Although I was relieved Dirk and I weren't together anymore, the horrible things he said kept returning to my mind. You must be laughing at me... How can I blame you? I'm ridiculous! I fell for the wrong man, didn't love him so much, and insisted on the relationship for years. Only a dumb soft-hearted lady would do that. Love is a stupid emotion, isn't it? How could a paranoid woman ignore her worries exactly when she shouldn't have? Yes, I was uncertain about marrying Bosch despite loving him. Why didn't I listen to my intuition? I wondered how he'd never tried to be aggressive towards Luna... Wait, I know! Because Miguel and I would've thrown him to the sharks. I sighed while trying to think where that horrible man could be if he survived the stabbing. I observed the sunset on the main deck, trying to forget my heartbreak. We were docked in Tortuga, one of my favorite places, which made me slightly happier.

"Acting like Hendrika wasn't enough. You also had to cheat! You could've satisfied me the few times we were together, but even in that you failed..." I gazed at the pearl necklace in my right hand. "A rock would've treated me better!"

Taking a deep breath, I smashed that rotten piece of jewelry. My head hurt as I remembered Dirk giving me that stupid gift on our anniversary. Bosch claimed he forgot I hated pearls because I talked too much... Can you believe it? What an idiot! Even the SHA probably knew about poor thirteen-year-old Eva trying to please her stepmother only to get flogged afterward. Don't follow my example. Stay with a man who doesn't treat you like empty rum bottles.

"You ruined love for me! I hope you're happy!" I wrinkled my nose. "Goodbye!"

Without a single drop of regret, I threw the necklace in the ocean. That gift proved how little he cared about me. I should've gotten rid of that atrocity before, but guess what? No! I had to let love blind me and keep the blood-stained pearls. Anyway, enough of the unhealable scar that bastard left on my heart. My lips curled into a weak smile as Maartje approached me and gently put a hand on my shoulder. Francis ran and licked my legs, seemingly feeling my pain.

I raised my brows, "Don't give me that look! I know we could've sold that necklace, but I had to get rid of it."

"It's been two months since Dirk disappeared and you're still thinking about it..." Maartje caressed my back. "He isn't worthy of your attention, Storm."

"Dirk and I were good together in the beginning! I was sure we would be partners for life," I put both hands on my face. "However, I always knew he was too aggressive. I just ignored it. How could I be so stupid?"

"Don't be hard on yourself. This isn't your fault," my cousin sighed. "Love makes us see what we want to see."

"Come on!" I rolled my eyes. "This is the same as saying it isn't the seagull's fault that the fish was devoured."

My remark wouldn't solve the problem, but at least it made my cousin laugh. Francis barked as if he tried to chuckle. I bit my lower lip while trying to remember the times Dirk made me laugh... It rarely happened. I'm the one who usually cracked jokes, but he could've at least tried. Tess was the only real joy Bosch had brought me.

Maartje smiled sweetly, "I love your sense of humor. Bosch doesn't know what he's missing."

"You're right," I stared at my toes. "If I hadn't believed Dirk could change, I wouldn't have stayed with him for so long. I shouldn't have given that idiot so many chances."

My cousin cocked her head to the side, "What do you mean?"

You have no idea how long I've been unhappy...

I took a deep breath while gathering the courage to say something painful. Something that had been buried in my heart for years... Look at this beauty! I created such a deep sentence about my feelings, didn't I? A pirate captain can be elegant sometimes too. Jokes aside, I'm telling the truth. I hadn't said that to anyone before. I looked in every direction, wondering if someone else was listening.

"I regret my relationship with Dirk. We were happy for a while, but I fell out of love like he did," I shook my head in denial. "My feelings for him weren't that strong."

My cousin scowled, "So why didn't you dump him before?"

"Tess influenced my decision. I wanted her to have a father," I glanced away due to my shame. "However, the main reason is I didn't want to admit I'd chosen the wrong person. That's why I gave Dirk countless undeserved chances."

Francis whined, apparently worried. Maartje nodded as if she somehow expected my response. Was my cousin a mind reader? I hoped not! Sometimes I thought she knew me better than I did.

"Just as I thought," my cousin decreased her tone of voice. "That explains why you put up with Dirk despite being unhappy with him."

"Exactly," I pressed my lips together. "I've made a huge mistake."

"There's one good thing about this heartbreak," Maartje walked closer. "Now you know what guys to avoid when searching for a new love."

I laughed hysterically. There was no way I'd open the doors to my heart a second time. I was sick of getting hurt. Dad, Hendrika, Sven... and now Dirk. Only Maartje, Miguel, and Laurens weren't on the list of people who'd disappointed me. Even my uncle wasn't out because he'd killed my father despite all his good actions. I really didn't want to add a new person to the list.

