Free A Pirate's Possession by Michelle Beattie Page B

but—”
    â€œNo you don’t. You don’t know what it’s like to be left behind. I have no family, no money and”—she once again pointed to her clothes—“no dignity. I can’t hold my head up, I can’t simply be Claire Gentry. You told me the treasure couldn’t only be about the money and you were right. Yes, I have plans for the treasure, for what it can provide. But besides that, I can’t buy myself a home, I can’t let my hair grow again, and I can’t ever be a lady. I can’t do anything but live hand to mouth and hope nobody discovers I’m a woman!”
    Vincent allowed her the time to gather her emotions before he continued.
    â€œAnd the reason Nate knows of the treasure?”
    Claire sighed. “I told him about it. Not at first, but later once we’d become close friends. I didn’t have the map, you see, but I’d looked at it enough times to have it committed to memory and I shared that with Nate. He promised me we’d find it one day.”
    â€œAnd you think he’s been looking for it all this time?” Vincent shook his head. “He hasn’t. When we were on Blake’s ship, Nate never went off looking for any treasure.”
    â€œYou said he’s had this ship three years?”
    â€œYes.”
    Claire sneered. “And in those three years you’re telling me he hasn’t looked?”
    Vincent’s frown was her answer.
    â€œAmong my many regrets, I wish I’d never told Nate about the map,” she said.
    She met Vincent’s gaze, prayed he’d understand why the treasure was so important to her. But as his silence grew, so did Claire’s fears that Vincent would stand behind Nate.
    â€œI’ll help you,” he said finally.
    Claire’s heart filled as fast as her eyes.
    â€œYou will? Really?”
    â€œYes.”
    Smiling, she turned around, dug the map out of her undershirt. When she faced Vincent again, she had the paper clasped between her fingers. In a move she wasn’t prepared to halt, Vincent snatched it out of her hands.
    â€œYou said you’d help me!” she sputtered.
    â€œI will. I am. But you’ve said yourself you need money. Nate has that and a ship. Who better to help?”
    Claire couldn’t believe her ears. Vincent was betraying her trust? Already? At least Nate had waited years to do that.
    â€œYou let me talk, led me to believe you were on my side, that you cared, that you understood. And now you turn against me? You’re as heartless as he is!”
    â€œWhat? I most certainly am not!” he argued, his hands fisted on his hips.
    But Claire was through listening. How many men had to lie to her before she learned her lesson? Well, no more.
    â€œI don’t need you, Vincent. Not you, and you can be bloody sure I don’t need Nate either.”
    She spun, desperate for an escape. She hadn’t forgotten they were at sea, but she couldn’t remain in his cabin for one more second. She raced for the ladder and had made her way up three rungs before the hatch opened and Nate’s shadow fell over her.
    Claire lurched to a stop. Fire burned in her gaze. Its fiery blaze was enough that Nate looked down to ensure the ladder hadn’t turned to ash.
    â€œGoing somewhere?” he asked.
    â€œI’d say anywhere there isn’t a lying man, but then I don’t believe such a place exists.”
    Nate looked to Vincent. His friend held up his hand and the map within it. His expression wasn’t as happy as it should have been. No doubt Claire had taken a layer off his hide.
    â€œGet out of my way,” she snarled.
    Nate stepped aside, let Claire pass. The loathing she directed at him as she met him on the ladder stung Nate. He rubbed the back of his neck.
    â€œShe’s angry as a stirred-up nest of bees.”
    â€œWell, perhaps if you hadn’t promised her, back in the orphanage, that you were