"Pagan has to die," Caine said, his voice low, emphatic. "It's the only way." He stared at Nathan when
he made that statement. Jade's brother was quick to nod agreement.
Jade bounded out of her chair. "I don't want to die," she cried out. "I won't have it, Caine."
"Now, Jade…" Nathan began.
"He's talking about the pirate," Colin explained. "He isn't really going to kill you, love."
Jade glared at Colin. "I know exactly what he's talking about," she snapped. "And I still won't have it.
Do you have any idea how many years it's taken to build my reputation? When I think…"
The men were ignoring her now. Nathan and Colin were actually smiling. Jade gave up. She sat down again and turned to frown at Caine. "If you hadn't started your hunt to capture Pagan, none of this
would be necessary now. This is all your fault, Caine."
"Jade, it's the only way," Nathan argued. "If Pagan dies, or rather, if the world believes the pirate is
dead, then Caine would have to give up his hunt, wouldn't he? The Tribunal knows he fully believes Pagan is responsible for killing his brother, remember?"
She reluctantly nodded. "Then they'd leave Caine alone, wouldn't they? He'd be safe again?"
Nathan smiled. He turned to Caine. "This plan of yours solves more than one problem," he remarked
with a telling glance in his sister's direction.
Caine nodded. "Jade, you're going to have to change a few of your ways. When Pagan dies, you aren't going to be able to…"
"It's my work," she cried out. "It's what I do best."
Caine closed his eyes. "Exactly what is it that you do so well?"
Nathan answered him. "Harry did the pirating," he explained. "Jade was always on board, but he was
the leader back then. She took care of the land raids. She does have a special talent, Caine. There isn't
a safe she can't open, a latch she can't trick loose."
"In other words, she was an adequate petty thief," Caine drawled out. He was frowning at Jade when
he made that statement.
She took immediate exception to both his manner and his opinion. "I don't care what you think of me, Caine. The deception's over now and you'll never see me again, so it really doesn't matter to me…"
Jade stopped her tirade when Harry's bellow reached her. A woman's shrill scream came next. Jade assumed one of the servants was being terrorized. "If you'll excuse me for a moment?" she asked.
She didn't bother to wait for permission, but rushed out of the room. As soon as the door closed behind her, Caine turned to Nathan. "She'll figure it all out very soon," he announced. "But hopefully by then
we will have staged Pagan's death and it will be too late."
Colin nodded. "Yes, she's bound to realize they know she's with you and that killing Pagan isn't going
to make any difference now. You're both still in danger. Odd, but Jade's usually much quicker," he added. "How long do you think it will take for her to sort it all out?"
It was Nathan who answered. "She already has, Colin. Didn't you see the look of relief in her eyes. It
was fleeting, but there all the same. Deep down, I think she wants it to be over."
"Wouldn't you?" Caine asked Colin. "How could any of you want to go back on the ocean again? Jade isn't capable of being very logical right now. She thinks she has to resume her former… duties," he whispered. "It's a way of proving herself, perhaps. Still, it doesn't matter what her motives are now.
She needs someone to take the possibility away from her, to demand she quit."
"And that's you, Caine?" Colin asked.
"Yes."
Jade walked back into the salon then. Nathan turned to her. "Jade? I don't think you should leave with Jimbo and Matthew just yet. Wait until we've settled this problem."
"Do you mean wait until you've found the Tribunal?" She sounded appalled. "I can't stay here, not
after…"
Caine glared her into forgetting her protest. Jade walked over to the side of his chair and stood there.
Her hands were folded in front of her.
"What about Harry?" Caine asked Nathan. "Will he give us any problems?"
"Why would he?" Colin asked with another yawn. "He's retired now. Surely you've noticed there
haven't been any ships pirated in a long while."
"I noticed," Caine returned. "Still, he might take exception to having his ship burned."
"No!"
Jade was so appalled by that suggestion, she had to sit down. She moved back to the chair and collapsed.
Nathan was sympathetic. "The Emerald has been home for Jade," he said. "Perhaps we could find another ship, paint it to look like the Emerald, and set fire to it. Harry would keep the real one safely hidden."
Caine nodded. "Can he see to this chore? There have to be witnesses to the ship's sinking, witnesses who'll testify they saw Pagan die."
"If it's all spelled out for him, yes," Nathan agreed.
"If he's wearing his spectacles," Colin interjected with a grin.
"I'll go and speak to him now," Caine announced.
Nathan stood up before Caine did. "It's time for you to get some rest, Colin."
Before Caine or his brother realized Nathan's intent, he'd lifted Colin into his arms. Nathan staggered under the weight, righted himself, and then started out of the room. Colin immediately started protesting.
"For God's sake, Nathan, put me down. I'm not an infant."
"Could have fooled me," Nathan returned.
Jade watched the two friends disappear around the corner, then whispered, "Nathan has taken good
care of your brother, Caine."
Caine turned to look at Jade. She was staring at her lap. "So have you, Jade," he replied.
She didn't acknowledge that compliment. "He's very gentle, my brother. He hides behind his angry expression most of the time. His back is scarred from the beatings he's taken, Caine. He wasn't always away at school. He won't talk about that long time he was missing, won't tell me where he was. I only know that there was a woman involved in his torment. He must have loved her very much, I think, and she must have betrayed him, because now he tries to be so cold and cynical all the time. Colin was able
to touch Nathan's heart, though. Your brother gives his friendship without restrictions. He saved Nathan more than once, too. My brother doesn't trust many people, but Colin is the exception."
"Does your brother trust you?"
The question startled her. "Oh, yes," she rushed out. She glanced up to look at him, saw the tenderness
in his eyes, and wondered what had caused that reaction. "Colin could never have managed all those stairs. Nathan knew that. My brother didn't give him time to let his pride become dented."
"It might still be dented just a little," Caine drawled out. They could both still hear Colin shouting his objections.
Jade's smile was hesitant. She stood up, then clasped her hands behind her back while she stared at Caine. "Since I cannot leave England just yet, I believe I shall send a note to Lady Briars and request
an invitation to stay with her." "No."