Isla laughed, the sound a stowaway on the breeze. Sparrow swung at Isla again, but she blocked his hit and snugged his ankle with her foot sending him to the deck. At his muttered oath, Isla's grin widened. Brockton nudged Loch, both men exchanging smiles while Bin chuckled along with Heath. Scowling in frustration, Sparrow sat up.

"Sparrow," Isla said, reaching out her hand to him. "If you want to be a Fighter then you need to stop being afraid of hurting me."

She helped him to his feet and he brushed off his shirt, ducking his head, embarrassed. A week passed sixteen, he was finally learning to control his long limbs. Isla laid a hand on his shoulder, drawing his attention. When he met her gaze, she offered him a soft smile.

"If you do manage to hurt me I will congratulate you and get patched up."

Sparrow nodded.

"Good, now let's try this again. Don't hold back."

Retreating a few steps, Isla held up her fists and widened her stance as the ship dipped to the side.

"Go for her side," Brockton called out to Sparrow.

Isla shot him a disapproving look which Brockton returned with a good-natured wink. Shaking her head, she turned back to Sparrow as he charged forward. Isla reacted, twisting away from his hit and lightly smacked the back of his head. Sparrow stumbled but managed to right himself before he fell over.

"You took my distraction as an opening," she said. "I'm proud."

Sparrow grinned. Before Isla could spout off another lesson, Hawk called to her. "It's time."

Isla darted up the stairs and gazed out on the horizon. Overhead the dark blue canvas of the sky was being painted a lighter and light hue as dawn crept in. The endless expanse around them the sign of freedom.

Isla strode towards the dominating double doors of Sutherland's manor with a confidence she had never felt while on his estate. Hawk pushed the doors open with her, neither saying anything, but both feeling the absence of oppression that used to press on them there. But now the manor was only a manor, nothing more.

Lord Sutherland's steward scuttled forward, indignant, but Isla kept walking, barely paying him any attention, his haughty looks meant nothing to her now.

"You may tell Lord Sutherland that we will be waiting for him in his study," Isla said, never glancing back at the shocked steward.

Behind her, she heard the quick patter of footsteps and knew her message would be delivered right away. The study looked at it always did, panels of books, dark oak desk, high backed leather chair, Isla the one changed. When she gazed around the familiar surroundings, she didn't hate every inch of it. Instead, she saw Raif there, standing up for her and her crew.

At the thought of him, longing and sadness twisted in her chest. Once, she'd thought the hardest decision she'd ever made was deciding to kidnap him. Now she knew the hardest decision was deciding to leave him behind.

Even as she wished he stood beside her, she knew it had to be this way, meeting his father proved that. His father was a man who would not be bested. A man who would not let his son run off with pirates and shame his family name. As Isla put her crew in danger taking Raif once, she'd put them in that same danger taking him again. Saying goodbye had been the best choice for her crew.

The door to the study opening pulled Isla from her thoughts of Raif. Lord Sutherland marched in, flanked by two guards, anger contorting his normally calm face. In that moment, Isla felt the full shift of the situation, where before she'd been the one filled with anger and Lord Sutherland with calm, their roles were reversed.

The fury on Lord Sutherland's face flickered out as he took in the sight before him. Around Isla stood the entire crew. She'd asked them to come with her since it was their freedom they were securing as well.

They all stared at the man who'd held them captive for over a year. Despite none of them showing outward hatred, their occupations and roughened appearance cowed Lord Sutherland's commanding manner. Isla almost smiled at the nobleman's shock. Almost. Her happiness was not for him to see.

"I believe we have business to complete," she said.

Swallowing, Lord Sutherland smoothed down his jacket and nodded, composure intact once again.

"It seems we do."

Isla drew out the Serpent's Eye from its velvet bag and held it before Sutherland.

"This is what you asked for," she said.

Quietly seething, Lord Sutherland accepted the emerald, inspecting it with a critical eye.

"If you wish to have it authenticated, we are happy to wait here," Isla said.

In response to this, the men started to make themselves at home in the study: Sparrow flopping into an armchair, Bin leaning against a bookcase, Brockton eying the decanter of amber liquid, Heath touching the spines of books. Each action brought more tension to Lord Sutherland's expression.

"That will not be necessary," he said.

"Very well," Isla said. "Then I believe you have something for me."

Jaw clenched, Lord Sutherland rounded his desk, glaring at Roland who stood perusing the contents which lay in sight. Lord Sutherland unlocked a drawer and removed a folded sheet of parchment.

