I wanted to disappear. My heart was still shattered because of what Bosch had done. I bit my lower lip, feeling guilty for thinking of Dirk's horrible actions instead of mourning his possible death... I wanted to miss him, but I simply couldn't. Although I was in love with him for a while, his company made me more nervous than relaxed... I never loved him so much, no matter how hard I tried. I'd always felt something was missing in our relationship. I sighed while remembering how I used to find his anger adorable... How naïve! Even though I could've never predicted his lack of love for Tess, I should've expected violence and emotional abuse from such an unstable man. I squeezed my eyes shut while thinking about the unnecessary pain I'd gone through when we were together. Besides dealing with that emotional wreck, I had to wait for my torture. My hands wouldn't stop sweating as I observed the guards who were supposed to watch me. They spoke so loudly that I thought my ears would bleed.

The Dutch guard sipped his jenever, "I already said it! We won't get promoted if we compliment our superiors!"

"We will! You'll see," the Spaniard laughed and drank more wine. "I told Reyes countless times that his hat is elegant. He's been nicer to me because of it."

"I don't believe you!" the Dutch guy shattered his empty bottle after throwing it against the wall. "Van Osten almost killed me the last time I followed your advice!"

The Armada man narrowed his eyes, "I told you to stroke his ego slowly, but you complimented him four times on the same day! How could you be so stupid?"

The RNN man bared his teeth, "What did you just call me?"

The Spanish guard gulped and took a step back. I ducked as the Dutch guard threw another emptied jenever bottle against the wall on my right, almost hitting my head. I breathed faster, wondering if I wouldn't end up injured because of that stupid fight. However, I saw an opportunity. Half of the second broken jenever bottle had landed next to my right foot.

This could be my only chance of escaping!

The Spanish guard glared at me. I looked away, hoping he wouldn't punch me in the face. To avoid panicking, I pretended the Armada guy was Miguel. I felt so much lighter that I had to stop myself from smiling. Even while absent, Gálvez decreased my fear. From my three best friends, he was the one who made me feel at ease the most.

The Armada guard pointed at me, "The prisoner can hear us! We must stop talking!"

"Are you seriously afraid of that lady?" the Dutch guy chuckled while drinking rum. "The Englishman will teach her a lesson once he arrives!"

The Spaniard punched the RNN guard in the face. My eyes bulged once I remembered the notes. The leader always signed as T.E.M, which were the initials of The Englishman... It all made sense! He was the only person who could be sending the threats. Bad men often liked to hide and that was exactly what The Englishman was doing.

"What if she has a deal with him?" the Armada guy ground his teeth while staring at the wall. "These nasty criminals always find a way out!"

"Van Osten told me not even Captain Pilantra has met him," the RNN guy looked around as if he feared being heard. "If the thief of thieves hasn't met The Englishman, no one else has."

This Portuguese guy is more important than I thought.

"Pilantra hasn't been seen in years! Of course he never met our leader!" the Spanish guard approached the other guy. "Besides, you're such a moron! We're supposed to keep our leader's identity a secret and you just revealed it to that criminal."

The RNN guard glowered at the Spaniard, "Did you just offend me again?"

The two idiots started fighting. They punched, screamed, kicked... Although that was fun to watch, I had to get out. I gulped while trying to imagine what other torture methods The Englishman wanted to use on me. Once the guards stopped looking at me, I moved closer to the broken bottle and grabbed it.

I grimaced while scraping the rope with the glass, "Come on, little rope!"

My neck and hands wouldn't stop sweating as the bottle wouldn't help me. If Dirk had died, his ghost was hidden while laughing at me. I bit my lower lip while scraping the rope harder. When I considered giving up, I chuckled and sighed in relief. The glass had set me free.

I grinned widely, "I won't die! I'll see my children and friends again!"

While the guards still fought, I slowly stood up from my chair and walked behind them. I tilted my head to the side once I saw a brown bag with many alcoholic beverages next to it... Don't judge me! I had to escape, but I couldn't miss that opportunity. A pirate never dismisses free drinks.

The Dutch guy scowled, "Hey! Come back here, thief!"

I took a step back, "I clearly spoke too soon..."

