Temptations

ɎChapter♠ThreeɎ

 Roger sighed as he finally got the 5th lock on his door open. In Pirate's Gulf, you needed as much protection you could get. With the windows boarded up the door was the only way in, and he was the only one with the keys to open all of them. He dropped his hat and sword onto the table and walked past the chairs.

"Quite wonderful furniture you have here. I wonder, how did you get them onto Pirate's Gulf without alerting Gaspar." Without a second's hesitation, Roger reached for his sword. "Not another step, Roger." The click of the pistol setting into place had him stalled.

"Okay, let's calm down and talk about this. I'm sure we can come to an understanding." The intruder jerked the pistol towards the opposite chair so Roger sat.

A lantern was set onto the arm of the chair, illuminating the woman before him. "Do not be discouraged by my gender, I know well how to use a gun." He'd seen her before, but couldn't place a finger on where.

"What are you doing in my house?" She tilted her head.

"Your house? Wasn't this a gift from Gaspar? Allowing you to stay on the island in exchange for trading route information?" Roger stilled, narrowing his eyes.

"Aye, and he wouldn't like it if blood stains were to seep into the wood." At that, she chuckled.

"Trust me, he wouldn't care one bit." The way she said it like she knew the Pirate herself.

"And you are? His whore, I'm guessing?"

"Closer." She whispered mockingly. "But I'm here on separate business. You are charging way too much for one of your properties. Impossibly too much."

"I've no choice, the Royal Navy is flooding the Oceans. Trade routes are blocked and searched. Merchants are arrested for contraband. It's become too hard to trade anything. And I must ask for more rent money to keep up with my own debts."

"I see not how your debt is my problem. But Gaspar will take care of the Navy. But patience is something you must practice. You will return the price on the tavern to its original cost, or this pellet will end up lodged in your brain. I have Gaspar's blessing on that, savvy?" He narrowed his eyes.

"For all I know you're just a sewer rat too poor to pay my rates." He launched up in anger, hands fisting at his sides, but she barely blinked.

"Yes, for all you know. But would you like to test it." She hissed, slowly standing up and keeping the gun pointed at him. "If by tomorrow night the rates haven't dropped to its original rate, you will feel the wrath of Gaspar himself." With one last growl, she kicked aside the chair, its thump to the wooden floor echoing inside the room before the slam of the door.