The Pirate Prince Read Online Free PDF Page A

respect, a gathered, focused grace that made her shine, and already he had no idea how he was going to pull the trigger when the time came.
    He only knew that he would. He had failed his family fifteen years ago, but he would not fail them this time.
    As her gaze traveled over the group around the fire, the people standing in front of him walked away. The movement drew her attention, and before Lazar had time to slip away, she saw him.
    Her stare slammed into him.
    Her eyes flickered, widened slightly. Her lips parted on a quick intake of breath. Her glance took in his weapons, his all-but-naked torso, then flicked up to stare at his face.
    Lazar did not move.
    He was not sure he could have if he tried, for he saw her lovely face illumined by the golden glow of the fire and by another, brighter fire within—her spirit.
    Her expression changed, so lucid, so transparent. At first she liked what she saw, it seemed, but seconds later fear set in, and she began to withdraw, staring at him as if she sensed his intentions.
    Lazar never moved.
    Before his eyes, the girl backed away, whirled around, and fled.

CHAPTER TWO

    For a long moment, Lazar could only stand there at the fire.
    He lowered his chin, rubbing his mouth. Then he adjusted the black silk skullcap he wore to complete the look of the murdering outlaw—he had cultivated it well to keep his victims properly terrified. It had certainly worked on Allegra Monteverdi.
    Do not go after her .
    Those eyes. My God, those eyes , he thought.
    He stepped toward the fire and crouched down, uncertain how to proceed. He uncorked his flask, ignoring the curious glances of the people around him, and took a long, long drink. He could not get the image of her face from his mind.
    That light. He would snuff out that light from the world. He resolved to make it painless for her and, lowering his head, blamed a sudden sense of nausea on the rum.
    When he glanced up again, the old, frail farmer on the other side of the fire was staring at him as if trying to recall some dim fact from his senile brain. That steady, searching gaze made Lazar uncomfortable.
    “Hey, paisan ,” one of the peasant men said to him with a sideward wink. “Governor’s girl caught your eye, did she?”
    He stared at him.
    “Go get her, man!”
    “Ho, ho, that’s asking for the gallows!” another declared, laughing.
    “She’s a pretty piece,” a thin, hungry-looking man said, then looked evilly at the others. “Maybe we ought to send Monteverdi a message tonight.”
    “I’d be interested in that,” another mumbled.
    “Are you mad? He’ll stretch all your necks!” a robust fisherman scoffed.
    “So what? He means to hang all of us sooner or later,” the first retorted.
    Others took interest.
    “Count me in for a turn!”
    He was well familiar with what he heard in their voices, and he did not like it. Allegra Monteverdi was the pivotal instrument of his revenge, and he would not have these hard-eyed fellows interfering. He stood, straightened up to his full height, and rested one hand idly on the hilt of his sword, the other on the butt of his pistol.
    They looked up at him as if they expected him to charge off, leading the way.
    “I don’t think so, boys,” he said in an amiable, quiet tone.
    “No?” the shrewd one demanded.
    He shook his head.
    “We do not rape women on this island,” he said, daring a challenge.
    “Since when?” one exclaimed.
    “She’s a Genovese!”
    “And who do you think you are?” the smart one scoffed. “King Alphonse, come back from the dead?”
    Before the fellow knew what hit him, he was flat on his back with Lazar’s sword point under his chin.
    Around the fire complete silence fell.
    “You will leave Allegra Monteverdi alone,” he commanded them softly.
    The old farmer suddenly spoke up. “He does look like King Alphonse!”
    Lazar froze. He glanced over at him swiftly, fiercely, and for a moment the old man looked into his eyes.
    “ Santa Maria ,”