Lucy docked the Ruthless Peaker next to the Iron Maiden so her crew could move abroad. Once they moved everything to the next ship, Lucy never planned to keep her enemy's ship. If she acquired more crew, she could have a second ship to support the Iron Maiden. Or sell it to the nearest seaport. But Charles’s life was on the line and she had to choose him first. If Captain Flipper returns and tracks his missing ship, more trouble will occur to her. One ship was enough to sail the sea, anyway. As for the Ruthless Peaker, she will leave it in the middle of the ocean for all she cares. Either the sea takes it or other pirates will claim it. Not her problem anymore.

Tashina locked the coconut inside a small chest and left it inside her chamber. Her grandfather rattled her chest and threatened her, but she ignored him. Keeping him locked inside his own prison for a while should calm him down. If he ever gets free again, he will cause more trouble. Lucy still preferred to throw the coconut into the deep depths of the sea, but Tashina wouldn’t let her grandfather go. The hyena was very weird.

Lucy tossed Walton into the brig and locked him up. As she turned the key in the lock, she glared at the cat. “I should kill you for taking this ship, but I am not that kind of pirate.”

Walton hissed at her. “Ye're the one who pillaged me ship! I 'ave every right t' take it back!”

“And kidnapping Charles too? You could have let him go!”

Walton sat on the bench. “He deserved punishment. If he didn' escape, I would 'ave sold 'im t' the authorities fer gold.”

Lucy flashed her fangs. “You scumbag!”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Don't ye dare criticize me! If someone betrayed ye, I bet ye would do the same thing!”

Lucy glared at the floor. “Nobody betrayed me before.”

Walton shrugged. “Why do ye care about 'im? Wha' did he do t' make ye side wit' 'im?”

“He helped me survive and showed me how to be a pirate.”

Walton laughed. “That's Charles. Helpin' others t' get on his good side.”

Lucy glanced at him with her lips pursed. “What do you know about him that I don’t?”

Walton grinned his yellow fangs. “Do ye reckon ye can trust 'im? He could be usin' ye fer his owns benefit.”

“Why me? I was a tavern girl when we first met. Then when I became a computer player, he taught me how to play like a player.”

Walton chuckled. “Now thar's somethin' that might 'ave sparked his interest in ye.”

Lucy glared at the cat. “Listen, I will not fall for your tricks. I’m going to rescue Charles, no matter what. When I bring him back, he will be the one to decide your fate. You better pray to the sea gods that he will show you some mercy.”

She turned to the door as Walton shouted, “Ye can nah trust 'im fer long, lass! One day he will betray ye like me! I know the blasted wolf more than ye!”

Lucy kept walking, ignoring her arching gut. Her father said pirates cannot be trusted, but Charles was a pirate too. So she cannot trust him either?

Although her feelings for him grew inside her, she has to stay strong. If Walton told her the truth, she must be on her guard. One thing is for sure, Charles never told her why he wanted to find Ghost Island. Why keep that to himself from his crew mates? Could there be something there he needed to find without endangering his friends? What if he has a debt to pay off? Would it get her killed if she learns the truth?

Once Lucy finds Charles on the island, she will make him talk. Keeping secrets away from friends is the same as lying to them.