"Are you crazy?" I frowned. "Dirk ruined romance for me! I never want to love again!"

Francis whined and walked closer. I chuckled since my dog seemed to disagree... Yeah, he had an opinion sometimes.

"I'm serious," I caressed my dog's head. "Love isn't for me, Francis. You won't change my mind."

When Maartje was about to talk, Francis barked. Laurens and Miguel showed up with the kids. My dog ran to greet them. I couldn't help but smile when Francis licked Gálvez's boots nonstop. I was relieved I wouldn't need to talk about Bosch anymore. Maartje was making me crazy with that subject. I hoped the redhead survived the SHA attack, but I never wanted to see him again.

Luna ran to me, "I want a sword, but daddy won't let me have one!"

Miguel and I laughed as we looked at each other. Although I admired my eldest daughter's determination to be a pirate, I couldn't hand her a weapon... It'd end in tragedy, to say the least. Giving a sword to a four-year-old wouldn't be a good idea.

I caressed my daughter's back, "I agree with your dad, sweetie. You can't have a sword yet."

"Why? I'm a big girl!" Luna pouted and crossed her arms. "I want to be a pirate and protect you from scary guys!"

I know you mean well, Luna, but did you have to remind me of that idiot?

Maartje and Laurens sighed as if they knew I needed a hug... I hated it when people looked at me like that! I had a failed marriage, so what? Dirk didn't deserve my sadness. I was determined to forget his extreme aggressiveness, the cheating, the insane way he despised Tess... I'm letting him destroy me inside again, aren't I? Anyway, I looked at the sky to keep the tears from falling.

"I'll ask Kenneth to make wooden swords for you and Tess," Miguel smiled at Luna. "What do you think?"

My eldest shook Miguel's hand, "We have a deal!"

Laurens chuckled, "Luna learned to say that with you, didn't she, Storm?"

"That's what I say while negotiating. I take Luna with me sometimes because she likes feeling like a pirate," I grinned. "Besides, it's easier to sell booty for higher prices when a child is nearby."

"Really? How interesting..." Maartje crossed her arms and frowned. "That's why you took Willem to sell false sugar last week, Laurens?"

Miguel raised his brows, "You're in trouble, mi amigo..."

At least my friends are making me happy.

My quartermaster bit his lower lip. Maartje narrowed her eyes, seemingly about to punch him in the face... Why was she so bothered? The kids loved to participate! It wasn't dangerous to bring them to our negotiations because the buyers loved them. Honestly, Luna and Tess got more sales than me... Especially Luna because people had a weak spot for bilingual kids. In case you didn't know, we pirates sold fake sugar a lot to sell the real one more times. We sometimes replaced sugar with sand or mixed both... Don't judge us! It's a good strategy.

"Let's go for a drink," I gave my quartermaster a pat on the back. "Laurens will need one soon."

Francis barked as if he agreed. Laurens chuckled, but his smile disappeared once Maartje shot him an icy glare. Miguel and I couldn't stop laughing. My cousin ended up smiling... Yes, even the upset wife surrendered! I left Ocean Storm with my friends, Francis, and the kids. We walked around Tortuga until we found a tavern with the least drunk guys. Although Tess, Willem, and Luna were used to seeing drunk people, we wanted to spare them from the weird things that happened in overcrowded taverns... No kid deserved to see such craziness.

I hope my daughters find happiness in piracy because they won't find it in love.

We sat after finding a table. Maartje brought a glass of ale to everyone but the children. We placed Luna, Willem, and Tess farther to prevent them from hearing our conversation. Francis remained sat by my right foot... I hoped he wouldn't lick the spilled drinks. I didn't want to see my dog wasted... or would it be funny? I wasn't sure.

"We should create a strategy to defeat the SHA," I drank a sip of my ale. "They haven't attacked us since Dirk disappeared, but we need a plan. Even if it's just stealing their fancy coats and weapons."

"I could infiltrate the Armada to get us information. Maybe not all of them know how El Dorado looks," Miguel rubbed his chin. "It's risky, but it'll help us greatly if it works."

My eyes bulged and I almost spat my ale. Had Gálvez gone crazy? He couldn't risk his life! Maartje and Laurens gaped, seemingly thinking the same. Miguel was brave, but many courageous people ended up dead. I'd lose my mind if the man who was Luna's father and one of my best friends got killed.

"Are you insane? This is suicide!" I took a deep breath to avoid freaking out. "I can't lose you, Miguel, so this is out of the question."

"Losing Ruben was bad enough. We can't have another family member killed," Laurens wouldn't stop chewing on his lip. "What about forming an alliance with another captain?"

