Hart's Reward (Pirates & Petticoats #3) by Chloe Flowers Page B

warehouse where the pirates had stored cargo they had stolen from you.” She could almost see the tension emanating from Landon’s shoulders like waves of heat from a hot skillet. She held her breath and waited for him to interrupt her with exclamations of disbelief and accuse her of lying. He crossed his arms, leaned a hip against the table and waited.
    She continued. “You and Conal tracked your cargo to that warehouse. You found me and rescued me from a man who’d been flaying my back with a leather strap. I later found out that the man was Gampo’s cousin and first mate, Crowe. Gampo showed up and the two of you fought. During the fight, Crowe tried to stab you in the back. I used a chain to pull him off his feet. When he fell it broke his neck.”
    Keelan closed her eyes against the visions that surfaced as she talked. Crowe’s blunt face twisted in a cruel sneer as he punished her for fighting his advances…the gleam of Gampo’s saber and the wicked dagger Crowe pulled from his boot as he crept up behind Landon…chains clinking…the remnants of smoke and the metallic scent of blood. She shuddered and reached for her wine to take away the bitter taste in her mouth.  
    Here again, she was relating another outrageous story to Landon, who was probably completely convinced she was a habitual liar. Why would he want to believe any of this? Even though true, it still sounded contrived. At least Gus could corroborate the part about the theft of his cargo and the fight in the warehouse.  
    Now, Landon was staring at his boots, to hide his expression this time, no doubt. “So Gampo has put a price on your head for killing his first.”
    “Yes.” Trying to explain any more might send her into a fit of hysterical laughter.  
    “…Who was about to sink a blade into my back.”
    “Yes.” She took slow sip of wine and studied him over the rim of the glass. Did any of it sound familiar to him? If one tiny piece could break in to the darkness coating his memory, perhaps another might follow.  
    Landon unfolded his arms and began to pace the small room. His voice was low, as if he was thinking out loud rather than conversing with her. “I want to remember, because I don’t understand my actions. What kind of man had I become over the last five years?” The anguish in his voice tore at her heart. “Five years ago, I would have never married again, let alone marry…” He gestured toward her. “… Someone like you, a slaver owner and a—”
    Keelan sliced the air with her hand. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’m not a murderer and I would ask that you keep your voice down. These planks are thin, and it’s dangerous enough for me to be here as it is.” She fought to clamp down on her temper. “Do you truly believe that I could ever be a murderer, that I could ever intentionally kill a person?”
    He appraised her up and down, noting her petite stature and thin arms. “I’ve seen your skill with a blade, so I know what you’re capable of doing.”
    This man! Keelan strode forward and poked him hard in the chest. “Before you make any more foolish assumptions, you should recall that the man I killed was about to plunge a knife into your arrogant back!”  
    He grabbed her wrist and pulled her hard against him. Shock, confusion and anger rippled across his face. “I don’t recall any of that. I don’t know what to believe.”
    “Right now, you’re believing that I’d lie to you. I want to know why.” Anger made her voice tremble. She should be more patient with him, but his distrust ignited her temper faster than a match to tinder.
    “Are you sure you want an answer to that question?” he ground out between clenched teeth. He didn’t wait for her respond, although he did lower his voice to a harsh whisper, “I have two theories. I’m simply not yet certain which one is correct. One, you’re a slave owner. Perhaps you were hired to break into the inner network that Fynn