Free The Wicked Ways of Alexander Kidd (The MacGregors: Highland Heirs) by Paula Quinn

know, old friend,” Alex told him, hoping to convince him to release her cousin. Why? Why did he risk disagreement with his partner for her? “But we’ve looked away from our laws before. And these are, after all, family of the MacGregor chief.”
    Sam stared at him for a minute while the men mumbled their disappointment at not getting to toss someone overboard. “Fine.” Sam sighed and shoved MacGregor away. “But I’ll not let him take a dagger to ya.”
    Alex nodded, then turned to his men. “Bring him to the mate’s quarters and remove any weapons he carries.”
    “What of her?” Samuel asked upon reaching them.
    “She’ll be stayin’ with me.” He turned to one of the sailors to his right. “Have Cooper bring our mornin’ meals to me cabin.”
    “Captain,” Kyle warned, despite his brush with death, “if ye put yer hands on her—”
    Alex held up his palm to stop Sam from hitting the Highlander. “Ya have me word, MacGregor.”
    That seemed to mollify Kyle, at least while he leaned over the side of the boat and dry heaved into the ocean.
    “Captain, ye have my thanks fer stopping yer brutes from tossing my cousin overboard, but I will not stay in yer cabin.” Trina tried to pull away from him. He held her securely.
    “Ya’ll obey the captain and be safe from the men,” Sam told her. “Yar cousin may believe he can take us all, but he will die if he’s forced to try to protect ya again. Will ya live with his death well?”
    She looked over at her sick cousin and shook her head, terrified and defeated.
    Alex felt a twinge of pity for her but Sam was correct in warning her of the consequences of her actions.
    “Come.” He tugged her toward his cabin and didn’t look back at Sam or anyone else before he shut the door behind them.
    “I can sleep in the cargo hold tonight without the others knowing.”
    “Ya’ll sleep in the bed,” he corrected her, letting her go. He leaned against the door to watch her while she turned, pale, and had a long look at the bed.
    “And where will ye be sleeping?” she asked, returning her attention to him, chin raised.
    He had to grin at her resolve. Her inner strength wasn’t something taught but rather it flowed through her veins from the blood of her kin. He found her damned sexy. So much more so than the whores he paid for. He thought she deserved his approval and his appreciation, but her fire tempted him to pillage her.
    “I’ll be sleepin’ in my bed, as well.”
    Her eyes widened to delightful proportions, but when she spoke, her voice was steady. “I’ll throw myself overboard first.”
    He considered her vow and remembered that she hadalready escaped from his hold. “Can ya escape any lock then?” He clicked the lock on his door and took a step toward her. Perhaps it was her cousin who knew how to—
    “Mostly any,” she replied, taking a step back.
    He quirked his mouth and tilted his head at her. She piqued his interest. What kind of life had she led in Skye? Did she break into rooms and rob other people’s goods? Did the rest of her clan know? He wanted to learn more about her. “Yar aim with an arrow is quite remarkable.” He caught the subtlest hint of pride squaring her shoulders. She liked compliments, like any woman did. When he reached her, it took all his strength to resist the urge to hold her, kiss her mouth… “Ya know how to pick locks and board ships.” He circled her, closing his eyes while he breathed in the sweet fragrance of her hair. Her backside brushed against his groin, but it was her reaction that nearly did him in. He moved away, despite his desire to remain and feel her tremble against him. “What else can ya do that I should know about, Miss Grant?”
    A sharp pinch in his abdomen made him look down. He was surprised to see not just any dagger pushed against him, but
his
personal dagger that she held.
    “I can protect myself from wild beasts.”
    He threw back his head and laughed, sincerely delighted by