Preface

<p>One year later...<br/><br/>- Good morning, Captain. - the voice was cautious.<br/>-Who said it would be a good day with you in these waters? Too bad Black Coral didn't sink and you didn't go with it. I was not lucky. He could have gathered the privateers and bought drinks for the men in the tavern. After all, everyone deserves a break from routine.<br/>-Genius?<br/>I-Enjoying my share of the booty.- Cassie said and her hand held the dagger.<br/>"Good serve?" Philip shifted uncomfortably.<br/>Damn girl. The dagger pressed... Oh, damn.<br/>-Do you intend to cripple me?-He complained with some caution. The dagger pressed against a very delicate part and began to apply more pressure. Your testicles...<br/>-That's why you always attack from the head. It kills faster. Not that you're smart. Lack of intelligence, my dear. Even more of a damned, good-for-nothing bum. What a pathetic figure. It's so despicable that to get a woman you just have to destroy her life. It is incapable of awakening love. The lack of character is terrible. Even worse is the lack of self-respect, isn't it, damned scum?<br/>- Can we at least...<br/>-In truth no. Could he do it and disappear? Would I be lucky to die? They stole before me. Some time ago. Now I'm smarter. I can be generous and offer you alms, Philip Morgan.<br/>-Is there any chance we could be friends?<br/>-Under my dead body?<br/>- We could at least talk...<br/>-Did I already say I hate you? Negligible. Arrogant, Miserable. Cafagest. ordinary. Tramp and mediocre. I'm busy. Spending my money. I think you forgot the part about calling me a slut. You know... I prefer smart. Despicable men like you are a disgrace to the male gender.<br/>- Come on, Cassie...<br/>"I never gave you permission to call me by my first name, a crook."<br/>Phillip Morgan sighed. Oh, would certain things ever change?<br/>-Have you ever heard that hate can turn into love?<br/>-Have you heard that hell doesn't rain, a disgrace?<br/>-Someday we'll be friends.<br/>-Never. Not even at the end of the world.<br/>-You could at least be tolerant and reasonable...<br/>-Not even death. I hope you die and are far from me and mine. You will not find any mercy on my part. I hope you rot in fucking hell, Philip Morgan<br/> <br/>facing the devil<br/>-You could be a little less temperamental and...<br/>Three feet of steel were at Philip Morgan's throat. He swallowed hard. That's what happened when you cheated and blackmailed.<br/>Are-Still bored?- Philip was in trouble. The sword and the damned knife were starting to press harder on the testicles.<br/>-I? Do noLuckily, hat duelling was banned by Muir in Chabone. Does he know? I think he would love to duel and tear his goddamned blood apart.<br/>- Have pity, woman and... I can give you the world. I wanted children... There are twins up for adoption... I got it...<br/>-Then give them back. Children are unbearable. Babies are horrible. They cry they gurgle, they stink of milk and they give work. I don't think I will screw up my life with kids, retard.<br/>-What do you expect me to do? They are children...<br/>- I prefer my dog. At least it doesn't bite like a bloody treacherous animal like you, infamous.<br/>-They're not my problem. It's a problem you have. Sell them. It's good at it. Smuggling. Put them on the wheel. I do not care. They are not my responsibility. I will not care. Bad luck to you.<br/>-Captain. It left a lot of honest people with no way to support themselves. Didn't expect to be welcomed after all... Guess he didn't make a great alpha suitor. Although size is never proof of competence, is it? Incompetent people. Have I told you how disgusted I am with you?<br/>-Cassie...<br/>-Go fuck Jackie, idiot... Fuck you.<br/>Coralwood...<br/>Cassie looked on with little interest as she adjusted her weapons belt around her waist. It had been a joke among pirates how the Black Coral ship had had termite problems. A tremendous cost to replace part of the rail.<br/>-You should have chosen good wood. Does he know? Copaíba, Braúna or maybe even Sucupira. Nothing like one day after another, right? Even more so for those who steal and deceive to take advantage of innocent people. Is stupidity a gift or have you been shopping around, sucker? Only someone mediocre like you could think that he could arouse any feelings in a woman... Asshole.<br/>-Some ships remained in the Navy...<br/>-And the privateers lost all command. Courtesy of you, naturally. Does it have to be a gift? You know, losers like you! I think you can buy anyone. Go to hell.<br/>-Damn it, I tried to be your friend and...<br/>-Which is? Even Jackie can't bear to look at his damn face. I don't want to be her friend. Go to the damn hell? Is it dumb? Do I need to shout to the world that I can't stand your hideous presence, loser?<br/>- You're not going to knock me down like that...