I dodged as the RNN guy attempted to stab my shoulder. Fighting without weapons wasn't easy. I flinched as he left a minor injury on my right elbow. I huffed when I saw my hat and guns in a distant corner of the room. I had no time to reach them, so I grabbed two wine bottles.

The Armada man attacked me, "Stop! You'll never win!"

Smiling mischievously, I used his slowness to my advantage and kicked him between the legs. Since the Spanish guy was too drunk, he missed two blows. With all my strength, I hit one bottle against his head. He screamed as the glass shattered and wine ran down his face. The beverage mixed with his blood, creating a creepy purplish red, and he fell to the ground.

I must leave before The Englishman comes...

The RNN man attacked again, but I blocked his cutlass with another wine bottle, struck my fist against his jaw, and he fell to my right. I couldn't help but laugh... What? It was funny to fight a drunk guy! When the Dutch guard grabbed his sword, I shattered the second bottle by crashing it against his head. His eyes bulged as he quickly hit the ground.

"I'm disappointed," I shook my head in denial while observing the guards. "What a waste of wine!"

I put my hat and weapon belt back on, grabbed the bag full of drinks, and left running. Luckily, they hadn't removed my swords and pistols from the belt. I hid once more guards passed by the hallway. Once the area was clear, I went to the exit upstairs. I gulped as two other guards grabbed their swords. I couldn't fight while carrying a bag of booze, so I shot them in the legs.

I frowned, "No one messes with Eva and her free drinks!"

The two men quickly fell. I stole the key from one of them, opened the massive door, and walked away. Although I wanted to be far from that place, I didn't run to avoid calling other people's attention. I sighed while observing the night sky... I'd spent so many hours in that dungeon! Time goes by fast, doesn't it? Well, not while I walked back to the port. I could barely open my eyes and wouldn't stop thinking about the breakup. Despite everything, I wanted to have said goodbye to the bastard. Our shattered love had left a massive scar on my heart.

I hope my crew didn't abandon me.

When I boarded Ocean Storm, I gawked. Instead of saying ugly things to me, my crew cheered and clapped. Francis wouldn't stop licking my boots. Maartje, Miguel, and Laurens smiled broadly as they approached me. My eyes widened for an instant. The area around Gálvez's right eye was black and his left shoulder was severely injured... What had happened?

"Hello, my wonderful crew! I've escaped our enemies and stole booze for us!" I smiled at my people. "You may rest after grabbing a drink."

The crew celebrated as they walked towards me. A few people took a bottle before returning to their quarters. I sighed in relief once Luna and Tess showed up. They seemed unharmed.

"I love you so much, my treasures!" I closed my eyes for a moment while hugging my daughters tightly. "How was your day?"

"Great! Daddy saved us!" Luna smiled as she glanced at Miguel. "He's my hero!"

Besides being torturing me, the SHA attacked kids? That was crazy! Francis whined, apparently feeling my concern. I knit my brows while approaching Gálvez, wondering what those maniacs had done to him.

I breathed faster, "Are you and the children alright? What happened?"

"We're fine," Miguel bit his lower lip. "The SHA tried to take the kids, but I didn't let them."

"Laurens and I faced some enemies on the main deck while Miguel fought the guys who came to kidnap our babies," my cousin raised her brows. "It was insane!"

"That reminds me! I sent people after Storm, but they haven't returned yet..." my quartermaster glanced at the forecastle deck. "I'll go find them."

Laurens left in a hurry, making Willem cry. Maartje picked up her son and caressed him. That reminded me of how Dirk mistreated Tess, even though Laurens hadn't done the same to Willem.

Willem frowned, "I want my dad!"

"He'll be right back. Let's see the stars," Maartje smiled sweetly after turning to me. "I'm so glad you're alive, Eva! We'll talk about the SHA later."

My cousin walked away. I was relieved she didn't want to discuss the SHA because just thinking of The Englishman gave me jitters. Luna and Tess were distracted by Francis, so I grabbed a rum bottle from the bag and sat on the main deck's starboard side. I drank such a long sip that I almost choked. I looked away to hide my tears. Damn emotions! I hated it when they got the best of me...

Miguel sat on my right, "You don't need to share your concerns if you don't want to, but alcohol isn't the solution."

Honestly, I want to tell you everything.

