Free In the Arms of a Pirate (A Sam Steele Romance Book 2) by Michelle Beattie

been lying to you. Roche Santiago is no merchant sailor, he’s one of most vicious and vile pirates sailing the Caribbean waters.”
    She couldn’t have been more shocked. “Pirate? He most certainly is not!”
    “Why would I lie?”
    “Why wouldn’t you? Why would he?” Unsettled, Sarah pushed to her feet, glad he’d shoved the stool aside so she could stand without bumping into him.
    She stopped at the large windows, looked out into the gardens. Usually the butterflies and bees skittering from one colorful flower to the next brought her comfort, peace. She felt anything but peaceful.
    No, it was as she’d believed; this man was mistaken. Her father might not treat her as she’d want to be treated but she’d never doubted his love for her. He wouldn’t have lied to her all these years. No father would deliberately deceive his only child. Her whole life a ruse? Impossible. Besides, why would she take a rake’s word over her own father’s?
    Feeling calmer, she once again addressed the captain. “Mister—”
    “Aidan.”
    “Pardon?”
    He stood, walked closer. “My name is Aidan and what I’ve said is the truth. I know who Roche Santiago is. I’ve looked him in the eye and as he’s currently got my ship—the one he stole from me—I can assure you I am not mistaken. He is a pirate to the depths of his black soul.”
    Black soul? Yes, she’d seen a glimpse of his temper, and clearly he wasn’t perfect or she wouldn’t have been trying to escape his house but to say he had a black soul?
    “Stealing a ship, if indeed that is what happened, does not make him soulless, nor a pirate.”
    “No, but killing innocent people does. And before you try to deny it, he tried to kill me and my family.”
    “Kill?” She shook her head. Her father was no murderer. “No.”
    “He hunted us down, devastated a family celebration and nearly killed us all by lighting the house on fire. We were in the house, and there were children. Alicia’s youngest is no more than a few months old. He escaped, with most of his crew and my ship. We lost several good men and some maids as well, but it could have been much worse.”
    “You expect me to believe he hunted you like animals? I’ve only met you and I’ve known him my entire life. Why would I take your word for this? What you’re describing is not the man I know!” Despite the sun’s warmth beaming into the room, Sarah felt chilled.
    “You can ask any of the men with me as they were there as well.”
    She crossed her arms, scoffed. “Of course, they would validate your story. As they are your men, I’d hardly expect different. That doesn’t make it truth.”
    “What purpose would I have in lying to you?”
    “Any number I should think. To gain my trust, to somehow turn me against my father.”
    “I have no interest in turning you against your father. I tell you this because it’s fact and because I believe every child should know the truth about its parents.”
    She caught the hurt in his tone but he was already moving past her. “There are guards everywhere. Please don’t waste anybody’s time trying to escape.”
    He couldn’t simply walk away. She had more questions.
    “Wait! I’ve heard stories of pirates, read many tales about them. They’re supposed to be filthy and crude and missing half their teeth. My father doesn’t dress that way and he has all his teeth.”
    “Looks can be deceiving,” he tossed over his shoulder.
    “How is it you know so much about pirates?”
    He turned at the door, looked her in the eye. “Because I am one.”
    *
    “Well, that could have gone worse,” Lucky muttered beneath the bloodied towel he held under his nose.
    Aidan grunted, knuckled away some blood from the corner of his mouth and prayed the relentless throbbing in his knee would ease soon. The morning shift of guards and maids had arrived, along with the gardener, and subduing them had taken more time and men than Aidan had anticipated. There were bruises