Chapter 4

The next morning Justin found himself facing Hargrove again.

After getting up, he had eaten a hearty breakfast served to him by the cook, a pleasant woman who reminded him a little of Paulie but in a feminine way:

-You are too thin, young man! I will plump you up quickly, well done me!

He had started to laugh.

His crew was also watching him for fear that he would lose too much weight. His men who were not born yesterday behaved like real mother hens towards him.

Still with his mouth full, he asked:

-Is the duke awake?

-Oh yes!! He got up well before you.

Remembering then that he wanted to see him in the morning, he went to his office and knocked.

-Come in.

When Justin entered the room, Hargrove was dictating his last recommendations to his secretary:

-And above all warn William not to come to Hargrove Manor, it is too dangerous.

-Yes sir.

He greeted him and left.

When Justin met the golden gaze of the duke, he began to tremble imperceptibly. It was a crime to be so beautiful!

He absolutely had to maintain a certain distance between them because he knew what Hargrove was capable of.

Brennan looked him up and down without a word before suggesting that he sit down:

-We're leaving for my residence, Hargrove Manor which is in Hampshire. It's far too dangerous especially with Red Flam on your tail.

Surprised, Justin didn't know what to say:

-It's impossible! I can't leave London!

All his men were watching the residence and no one could enter without them intercepting them. They were protected.

Brennan looked at him again,

"My mind is made. I had to go there anyway to settle some business, so this will be the perfect opportunity.

I have to protect you, but my goal is also to kill my brother's killer, so I have no choice but to take you with me.

Hargrove Manor is isolated enough that he won't be suspicious and make a mistake that will allow us to catch him."

Justin closed his eyes for a moment and began to think quickly. He had no choice, he had to follow him.

-If it helps stop Red Flam then I'll come with you.

-I've had my cousin William warned about the whole affair in case anything happens to us.

-Thank you for protecting me. I'm so afraid of dying!

Brennan, seeing him suddenly very pale, softened:

-I'll do everything in my power to ensure nothing bad happens to you and kill Red Flame.

Tightening his arms around his body, Justin asked him:

-Your brother, how is he...?

A flash of pain surreptitiously passed through Brennan's eyes:

-He...was shot and fell into the water. His body was not found.

It was the owner of Blacknight Maritime, the company where he worked, who told me everything. He told me he saw a red-haired pirate shoot him and that his companion called him Flam.

There is no doubt about the identity of my brother's killer."

-And this man, are you sure he's telling the truth? I don't want to defend Red Flam but maybe he's the one who... killed your brother?

-No. I did my investigation on this man and it turns out that he loved Aaron very much. Moreover, Aaron also told me the greatest good about him.

I have every confidence in his words."

Justin nodded and fell silent.

Black had maneuvered perfectly well by putting him on the trail of Red Flam.

He only had to warn his men that the initial plan had changed. His sad eyes fell on Brennan:

-I'm really sorry about your brother.

He took a step back and bowed before raising his head:

-Excuse me but I don't feel very well, I'm going to go rest a little before we leave.

Brennan stared at him again. As soon as he looked into his eyes, a deep desire overwhelmed him.

Their gazes locked and Justin's lips parted like an invitation to kiss.

In order not to succumb, Brennan turned away:

-A valet will wake you up as soon as we leave.

Justin bowed:

-Thank you, Hargrove.

-All things considered, I prefer that you call me Brennan.

Justin looked up in astonishment. Very few dukes wanted to be called by their first name.

It had too intimate a connotation.

He began to blush:

-Thank you...Brennan.

The latter smiled wryly:

-You're welcome...Justin.

When he had left the room, Brennan slumped into his chair.

He wanted him. He was dying to make him his own.

He had never had such a strong desire to protect someone but it went beyond that, he could feel it.

He was so disarmingly naive and sweet that he only dreamed of holding him in his arms and never letting him out again.

He had had a wonderful experience with a young man when he was younger but he had drunk too much that night and only had vague memories of it.

It was strange but Justin reminded him a little of it even though their personalities were the opposite of each other.

He much preferred his delicate and fearful Justin rather than the little devil who had excited him so much and he felt that Justin was also attracted to him.

It wouldn't take long before he succumbed and could finally taste his charms.

In his room, Justin was thinking.

He absolutely must not succumb to this seductive duke.

Every time he was near Hargrove, he felt like a drowning man ready to be sucked into a raging sea.

Despite his strong will, his body remembered his caresses and betrayed him to have even more.

He blushed violently again:

-Dirty pervert! What have you done to me?

A noise at his window distracted him from his thoughts.

He opened it and saw a piece of paper wrapped around a large stone on the small balcony.

He smiled. It could only be the work of Logan who never missed his target with a slingshot.

He looked for it but saw no one in the street.

So he took it and opened it.

Nothing was written on it and that was normal. It was a code. It was up to him to give his next instructions.

He looked for something to write with in the room and saw a small writing desk with a quill and inkwell on it.

Most of his men knew how to read and write.

His uncle Georges, who was like a father to him, had sailed the most beautiful seas of the Pacific, but he would never have accepted a sailor who refused to learn on his ship.

He always said:

-Knowing how to write could one day save your life!

So he taught his men to read himself.

He still remembered the lessons he gave them while he and Black were running around the ship.

He would grab them, one under each arm, and yell:

-Wait a minute, you little rascals! Holy crap! I'm going to give you a beating that you won't soon forget!

But the sailors smiled, knowing full well that their captain adored them and had never corrected them even if sometimes they deserved it.

Since his retirement, Black and he had taken up the torch while he remained with his feet spread out on his little Caribbean island:

-It's too cold in England, for crying out loud! I'm going to freeze my a... I mean my ass off if I go there too often!

How long had it been since he had seen Uncle George?

At least six months because as soon as he had returned to the Blacknight Maritime, he had learned about Aaron and had therefore put his plan into practice with Black.

But when this story was settled, he too would go and rest for a few days on Uncle George's island.

Black was already there and he would certainly not be long in returning to England as soon as he could.

Returning to the present,Justin simply wrote three words on the paper before carefully wrapping it around the stone and throwing it as far as he could on the pavement.

He saw a few minutes later, a member of his crew calmly pick him up and continue on his way.

He had written:

"Direction Hargrove Manor."