and Jack’s distraction had served its purpose—Aidan’s gaze searched through the darkened yard and gardens.
    He knew there were three guards, where was the third? Surely the racket Jack and Lucky were making was loud enough to bring the other guard about. At least he hoped so because the man named Jacob sounded like he was only going to give Lucky a few more seconds before firing. While Aidan didn’t relish the idea of going in without knowing where the third guard was, he wasn’t about to lose the element of surprise either. Below him, down the wall from Jack and Lucky, Aidan heard the rest of the men he’d brought shuffle in anticipation.
    “Blimey, it sounds as though someone’s wounded. Jacob, what did you do?”
    There you are . Aidan reached over his shoulder and soundlessly slid an arrow from his quiver. He had it notched before Jacob could answer. Aiming down its length, Aidan pulled back on the bowstring and opened his fingers. The arrow whistled past his cheek and, before the guard hit the ground, Chunk leapt from his place beside Aidan as his captain notched and let another fly. It, too, snapped into its target. The guard named Jacob spun but Chunk’s meaty fist caught him on the side of the head before he could call out an alarm. Jacob fell unconscious to the grass. Jack and Lucky scaled the gate and dropped into the yard.
    “Let’s get them hidden,” Aidan whispered.
    Grabbing ankles, they dragged the men behind some flowering shrubs. Once they were out of sight, Aidan began searching pockets for the keys. Jacob had them. Wrapping them in his fist Aidan turned to Chunk.
    “Give the signal to the men.”
    While Chunk saw to his task, Aidan looked up at the house. Light glowed behind the curtains of two of the upstairs windows. They would begin there. He turned as the muted footfalls signaled his men were there. Weapons in hand and others gleaming from their sashes, they formed a circle.
    “Remember your positions. No one is to escape through a servant’s door or window. I’ll let you know once the house is ours.” Aidan nodded and eight men dispersed to surround the house.
    Facing the rest he reminded them, “For as long as possible we do this quietly. We get the girl first, as she’ll be our leverage. I’m almost certain Roche isn’t here, but if he is, he is to be left for me. Nobody is to kill him.”
    Satisfied they would follow his orders, Aidan signaled for the rest to follow. Leaning his bow against the pillar—it wouldn’t serve him inside the house—Aidan grasped the door handle. He expected it to be locked and though it didn’t surprise him when it wouldn’t open, it nonetheless annoyed him. Any delay, no matter how small, risked their presence being discovered.
    Without knowing when or if more guards would be coming Aidan shot the first key into the hole. It rattled around but little else. He yanked it out, tried the second. It yielded the same results. Swallowing his irritation, Aidan pushed the third in and was rewarded when it turned and the lock clicked. Pocketing the ring of keys he eased the door open.
    It was dark as a tomb, which was a relief even if he’d expected it at