Isla took the document and unfolded it. It was the contract her father signed with Lord Sutherland. At the bottom, she traced her thumb over her father's precise signature. Part of her wanted to rip the contract in half, savoring the tearing of all that bound her to this man.

But instead, she folded it back up and tucked it into her coat. It would be a reminder of her father's love and belief in her.

"The deal is finished," she said.

She turned her back on Lord Sutherland's silent fury and faced the crew, her crew. They were truly free.

Blinking the memory away, Isla scanned the ocean and in the fading darkness spotted the outline of a ship. The Current Isla's ship rode carried them with breathless speed, the water parting as the bow surged forward. With each passing moment, the outline of the ship became more distinctive. Isla pulled out an eyeglass and peered through it. The ship lept into view. The flag twisting in the wind bore the sign of a lion. They'd found what they were searching for.

"What are we retrieving?" Sparrow asked right beside Isla.

Isla scowled as Hawk chuckled.

"What?" Sparrow asked.

Isla didn't respond, her annoyance deepening the line between her brows.

"What we are after is something said to be worth a great amount," Hawk said.

Isla snapped the eyeglass closed. "That could be several things. I don't see why our employer couldn't have been more specific." She flickered her hand in irritation. "Instead, he sends us off with a vague instruction of what we must retrieve will be in the captain's quarters and we will know it on sight. In addition, we are instructed to do as little damage to the ship and its crew. How he expects us to retrieve what he wishes is baffling."

"We didn't have to accept the job," Hawk pointed out, raising an eyebrow at her.

Isla glared at the growing ship, leaning against the smooth railing. The prize had been too high to ignore. With the money this job would bring the men could spend more than two weeks with their families before they were needed to find the next job. Hawk smiled, knowing that Isla had no argument.

Isla lifted the eyeglass again and surveyed the deck of the ship. Besides the man at the helm, there were only three guards in neat uniforms, each one armed with a sword. Isla studied the scene, her scowl softening into a frown of confusion. When she lowered the glass, Hawk stared at her noticing the change.

"What is it?" he asked.

Isla kept her eyes pinned to the ship, pressing her lips into a thin line. "Something isn't right about this."

"What makes you believe that?"

In answer, she handed him the glass so he could see for himself and took the wheel. Hawk inspected the deck and the men stationed there. After a minute, he dropped the glass wearing the same troubled expression as Isla.

"I see," he said.

"What is it?" Sparrow asked.

"If there is really something of such a great value on the ship then there would be more guards," Isla said.

"Do you expect a trap?" Hawk asked.

Isla gripped the spokes of the wheel. Lord Sutherland had been livid when they had outsmarted him and paid off their debt. He was the type of man to wait months to try to capture Isla and her crew again. This could be his doing. Apprehension twisted Isla's stomach.

"It's possible. Do we risk it?" she asked.

Hawk rubbed his chin, thinking. Behind them streaks of sunlight broke into the sky, covering their approach on the ship.

"We must act now if we are going to," Isla said.

He locked eyes with hers and Isla could see that despite the age in the wrinkles around them they still held the fire of life. In that single glance, she knew his answer.

"Get the men in order," she said.

Hawk stepped towards the deck and gave a sharp whistle. The men all looked up at him. With a nod from him, they dispersed, gathering weapons and coils of rope with hooks tied at the ends.

"Sparrow, get my things," Isla said. Sparrow moved to the steps but her voice halted him. "And get yourself ready, you'll board with us."

Sparrow beamed as if he had been handed the world and sprinted below decks.

"He'll come at the back," Isla said to Hawk. "But he's ready."

The ship sliced through the water, gaining on their prey. The dark blue waters glinted with the first specks of sun rays. The breeze swirled around the men as they took up their positions along the railing. Eagerness pulsed through the air.

Sparrow bounded back up the stairs and handed Isla her sword and daggers. Taking the sword, Isla tied it on and slid her knives into her boots. If a trap waited for them then she would not be taken easily.

When they were in shouting distance of the ship, Isla spun the wheel, cutting them out of the current right as the sun exploded into the sky. Its light washed over the ship, cloaking it from any who glanced back. Isla drew their ship alongside their prey and gave the command.

"Now!" she called. The men threw their hooks and crossed the divide, the other crew shouting cries of alarm as they were swarmed. "Orin."

Orin replaced Isla at the helm and she rushed down the stairs, eager to join her men. Picking up one of the ready lines, she climbed onto the railing and swung across. The moment she hit the deck, she ran into the fray. From a passageway, more men clambered out, dazed as they took in the attack.