<br/>- Bad people and scoundrels like you don't even need it. They can do it on their own. You're a damn blackmailer, opportunist, bastard, imbecile, asshole, damn and... I forgot to mention that you're a bitch. Richard had you castrated. - Cassie spoke louder, calling attention to the men around who started to laugh at Philip.<br/>-Ah, still bored by the story... Hell! I just said that...<br/>Cassie narrowed her eyes, taking a deep breath. By Hecate, annoying man. She was never going to know the difference between port, starboard and starboard.<br/>-I have no interest in that, believe me. It was a long season at sea. She hoped to at least have fun and enjoy her stay. And not look at your miserable face...<br/>-Has my list of qualities improved a lot?<br/>- You don't even have a clue, rascal. The coup didn't work out too well, did it? Bad family business? It happens. Ordinary, opportunistic, mediocre...<br/>Philip shook his head. Maybe the idea of joining forces with Thalagar and Cornner hadn't been a good one after all. He looked at the woman in front of him who had nothing to do with the woman before, docile with regret.<br/>-Well, are you really going to resort to emotional blackmail? I don't think tears move me, did you know that too? Or else raise people to his defence and try to convince me how good and helpful he is? Why don't you drink again? He really lives falling hard in the gutter and drunk... That's all he's good for.<br/>-Did I just make a damn proposal? - Philip's defence even seemed reasonable. If it hadn't been for the damn persecution, frames and blows.<br/>- And I'm flattered. The devil has been praying curses from hell. I prefer the devil. In fact, I prefer death. Not if it was the damned man on the face of the earth. The god of men did not make you in his image, freak. Why don't you stay drunk in the gutter?<br/>-I need help...<br/>Cassie burst out laughing. It was hilarious to imagine that the rascal expected her to do anything to help him. There were people of all kinds in life.<br/>-And why did you think that I should help you? Maybe because Jackie threatened to pummel him if he ever showed his unfortunate face in these waters? Or was her lover irritated? Corner didn't much like you hanging around with courtesans. After all, he is a man. At least he has more panache than you. Typical coward. I think he prefers you to be faithful if he likes to give so much .. Hemorrhoid problems, my dear? I haven't been sitting up straight since Corner made that neat deal. Broomstick? I think that's what they said out there.kkk.<br/>Phillip took a deep breath. Damn woman! Did nothing break her wall? It was a breastplate forged in fire that armoured her. She didn't show any emotion or feeling. It was relentless and practical. Nothing else occupied his time but work.<br/>-I didn't take you away from my brother...<br/>Philip ran his hands nervously through his hair. Maybe, he just maybe had been rash. The denunciations... The frames and lies spread around... Damn, spreading her documents around the Navy certainly hadn't helped her aloof temperament. It was dealing with a wild jaguar. Always keep your distance. She never let them get close.<br/>"Didn't give you any goddamn right, scoundrel, to talk about my life." Cassie raged and forced her way down the dock indifferently. By the way. The authorities... are on your tail. This time you will be hanged for your crimes, thief.<br/>Garro's tavern had changed little in those months. Only now she looked around the room with disinterest, her high boots resting on the edge of the table as she straightened her tobacco.<br/>-Another mug...<br/>-Rum And not wine...<br/>-Well, I still prefer wine. Don't forget to arrange for the purchase of barrels of rum to fuel Revenge. We set out with the tide. I don't intend to remain in Chabone, not with the kind of scum that roams the place.<br/>The boatswain regarded the Revenge captain with resignation. The crew expected to rest. And the woman always had a way of calming tempers and preventing riots. It was going to cost extra money to increase men's workdays despite the high spirits that celebrated the profits. She glanced at the woman who was getting up and checking the ready pistols on her belt.<br/>-Going out there without a security guard? - His surprise was visible...<br/>After the last attack... The woman could have died. A stroke of luck had kept her alive.<br/>Cassie said nothing. She spoke little and explained less about her life. She had business to attend to. Madame Lili ... she needed to see Madame and Lili and find out how the children were doing. She had no patience with children.<br/>-Come on, Skull.- Cassie softened her face from hard expressions as she faced the huge white dog that accompanied her.<br/>He was much bigger than most dogs. It looked like a small horse.</p>