Chapter 10

At Uncle Jack's, Black had taken care of Aaron but had remained distant.

It was quite easy for the first three weeks because Aaron had to stay in bed to avoid any complications.

So he brought him reading material and helped him feed himself.

He also watched him a lot while he slept. His dark blond hair had grown a little and it waved on his neck.

Black suddenly felt like caressing them. He lightly placed his fingers on his silky curls, almost trembling, as if he were going to commit an irreparable sin by touching him.

Two large, golden eyes stared at him then. He immediately withdrew his hand and walked away.

-Black, I would like you to tell me about your childhood.

I can't stand lying in this bed anymore.

The pirate gave him a wary look but came back to sit next to him.

He sighed. It wouldn't be too hard. He had a wonderful childhood thanks to Uncle Jack.

He would just have to avoid the "we're all pirates" part.

He hated talking about himself but with Aaron it was different. Was it because his eyes filled with love whenever he looked at him?

Ever since he knew Aaron loved him, he had become incapable of reasoning properly.

An irrepressible desire to take him twisted his insides.

To caress his tender body, to lick him to satiety and to make him moan in his arms. He went crazy as soon as he stayed too long near him.

It was just because he hadn't touched any women since he saved Aaron. He was definitely missing something.

He had to get off this island or he wouldn't be responsible for anything anymore...

-Uncle Jack, I decided to set sail tomorrow morning. I warned my men and I won't hide from you that they are overjoyed.

-I can't let Justin risk his life alone. I have to help him. Now that Aaron is out of danger, it won't be too many of us to unmask the one who tried to kill Aaron and who now wants to bury his brother.

I also have to take care of the company.

-And the kid? What are you doing with him?

-Here, he has nothing to fear. As long as we haven't found the scumbag who did this to him, I don't want him to move from here. It's too dangerous.

Uncle Jack growled:

-Ah! If I were younger, I would be the one to board this ship to flush out this killer!

Black put his hand on his shoulder:

-You are not that old and I know perfectly well that if Aaron was not here, you would already be in England.

The big man laughed:

-You know me well, son! I will never let one of my sons risk his life like this without intervening!

-I will watch the kid and you find this guy and send him ad patres.

Black went to warn Aaron:

-I'm leaving tomorrow for England.

He looked down at his stomach and pursed his lips as he remembered the state he was in a month ago.

"I want you to rest and in a few weeks you can return to the Blacknight.

You will be fully healed and the killer will have been incapacitated."

Aaron's big eyes stared at him burning with love,

"Take care of yourself Black. I don't want to lose you."

Black took a step back. Did he realize the way he was looking at him? Certainly not.

He had to leave this room as soon as possible or he would no longer be responsible for anything.

"Goodbye Aaron. I have a lot to do before I leave so I don't think I can come see you again before I leave."

-Aaron looked down,

"I understand. Good luck, Black. I'll miss you."

The captain swallowed hard and left.

Shit! He was going to miss him too.

Once the door closed, Aaron gave a slight smile. He really thought he could leave him here when he was going to risk his life for him?

Not to mention Justin and Brennan who were in danger.

Knowing Black, he had preferred to play the submission card because he knew that he would never have agreed to take him with him.

But he wouldn't stay a minute longer on this island either.

Black wanted to leave him here? Out of the question!

London, Hargrove residence

Brennan having read the morning gazette preferred not to linger in London.

The Governor's jewel had been stolen. He crumpled the newspaper in rage.

How had Red Flam done it? Because he was certain that it was him, even if nothing

indicated it in the gazette.

He had seen nothing while he had followed the Governor all night.

It was time for him to set the trap himself in which Red Flam would fall with both feet and

Justin would be the bait!

As soon as William and Justin got up, he briefly told them about his evening and the theft of the jewel.

He informed them of his intention to return to Hampshire immediately.

William's features hardened:

-I'm coming with you! I'll never forgive myself if something bad happens to you!