Although I wanted to say he shouldn't take care of me like I was a child, he was right. I was acting like my drunken dad by using rum to forget the problems.

"I'm overwhelmed. Uncle Ruben's death, the SHA, Dirk's actions... Can you believe the bastard confessed he never loved Tess?" I took a deep breath. "Dirk is probably dead, so I shouldn't speak ill of him, but he broke me inside."

"That's insane! Who wouldn't love their own child? No lo creo..." the Spaniard let out a pronounced sigh. "What happened to Bosch?"

Wiping away my tears, I tried not to remember how Dirk looked at me ... Yeah, it was too late. Despite my sadness, at least I had people to talk to. Although I liked talking to all my friends, Miguel made me feel especially calmer. Luna was right about his soothing voice.

"An enemy stabbed him in the chest. I don't know what happened afterwards. Dirk mistreated me so many times that I'm only grieving the death of our love," I pressed my lips together. "Does that make me a terrible person, Miguel?"

"I always like your jokes, but that was a muy bad one," he raised his brows and smiled. "Eva, you couldn't be a terrible person even if you tried. You have a heart of gold."

I shook my head in denial... Had Miguel gone crazy? That was utterly wrong! After all, I was a criminal. Bosch would definitely disagree with Gálvez and say countless bad things about me.

I grinned, "I'm sure you said that just because I've stolen a lot of gold."

We laughed softly. Finally, some joy! Laughing is so good, isn't it? I couldn't stand crying anymore... That conversation wouldn't fix my broken heart, but at least it made me feel less eager to freak out.

"I told you the truth," Miguel briefly gazed at my daughters. "I've spent enough time in Ocean Storm to know you'd do anything for those you care about."

Alright, maybe he hasn't gone crazy.

"Your black eye says the same about you," I chuckled. "I don't know what would've happened to the kids if you weren't here today, so thank you."

He smiled sweetly. I bit my lower lip while observing Tess and Luna... They were precious, weren't they? I'd decapitate The Englishman if he harmed my girls... Don't judge me! I know you'd do the same for your children.

"The only real love is what we feel for our children. Romantic love fades and is nothing but a big lie," I huffed and stared at the ground. "It disappears faster than Luna when I catch her stealing my hat."

Gálvez chuckled, "That isn't always true."

"Really?" I raised a brow. "How can you be so sure?"

"Some people remain in love for years regardless of how the other person feels. Different from what you believe, love can increase over time," Miguel rubbed his neck. "It makes people wish they could take away all the sadness from their beloved's life. Suddenly, a smile on the loved person's face becomes a huge motivation."

He's clearly not talking about Dirk.

My eyes bulged... What the hell was that? Had Miguel drunk too much before I returned to Ocean Storm? No one would say that nonsense while sober! I wondered why poor Gálvez still believed in those lies.

I tilted my head to the side, "Do you know anyone who feels that way?"

He gulped and looked away, apparently nervous. I frowned, more confused than before. Had I said something wrong? God, I hoped not... I'd made enough mistakes already.

"No, I... I'm just saying it isn't impossible to find someone who does," Gálvez cleared his throat. "Laurens and Maartje probably do. They have a great relationship."

I nodded, "That makes sense. For their sake, I hope you're right."

Miguel and I stayed on the main deck for a few more minutes. Although it was probably nothing, I wanted to know why Gálvez had stammered... He rarely did that! Had I upset him? Perhaps he was still shaken by what the SHA had done. The stupid tears flowed again once I remembered my enemies almost took Luna, Tess, and Willem away. At least I hadn't wasted two bottles of wine for nothing... What? You know those life destroyers deserved it! I hadn't forgotten my problems, but talking to Miguel made me smile. Hopefully, my friends and I would defeat our enemies before The Englishman found us. 

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Author's note: Hey! Thank you for reading! I hope everyone is well. Please vote and comment if you enjoyed this chapter and follow the "Battles and Secrets" playlist on Spotify. All translations can be found below. Will The Englishman ever be defeated? Did Miguel tell Eva the whole truth about not knowing anyone who feels that way? Keep reading and you'll find out... :-)

Quick question: Who do you think The Englishman is?

Foreign words/expressions in order of appearance:

1. No lo creo means "I can't believe it" in Spanish

2. Muy means "very" in Spanish