Chapter 10 #4
“You’re barking up the wrong tree, lads,” he answered, folding his arms across his chest to appear unphased. Yet observing Rosetta in danger got his pulse unsteady. Strange – usually, he didn’t care.
Her head was tilted back like she was trying to shy away from the edge of the knife at her neck. It exposed the pale column of her throat, making her look undeniably helpless.
His brows furrowed when he expected her to look beseechingly at him, and she didn’t. Rather, she appeared relaxed, her expression almost... bored.
“We know exactly who you are. There’s a pretty bounty on your head.”
When his expression darkened into a glare, the man holding her pressed the knife closer. Alister didn’t take in the details of the assailants, unable to tear his eyes away from Rosetta and the blade glinting menacingly in the sun.
They’re not bounty hunters. They would have gone straight for the head if they were. Bounty hunters were generally smarter than this.
“It’s double if I’m alive so that wretched queen can hang me herself.”
Alister scoffed out a laugh at the ridiculous notion. The only way he would ever face the queen was when he was nothing more than a head without its corpse.
Bounty hunters knew this. Too many had died by his hands to risk being this foolish.
“You’re awfully attached to this wench, aren’t you?” the one holding the knife mocked with a sneer.
Aye, I am. How attached was the question.
Would he risk his own life to save Rosetta?
When they’d been sailing in this direction, he’d told her he would protect his own skin before hers. Now that he was faced with this dilemma, he couldn’t say he felt the same.
“She’s rather pretty.” Her captor brushed his crooked nose over the side of her face, as though smelling her. Her lips twitched into a grimace; seeing her uncomfortable at the touch made his gut twist. “Wouldn’t mind having her for myself for a night.”
The second man revealed a set of iron shackles he had hidden behind his back. “Give us your wrists or we’ll dice her.”
His eye once more found Rosetta, who was still staring at him. Her expression had fallen back to the previously dull one, but she must think he had no intention of helping her.
He was unsure how to do that without complying with what they said or risking her life.
Then a grin formed across his features.
He realised he didn’t need to do anything.
“Nay.” He chuckled, unfolding his arms. “I’m not the one you should be worried about.”
They turned their heads to each other in confusion, right before Rosetta snuck her hand out from inside her dress.
She pulled her pistol from its holder, threw her hand up, and placed it under the man’s chin. He had no chance to react before she pulled the trigger and shot him.
Blood sprayed over the side of her face, shoulder, and neck. Alister swiftly grabbed his own gun and shot the man beside her before he could do anything.
One fell to the dirt right after the other.
Pedestrians scattered quickly, avoiding them after witnessing them murder two people. It didn’t matter that they had been attacked first; they were the ones who had killed.
“Thanks for giving me the chance to reach for my pistol,” Rosetta stated as she bent down and started going through their attackers’ clothing, flipping their coats and tugging at their pants.
“Smart thinking on your part.”
“They always think I’m helpless because I’m in a dress.
It’s why I love wearing one in port.” She shook her head, but he could see her shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
“Nothing is more priceless than watching a man realise he’s made a grave mistake.
Instant regret is such a wonderful expression. ”
She straightened to her feet while keeping her hands hidden behind her back. “That’s why I was never worried if this ever happened. Now, pick a hand.”
His forehead crinkled deeply, but he picked her left hand.
“Ha! Unlucky choice.” She threw a very light coin purse at him. “I get the heavier one.”
Just as he caught it in his fist, she brought the other one forward and poured a few silver coins into her palm. She placed them inside her dress and threw the empty pouch onto the ground on top of the bodies.
Alister did the same, eyeing her over. She’s not upset? She just had her life threatened because of him.
Although he was thankful she wasn’t shouting at him – he wouldn’t have reacted well if she had – he thought the hot-tempered Rosetta would have been berating him for this. Instead, she gently placed her palms on either side of his face and gazed up at him curiously.
“What’s that expression for?” His brows drew together between her hands.
Her expression seemed soft and sincere as she looked up at him, her blue eyes catching the sunlight and shining above her freckles.
Those spots seemed even darker than before, and he thought perhaps even a few new speckles had joined them.
“Thank you for coming with me today. I’m actually having fun. ”
Has she always been so... bubbly?
Had Alister just never noticed Rosetta could be warm like this, or was this a new development? The way she’d been with him this day felt strange, but it didn’t completely feel out of character.
A sweet woman in a sea of filthy pirates. It was like she was a giant sunflower surrounded by nothing but dirt. She’d stood out the moment he’d met her, and even from a distance, she drew attention.
Why was he only just now realising this? He’d been witnessing it for months.
When he didn’t respond, too busy losing himself in her glowing, pretty face, she moved her hands and flicked him on the forehead.
“Despite the fact that you would have let me die.”
She turned away from the crime scene they’d just created, heading towards the shop as if nothing had happened.
Alister was sure he’d have to pay off the guards at some point. That’s if he wasn’t with his crew when they tried to arrest them for this. If he was... well, good luck to them.
“Considered helping you for a moment.”
“Pfft!” She waved her hand dismissively. “Liar. Even if that were true, there was very little you could have done.”
“Too bad for them you’re a tricky bitch.” He chuckled, earning himself a smirk. She even threw him a wink.
Then she started wiping the blood from her skin with the skirt of her dress, revealing the layer of white frills beneath the top layer.
“And I just had a bath. Was hoping to stay clean before we set sail again.” She pulled a few strands of her hair forward and groaned. “Maybe I can dunk my head somewhere.”
He reached his hand forward and used his thumb to wipe the crimson splatter from her jaw that she’d missed. “Blood’s a good colour on you.”
While she was laughing at him for what he’d said, he turned his head to look over his shoulder, to make sure they weren’t being followed. He was still rather angry they’d been snuck up on.
“We’re a pretty good team,” she mumbled.
He’d been thinking the same thing. “You argue with me too much.”
“That’s because you’re arrogant!”
“You also never listen to me!”
She elbowed him in the kidney, so he pushed her to the side by palming her head. Their banter was cut short when she took them to a shop door and opened it. A bell rang above.
Alister stood in front of it, unsure if he was meant to follow inside or not. He’d rather not stand in a shop meant for women, so he leaned up against the wall next to the door with his arms folded.
People gave him odd looks, since he was standing in front of a dress shop, but they didn’t stare long when his glaring good eye captured both of theirs.
Impatiently, he waited.