The Red Drifter of the Sea (Pirates of the Isles #3) - Celeste Barclay Page 0,104

Keith hadn’t chosen her either. Now nearly every man in the tavern was about to leave. Daisy’s eyes shot daggers at Moira, who only shrugged as Kyle wrapped his arm around Moira and blocked her from Daisy’s sight. Kyle led Moira out of The Mother Hen and onto the street, steering them toward the harbor. They made it three blocks before a swarm of men stepped out and blocked their way. Dónal stepped forward and smirked.

“Found my wayward little sister, have you? Had a good hump at the Hen?” Dónal chuckled at his own humor. “You’ve had your fun; now she comes with me.”

Moira instinctively stepped behind Kyle, whose hand rested on the hilt of his sword. He wouldn’t be the first to draw, but he would fight until the last MacDonnell lay dying. Moira peeked around his shoulder, looking for the council men who promised their protection. They stood behind Dónal, looking very ready to fight Kyle and the other pirates.

“If I tell you to run, do it. Don’t look back for me. Go to the end of the docks and hide there. Don’t come out unless it’s me, Tomas, Snake Eye, or my brother,” Kyle commanded.

“Yes, Kyle,” Moira mumbled.

“I’ve already chased the wench along the coast and through this town. I’m done chasing,” Dónal growled.

“Then go home,” Kyle said with a shrug.

“Not without my sister. And she’s going to the O’Malley.”

“No point,” Kyle said casually. Moira recalled what Kyle said earlier. He’d already told her that he’d killed Dermot, but obviously Dónal didn’t know that.

“The contracts are signed. He’s getting a hefty dowry. He doesn’t care that she’s soiled. Any babe of yours that she carries he’ll do you the favor of drowning,” Dónal said.

“You keep misunderstanding me. I knew you were rather simple, but you are a fucking eejit,” Kyle said, his burr slipping into his voice as he mocked Dónal. “I told you, there’s no point trying to take her to the O’Malleys. Dermot’s dead. I killed him.” Kyle sounded bored by the time he finished speaking. He felt Moira’s hand holding onto his belt, and he sensed Keith step beside him.

“O’Malley isn’t the only one who wants to trade with the MacDonnells,” Dónal boasted.

“Yes, he is,” Kyle stated. “No one else is daft enough to bother with you. Hell, Aidan only uses you to store his stolen goods and to fuck your sister.”

“Sisters,” Dónal corrected. “Did she tell you that’s who took her maidenhead? Your cock must have known she was no virgin.”

Kyle chortled and shook his head. “I guarantee I know far more about Moira than you ever did. I’d wager you know very little about either of your sisters. You should ask Lizzie how many times she’s used pennyroyal to rid herself of Aidan’s or whoever’s bastards. Good Catholic that she is,” Kyle taunted.

Moira watched as Kyle’s words registered on the faces of the men standing with Dónal. Kyle saw it too and laughed uproariously. He tilted his head to speak to Moira but kept his gaze on Dónal. “How many didn’t know they were to be fathers?”

Moira gasped, unprepared for Kyle to include her in his verbal sparring with her brother. She peered at her clansmen once more and counted. “At least seven that I can see from here. Maybe more?” Moira leaned so the MacDonnells could see her shrug.

“Even if you kept my worthless sister,” Dónal said, attempting to take back control of a conversation he had never led to begin with. “There’s still the matter of my ship you burned and my crew you killed.”

Kyle straightened and pushed his shoulders back, making Moira realize just how colossal and intimidating his build was. She also realized that he had never used his full size with her, in order not to frighten her. But now she felt the anger pouring off him in threatening waves. He took a menacing step forward and leaned toward Dónal.

“Your men were useless at defending your sister, and I couldn’t give a bluidy damn about your tiny little boat. It wouldn’t have survived the storm that blew through anyway. But your men were not adequately trained even if there had been more of them. Useless,” Kyle muttered the last word.

“My sister didn’t choose wisely. She wasn’t bedding the right men to protect her.”

Moira glared at the men standing around him, none stepping forward to correct Dónal’s assumption that she initiated her escape. She waited for one, any one of them, to step forward and take responsibility, but