A Pirate's Possession by Michelle Beattie

approach.
    Claire felt as confused as he looked. “With the map I’d had, I was looking for a place where pirates thrived—”
    â€œAgain, that doesn’t narrow it down,” Vincent reminded them.
    â€œI realize that. But now with the rest, it no longer reads, ‘Where the black flag flies,’ it reads where it ‘flies at half-mast. ’ ”
    â€œMeaning pirates have died there?”
    â€œPerhaps. It could also mean a place where pirates aren’t welcome,” Claire explained.
    Nate nodded. “Makes sense. So we’re looking for ports that have at least one bold shore and that either aren’t friendly to pirates or pirates have died there.”
    â€œYou both have lost your minds. This isn’t a treasure hunt, it’s a hopeless endeavor.”
    â€œIt’s real enough and it’s out there. We have only to find it.”
    Vincent turned to Nate. “What if you can’t find it? The crew won’t be happy to wait indefinitely while you make sense, the galleon we—”
    â€œVincent.”
    Nate’s harsh warning snatched Claire’s attention from the map. She looked up in time to see the apology in Vincent’s eyes and the scowl on Nate’s face.
    â€œWhat galleon?” she asked. Then her jaw fell to the floor. “You own a galleon as well?”
    Fury swirled in the bottom of her stomach and spiraled upward. If the blasted man owned this ship and a galleon, he had no business looking for the treasure.
    â€œSit down, Claire.”
    For a moment Claire was stunned. She hadn’t realized she’d stood. But now that she did, she remained that way.
    â€œNo, I won’t. And I won’t be told what to do, not by a lying bastard like you.”
    Nate stood then as well, and he loomed over her, his eyes sharp. Claire kept a firm hand on both sides of the map. A fact Nate didn’t miss. Not if his frown was any indication.
    â€œYou need to decide and you need to decide now. You either trust a lying bastard enough to go searching for this treasure together, or you don’t.” His smile was as thin as the compassion in his eyes. “Either way, I’m going to look for it. And as my memory is very good”—he shifted his gaze to the map, chuckling when Claire’s hands spread to hide it—“I don’t need the map or you any longer. Am I clear?”
    â€œYou’re going to take it without me?” The hell he would, she thought.
    â€œI’m simply laying out the facts. I have a ship, and the complete map.” He tapped his temple. “I won’t undertake this venture with you jumping down my throat every chance you get. You’ve already made it more than clear what you think of me.”
    Claire sputtered. She couldn’t believe Nate had such nerve. “You expect me to be happy that I have to share this with you when you clearly don’t need it?”
    He snatched the map from under her hand, growled when she stretched to take it back. He rolled up both pieces and handed them to her. “If you can figure out this map and get there before me, the treasure’s yours.”
    Answering was impossible due to the storm of emotions blowing within her. How dare he! How dare he dangle his riches before her knowing she had nothing. And he knew it. Hell, anybody looking at her knew it. And he had the audacity to use it against her!
    Search for the treasure without him? She would in a heartbeat if she could, but she’d lost everything in the game. She was destitute. If she let Nate go off to find the treasure, he would. And he’d keep it and then where would she be? Claire braced against the table, hung her head. She had no choice.
    And oh, how she loathed that.
    Being poor in and of itself wasn’t so bad. She could feed herself and live by her own rules. But being controlled by anybody left Claire with a bitter taste in her mouth. She’d lived that