Isla surged forward, knocking a man's sword aside and elbowing him in the face, breaking his nose. The man staggered back, bleeding and she spun around, clipping his temple with her boot. He collapsed to the deck as Isla went for another opponent, dispatching him with the same efficiency. Behind her, Sparrow let out a roar of excitement and took on a sailor with all the energy of a colt given free rein.

As the crew quickly worked to immobilize the sailors, Isla moved to the corridor leading to the captain's quarters. Hawk slammed one of his rods into a man's head knocking him unconscious and followed after her.

As they slipped below decks, the fight dulled. Isla crept forward, sword at the ready, wary of surprise attacks, but they reached the captain's door unhindered.

When Isla tried the handle, she found it unlocked putting her on high alert. What treasure would be left unguarded? She took a step back, not trusting what was before her. She eyed the door as if she could make sense of what was going on. For a minute, she debated retreating, not wanting to risk her men. But after a speculative second, she discarded the thought. It was worth the risk.

She kicked the door open and stormed into the room. What waited for her inside stopped her cold.

"Hello, Isla."

Isla blinked, not believing her eyes. Not daring to breathe.

Sitting behind a desk with his boots propped on the top of it, was Raif, grinning.

He looked the same as Isla remembered, better even. His skin tanner making his gray eyes glow. His jaw marked with stubble, his clothes ones of a sailor, and his temple wore a new scar on the edge of it. Isla stared, hating how her heart betrayed her at seeing him, drumming out an uneven rhythm.

Raif raised his eyebrows, taunting her. Isla gripped her sword handle. "What are you doing here?"

"You don't sound pleased to see me."

Isla dropped the point of her sword and shook her head at him, smiling. Raif froze, captured by the sight. When he could only stare, Isla raised her eyebrows, mimicking him. Raif grinned.

"This was all you, wasn't it?" Isla said, gesturing around her with her sword.

Behind her, Isla was aware of Hawk slipping away. She didn't call him back.

Raif spread his arms out. "What you seek will be in the captain's quarters and you will know it on sight."

Isla sheathed her sword, it was the exact words their employer had used. "You hired someone to hire us. Why?"

Raif swung his legs off the desk and rose. As he moved towards her, Isla felt the way her heart beat harder as if calling out to him. She had forgotten how he walked like he commanded the world. How he looked at her like he knew she commanded the sea.

"I have spent months trying to find you," he said, his voice soft. "But you always slipped away from me. I decided the only way to find you were if you found me and stole me away."

He took a step closer and Isla breathed in the scent of the sea that clung to his skin.

"What about your father? Won't he come looking for you?"

Raif wore a devilish smile. "I have spent the last few months proving to my father that I'm not worth saving." When Raif cupped her face, everything about it - the calluses on his fingers, the way his palm formed perfectly to her cheek - was achingly familiar to Isla as if she had never let herself forget it. "What do you say, do you feel like kidnapping me again?"

For a heartbeat, she couldn't breath, aware of his presence, the hope bubbling inside of her at having him near, knowing she could keep him close, chase the horizon with him by her side.

"No." Isla took hold of Raif's shirt tugging him closer, he came willingly, resting his forehead against hers. "But I do have a spot open on my crew."

**********************************************************************

HUZZAH!!! THEY ARE TOGETHER!!

Admit, did you actually think I wouldn't have them get together in the end? 💬🗯💭❣️

Okay, I know I'm cruel at times, but jeez not letting two people get together at the end is just pure evil! I would never do that...until one book that I eventually do it. But hey that isn't this book so we won't think of it!!

Now! grab a tanker of ale, sit down and tell me what you thought of it all!

Not going to lie, I totally didn't have the whole memory section of Lord Sutherland in there and then my sister read it and said, 'Joy you have to write a scene where we see her hand over the emerald.' So I wrote it and once I did realized how ridiculous that I didn't have it there in the first place!

Thanks for staying aboard this ship and sticking with it until the end and not jumping overboard at any point. Because let's face it there are sharks in the waters and you really wouldn't have survived that. So I'm happy you're still alive!

Thank you for being you! 😘

If you feel like voting, commenting, following well then who I am to stand in the way of your happiness!

If you're searching for more adventures or buried treasure, look no further! I got your next voyage right here! (In the case of Celebrity Cruise that is a legit voyage)

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Wow! There really are a lot of books to entertain you! And so many of them have love! ❤️

Till the next book! Which is already posted so what are you still doing here?! 😄