" No , truly , I don't . I'm perfectly wiling to help negotiate agreeable business, but I simply have no relations . My father died ten years ago , my mother long before that . I have no wife, " he continued , as though making a list , " no grandparents , aunt's , uncle's , or cousins to speak of; If I have any children their mothers never thought to notify me ---"
" I get the point , peacock ," she interrupted sharply . Lynnette was not at all sure she believed him , but she could detect no lies in those silver eyes , and his voice held the ring of truth.
It was certainly possible that the man didn't have any family, though unlikely . Damn , this complicated things .
Daniel saw the suspicion in her beautiful eyes , and unwillingly decided he would have to add an unpleasant fact to his story to make it more plausible .
" I do have a half brother . But," he continued before she could ask for more information ,
" We are completely estranged ," His voice was unwittingly bitter, and that, more than anything else, told Lynnette what she needed to know , " I have not spoken to him since before my father's death , and I can tell you in all honesty that if he received a ransom note for my kidnap , He would throw it in the trash and pretend it never arrived ."
Give me a reason to believe your story ," she said softly , leaning forward across the desk . The note in Daniel's voice as he told of his half brother had almost entirely convinced her he wasn't lying , but she wanted to be one hundred percent sure.
" One very good reason , milady . We are bargaining with my life , as you so eloquently informed me earlier today. I have a very high regard for my skin."
"Don't call me 'milady ." It's Captain Thorne ."
" My apologies , Captain Thorne ." Only a slight emphasis on the words indicated his sarcasm . " As I was about to say , there is a way for you to collect your ransom , and for me to escape with my skin intact."
Daniel spoke ruefully , not liking the fact that he must give her information in order to survive. .
There was no doubt in his mind that Captain Thorne would have him killed if he did not prove useful. Much as he was coming to respect the beautiful pirate wench across from him, he was sure she felt no such feeling in response . she seemed so cold and disinterested he couldn't envision her reacting to him at all, for better or for worse.
.. . . . He was wrong
Lynnette had been greatly and pleasantly surprised by the man called Captain Bradley . His Composure at the second meeting was admirable . Most men would either have gone for her throat in anger , or decided their superiority immediately , treating her with condescension. Men doing the first would have been cut short with Lynnette's knife .
So Lynnette had learned how to fight with her body , how to defeat an opponent twice her size , and had remained unmolested since then. So anyone, even the best swordsman , could be disarmed or caught unaware without a blade by her.
Lynnette hated men who thought they were more powerful and smarter than she , merely because they possessed a piece of flesh between their legs that she thankfully, lacked.
But Daniel had done neither . She had seen his fury when he entered the cabin, and she had seen the way he took a hold on it, not letting his emotions get in his way . It showed he had control and intelligence . Any threatening move Captain Bradley made would have been countered with swiftness and a great deal of pain on his part . Obviously , he had been smart enough to think his situation through , and had kept himself in check.
Another thing . Although she called him " peacock", Lynnette could see the man was not useless, but given a position of authority because of his wealth . No , she sensed in Captain Bradley an aura of strength and barely leashed energy , and for some reason , it interested her.
The fight he had given her for the merchant ship had been impressive . She had given him that . He wasn't bad as a strategist , either , although Lynnette was better . His tactics were well planned, but in her seven years as Captain of the Maiden's Revenge, She had had a great deal of practice in outmaneuvering skilled enemies , which gave her the edge . Still , with a bit more experience behind him , Captain Bradley would undoubtedly be able to give her a good run for her money, and possible even best her. There were not many men Lynnette could give that honor , even in the private back of her mind.