The Dark Heart of the Sea by Celeste Barclay

Author:Celeste Barclay [Barclay, Celeste]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-05-03T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Ruairí grasped the side of the dinghy as Tomas rowed him toward the surf break. He ordered that both his dinghy and the one that carried five other crew members should stop. He spotted Aidan moving along the beach with his entire crew behind him. Ruairí didn’t intend to go ashore with only a handful of his crew while Aidan had all of his, and he had no intention of meeting Aidan on his ground again. If the Irishman wanted his help, Ruairí expected Aidan to meet him at least halfway, which put them in the bobbing surf in dinghies. Unlikely and unstable places to launch an attack, Ruairí’s crew had conducted meetings such as these before, so they waited patiently for the other pirate captain to row out to them. None of them underestimated Aidan O’Flaherty or his sailors. Ruairí and his men all had dirks at hand, hidden under thighs and backsides but easily accessible.

As Ruairí expected, Aidan waited on the beach for five minutes before throwing up his hands and ordering his dinghies into the water. Ruairí adopted a bored expression, using his sgian dubh to pick invisible dirt from under his nails as Aidan approached. He yawned as the other pirate’s boat glided to a halt beside his.

“Tired?” Aidan grinned.

“Aye. No peace for the wicked,” Ruairí returned Aidan’s grin, but smug satisfaction filled his expression as jealousy flashed across Aidan’s face. “I haven’t much time, so on with it. What do you want from the O’Driscolls and me?”

“Fionn O’Driscoll owes me a favor.”

“Aye, killing his piece of shite father. I’m not convinced he’ll jump at paying back that favor. I think he’d see you in Hell first.”

“Right you are, but he hates the MacLeods and O’Malleys more than he hates me. Or you.”

“And so you assume the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I can barely stand you, and I doubt Fionn O’Driscoll can do much better.”

“You had no problem sitting at my table and eating my food last eve.”

“You have better wine. And that was neither your table nor your food. Both belonged to the MacAlisters.”

Aidan waved his hand in a dismissive gesture before glancing over Ruairí’s shoulder at the Lady Charity. Ruairí once again grinned. Aidan could search all he wanted, but he wouldn’t spot Senga. She agreed she shouldn’t be on the deck where Aidan might spot her, but she’d argued against relying on the porthole in their cabin to show her what was happening. Senga perched in the crow’s nest while Ruairí rowed out to meet the Irish pirate. She’d climbed up while it was still dark, knowing no one beyond their ship could see her. Aidan caught Ruairí observing him and grimaced. It only broadened Ruairí’s grin.

“She’s tucked away. It was a long night.” Ruairí continued to clean his nails as though Aidan was of little consequence to him. “You still haven’t given me a reason to help you. My wife is happy to never return to Lewis. She’s a MacNeil now, not a MacLeod.

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