Standing in front of her was Rosemary and Eraldo. Eraldo looked at her, shook his head and started giving orders to the armed men that were all about them.

"There is an unforseen problem," he told Rosemary. "My father's ship, the Morta, has been seen steaming in this direction."

"How is that a problem?' Rosemary asked, her tone belligerent. "Just give me my money, and I will get off this wretched island myself."

"There is no way that you would get past the Morta," he told her grimly. "She may look like a yacht but she is armed to the gills. And if my father does not get his way, he will attack and everyone on this island will end up dead."

"I don't see that as a problem." Rosemary said, "the Morta will be blown out of the water the moment she displays any threat to the island," Rosemary said haughtily. "There are big guns that surround the entire port. There are even guns high up on the hill, and atop the walls of the old fortress. Your Morta will never even get close."

"Listen to me, you little fool!" Eraldo hissed, taking her wrist in a grip of iron. "This is not a game! My father will never allow them to fire! Do you hear me? So get this through that pretty little head of yours! They will be coming for our skins as well as my sister's!"

"Our? What do you mean, our skins?" Rosemary echoed back at him. "You mean to tell me that not only do I have to worry about Dominic, I now have to worry about your father as well?"

He shook his head, becoming exasperated, and took her by the shoulders. "Rosemary you need to listen to me! Stop your insane scheming for one moment and just listen! The threat to both of us comes now from both Dominic, his men, and my father! We need my sister as a diversion, to keep their attention off us at the right moment, and then should an opportunity arises for us to escape we take it."

"My insane scheming!" she shouted into his face, her face contorted with rage. "If anyone's scheming is insane, it is yours! You and that inept lout that trails after you like a lost dog. You think that just because you're rich, and that you've got so many men and so many guns, that you are unstoppable. We are all unstoppable, so tell me how is it that you came here with just that stupid animal and no plan, uh? You talk big, but you're just a stupid little man with a big mou. . ."




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