Page 73 of The Worst of Them

He chuckled, a surprised, musical sound she’d come to recognize as his real laugh, rather than one of seduction or games. “I don’t hope for that. Despite what you may believe of me, I don’t play with girls under twenty.” He was only seven years older than she was, which she didn’t think was terribly awful. She’d heard of matches with greater gaps in years.

But before she could ask how he was sure of her age, he said, “Jack told me.”

Any trace of humor vanished from her face. “Jack—? I don’t see why anything I do would be his concern.”

Amused, Hein responded, “Everything you do seems to be his concern.”

In what way? she wanted to demand as indignation flared. But she didn’t want to talk about him. She didn’t want to spend any more time agonizing over him than she already had.

Instead of pursuing any matter related to Jack, she shifted the subject back to her age.

“So even knowing I was under twenty, you played with me anyway.”

“You played with me first that day on the ridge,” he replied, his tone light but rife with rare honesty, “and I’m not so simple as to think our game has anything to do with either of us.” As they rounded a bend, the inn came into view. The other pirates were congregated just inside the trees, and there was Jack, brooding against a trunk while Frederick spoke about something that had him wildly gesticulating to the others’ merriment.

Hein’s voice lowered. “I like and respect Jack, but I still enjoy outdoing him. If you’re keen on torturing him, I’m merely happy to join your cause.”

She thought about Spain again, but spotting Hester up ahead, she couldn’t bring herself to ask Hein outright to steal her away.

She stopped and faced him. “Did he tell you Hester gets punished if I abandon Copson’s crew? He and Greyson as well.”

Hein shook his head. “He didn’t tell me that much. Are you at risk for abandoning?”

“Copson said I couldn’t go when I asked. Any concern Jack has for me is for his own sake,” she told him with staid assuredness. “He’s manipulative and mean, and my dislike for him runs deeper than wanting to torture him.”

Hein smirked. There was a glint of knowing in his eyes, like she’d missed some key piece of information he was unwilling to give her. “Deeper. Yes, I’m sure it’s so much deeper.”

“What,” she demanded.

He stepped closer, his hand slowly lifting to cup her cheek. Her heart faltered, feeling that she was suddenly losing their game, though she wasn’t sure why.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“You’re a smart girl. I’ve no doubt you’ll figure it out.” He leaned down to press his lips to her cheek, right at the edge of her mouth. His hand concealed the point of contact, and to those farther up the road, it would very much look like he was kissing her properly.

His lips were cool and soft, and his breath fanned lightly over her skin. He’d never been so bold with her—no one had—but she let it happen, wondering if this might finally be the moment she felt something for him other than the will to use him for her own ends.

It was not, and she sighed away her lack of surprise.

Hein chuckled low in his throat, before he stepped back, took her hand, and started for the inn again. By the woods, Frederick was still talking, but Jack leveled Hein with a frosty look. When his attention turned to Cecily, he held her gaze for a heartbeat too long, then looked away.

As they reached the inn, Hein greeted the others by saying, “I cannot fathom why you all have no fear of these woods.”

“Haunted forests are rather nice this time of year,” Jack said with a sinister grin. Any hint of frost had vanished. “Or maybe that’s just me.”

“I suppose nothing is more terrifying than you,” Hein replied dryly. Then he scanned the rest of the pirates. “Tomorrow, then? I’ll see you all at the governor’s house.” As the crew gave excited whoops, Hein pressed a lingering kiss to Cecily’s fingers and winked.

Heat crawled up and down her back as she watched him saunter down the road. She might have turned around and scolded Jack for standing so close, but before she could, the feeling faded.

She looked into the trees to find him retreating toward the cove beside Killian, his hands buried in his pockets.

I could go to Spain.

The thought consumed her all the way to the beach, turning over and over in her mind throughout the evening while they sat on the shore, excitedly chittering about the heist and trading a bottle of rum between them.

Cecily held her knees and gazed at the water. She didn’t think it would be difficult to convince Hein to take her to Spain. They could leave after the heist, and it would be quick—a clean, necessary break. Everyone would move on, and they would be happy.

Her gaze flicked to Jack sitting at the other end of the line of pirates. He wore that sharp smile that could cut her useless heart right out of her chest.