"I've heard some men talking about a captain from Tuscany who wears a dark red coat," Maartje took a long sip of her ale. "He shouldn't be hard to find. I've never seen a pirate wearing that color."

I frowned, "Where's Tuscany? Is it a hidden island nearby?"

Miguel turned to me, "It's in the Italian Peninsula. Not so far from France."

"I didn't know you were an expert in geography," I laughed softly while leaning closer. "How long have you been hiding this talent?"

Gálvez chuckled and shook his head in denial. Yeah, my knowledge of country locations was none... Simply a tragedy! After all, I'd asked if a place near France was in the Caribbean... Stupid!

"My dad taught me before we became pirates," Miguel pushed his glass away as if he wanted to see me more clearly. "Perhaps we should go to Europe juntos someday. We could visit Tuscany after I show you my country."

"That'd be fun," I smiled playfully. "I'll eat like a pig if we visit Spain because I've heard the food is great, so be prepared."

"That makes two of us because I love eating," Gálvez slightly decreased his tone of voice. "That's why my mom said I'd make all the food disappear before the apocalypse."

I smiled mischievously, "Is this an eating competition? Because I'll definitely beat you!"

Miguel and I laughed loudly. I slid my fingers through his arm, and he touched my hand. We recoiled after the accidental touching that gave me a weird fluttering feeling in the gut... Don't look at me like that! Strange things happen between close friends sometimes. Maartje and Laurens grinned mysteriously as they observed me. I hoped my friends weren't thinking nonsense.

Miguel sipped his drink, "I don't doubt it, but I won't go easy on you."

I chuckled, "Don't worry. I always appreciate a good challenge."

I kept smiling and so did Gálvez. We remained looking at each other for an instant. When I thought I'd have some peace, my joy disappeared faster than a hurricane... Guess who was staring at me from a nearby table? Yes, the man who'd broken my heart in a million pieces! How fun was that? That was precisely what he did four years ago in Tortuga when we were still enemies... Yeah, bad memories never die.

What does he want this time?

Gálvez raised a brow, "Are you alright?"

"Everything's fine," I hesitantly stood up. "I'll be right back."

Slowly approaching Dirk, I took a deep breath. Luckily, my friends didn't see the bastard. I had to know what he wished to say. I promised myself that'd be the last time I'd talk to Bosch. Although I wanted to be relieved he was alive, all I felt was fear... Hadn't the bastard tortured me enough? He needed more? Apparently, Dirk's favorite dish was my misery.

"I need you to come outside," Dirk analyzed me creepily. "We need to talk."

I scowled, "What do you want? If we have this conversation, will you disappear from my life?"

Bosch pressed his lips together, seemingly trying to control his anger. It was dangerous to talk to him alone, but I had to know what that idiot wished to bother me with. Besides, I hadn't said everything I wanted before he almost died.

Dirk nodded, "Yes. We'll never see each other again after today."

I sighed in relief, "Great!"

The redhead gazed at me as if he wanted to read my mind. I remained so still that I thought I'd turned to stone... Honestly, I wish I did so that I could avoid talking to him.

"You look oddly calm," he scowled. "Aren't you scared?"

I shot him a defiant stare, "I destroyed two mad leaders, became the first female pirate captain, defeated the Royal Navy, gave birth inside a pirate ship twice, and escaped prison. Do you really think I'm afraid of you?"

Dirk gawked. I smiled since I'd shown I wasn't the weak lady he wanted me to be. Even though I'd made a mistake by staying with that idiot for years, I wouldn't make another by being a coward.

My ex-husband rolled his eyes, "I forgot how snobbish you are."

I faked a smile, "Good for you! I wish I'd forgotten how horribly annoying you are."

"Can we go?" the redhead huffed. "I don't have all day."

I took a deep breath, "Let's get this over with."

Bosch nodded and we stood up. We wouldn't stop glaring at each other. I sighed, waiting for any good sensations to come... Nothing. When Dirk and I began our relationship, my heart would beat faster when he was nearby. However, he'd never made me feel safe and I didn't smile much when we were together. I'd always felt a weird tension when Bosch was around. Perhaps I should've listened to my intuition and seen that as a bad sign... How could I be so blind? Anyway, it was meaningless to dwell on the past. My hands wouldn't stop sweating. Maybe I should've called my friends for help, but they didn't deserve to be dragged into my mess. I was determined to face Dirk alone, regardless of the danger.

**** 

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. What does Dirk want? Will he redeem himself? Keep reading and you'll find out... :-)

Foreign words/expressions in order of appearance:

1. Mi amigo means "my friend" in Spanish

2. Juntos means "together" in Spanish