Page 1 of If I Go Down with This Ship

PROLOGUE

SOMEWHERE ON THE OCEAN, 1717

I’m going to die, I think, grasping the captain’s wrists and arms as I choke, my toes scraping the deck for purchase.Oh, he isstrong.

“Are you wearing my jacket?”the captain asks low, spittle flying.

Yup, I’m going to die.

And then I smell him, that hint of tobacco and salt, the sweetness of burnt sugar nibbling the edges.I clear my throat, the scent making me dizzy.It must be his coat; I would know that smell from anywhere.

“I would never have worn it if I had known,” I croak.I make to remove it, but it’s impossible with him locking me in a stranglehold.Narrowing his eyes, the captain eases his grip, allowing me to shrug out of it.I slide off the jacket and hold it out toward him.

“Why should you live?”he asks, taking it.

I look from the captain to the jacket, my tongue heavy.This is it, the final question in my trial aboard this ship.From my research, I gather any other pirate would have run me through by now, bound me, and tossed me into the sea.

“I can be useful,” I lie.I have never done a hard day’s work in my life.My hands are soft from years of writing, and if he takes one look at them, he’ll know.But I have to lie, I have to hope that I can make myself useful.

A useless pirate is… useless.There must be something I can do aboard this ship, somewhere I can help.

But he just tilts his head and raises a brow at me as if he already knows, and my stomach drops.Slowly, he shrugs on the jacket, and I can see it fits him much better than it does me, the garment tailored to his form.I try not to stare at the way it hugs his broad shoulders and elongates his torso, or the way the blue pops against his suntanned skin.

I’ve always liked theideaof pirates, but I’m starting to wonder, do I have athingfor them?

“Take him below,” the captain orders with a wave of his hand.

My cheeks flame as he meets my eyes.Goddamn it, I do have a thing for pirates.Looking after him almost wistfully, I sigh.

Well, fuck me.

I’m screwed.

1Just a Hop, Skiff, and a Jump Away

THREE HOURS EARLIER

To say that life has been weird lately would be an understatement.

It seems people are falling in love everywhere I go, and no matter where I run off to, I can’t seem to get away from this air of unparalleled change.

Yet, despite everything, I’m still surprised when I toe open the door to my London flat and find my sister, Louise, standing there when she should be in another country entirely.

“Lou, what are you doing here?”I narrow my eyes.“How did you even get a key?”

She leans against my door, blond curls framing her soft features like a halo.“Laszlo Morgenstern, is that any way to talk to your sister?I wouldn’t be here if you would just respond to one of my texts or calls.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be in Turkey?You still haven’t answered my question about the key, by the way.”

“I got a few days off and figured I should come check on you, make sure you’re still breathing.It’s been so difficult keeping tabs on you since you moved from Portland that I take any chance I can get.Besides, I’m ahead of my deadlines,” she says with a dismissive wave of her hand.

“I’ve got a deadline,” I mutter.Sighing, I start to move past her with my suitcase in hand, but she throws her arms around my neck as I try to slip inside, nearly choking me.

“Lou,” I manage, attempting to pry her off with my free hand.

“Shh,” she says into my ear, “just let me hug you, Lasz.”

“You’re choking me.”