Brennan softened in front of so much anger to protect him:

-Thank you, my cousin. But precisely, if anything happens to me, I count on you to

avenge us, Aaron and me. That's why you have to stay in London.

I would like you to go home and find out if you hear rumors about this pirate.

William lowered his head, moved in spite of himself, before hitting him on the shoulder:

-You better not die!

-Oh but I don't intend to!

He then turned to Justin:

-We're leaving in an hour.

Relieved, he breathed better. He had been afraid that he would also leave him in London which would have made his mission much more difficult.

Justin opened his eyes with difficulty. The daylight flooded into the room and his headache prevented him from analyzing the situation properly.

He then remembered what had happened.

Paulie! Logan!

He tried to get up but he was tied up.

He struggled as much as he could but the bonds did not give. He could only wait for his captor to arrive.

Brennan.

They had had no trouble arriving at the manor safe and sound. This time, they had taken the more popular route and remained locked in a hackney carriage while Brennan's men rode around them.

The Duke had taken every precaution for their safety, yet Justin was not reassured.

The way he looked at him had changed. Before, he was attentive to her every desire, but now his golden eyes stared at him without seeing him.

He was surprised and at the same time it troubled him.

He loved his warm gaze when it rested on him, but for now, Brennan stood impassively in front of him and made no move to try to take him in his arms.

But he didn't care!

He watched the dreary landscape pass by through the window.

After all, if he wasn't interested in him anymore, it wasn't a problem. Besides, his only mission was to protect him, so why would he care?

Yet, as their carriage took them to the Hargrove manor, he couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart at the thought that Brennan would never hold him again.

As soon as they arrived, the Duke disappeared into his office with Adams. Justin went up to his room and scanned the surroundings. He saw a light in the distance that came on and went out. He then also lit a candle and blew it out.

His men wanted to know what to do.

Late that night, he went out to join them behind the stables, but his instincts told him that something was wrong. Everything was far too quiet.

He walked along the back of the stables in silence. This wasn't normal. Paulie and Logan should have already signaled him.

He opened the stable door quietly, not a sound. His gaze tried to filter through the darkness when a lantern came on.

Justin was horrified at the sight before his eyes.

Three of Brennan's guards and Adams surrounded Paulie and Logan who had been tied up and gagged to a post in the stable.

They were pretty badly beaten up but he could see the same bruises on the guards' and Adams' faces.

As soon as they saw him, they struggled to escape but received a blow from a rifle butt in the ribs in exchange.

Justin's scream as he threw himself at them frightened the horses, which reared in their stalls.

Before he could reach them, he was knocked unconscious from behind.

In a semi-conscious state, he heard Brennan say,

"Keep them safe, there might be more. I'll take care of this one."

He picked Justin up and carried him out of the stable.

Trapped in his room, Justin could only wait for Brennan to come and free him.

But what could he say in his defense?

If he confessed to him that Aaron was still alive, he certainly wouldn't believe him, and even less if he told him that he was with him to protect him from possible murder.

He found himself in a bind. He just hoped that the rest of his men would free Paulie and Logan as soon as possible.

He didn't have long to wait before the door opened.

He knew it was Brennan who had come in but he preferred to look at the ceiling.

Brennan was now at the foot of the bed:

His raspy voice of a deceptive sweetness reached him full force:

-Are you an accomplice of Red Flam come here to kill me?

Justin did not answer.

Brennan's voice shook slightly as he asked the next question,

"Did you kill my brother?"

This time Justin looked at him and answered,

"No."

An indescribable relief flooded Brennan, but he didn't forget why he was in this room. "

Tell me everything you know."

Justin didn't answer.

There was no way he was going to tell him anything until he caught the murderer. He would be quite capable of throwing himself into the lion's den all by himself.

Brennan's contemptuous eyes stared at him without any pity.

"I'm going to have to use a little more convincing means to make you talk."

Still not taking his eyes off him, he calmly unbuttoned his shirt:

-That's good, I'm insatiable...and hungry!