Madeline's POV
"Is Karen all right?" I asked Captain Noah the moment we got inside our cabin.
"I think so, Captain Wyatt will be too drunk to lay his hands on Karen tonight, so I think my sister will be safe for now. I dreaded for the coming days to come when the captain is strong enough to force my sister into his bed." Captain Noah said, and He heavily sighed as he sat on the stool, and he looked at me with tenderness on his eyes, and as I stared back at him, I saw a man suffering from grief. And I realized he must be lonely after his wife's death.
"I am sorry, Madeline if I kissed you out there. I should have told you earlier. It wasn't my plan to kiss you at all, but I need to convince everyone that you are my wife, especially Captain Wyatt." He said, and I smiled at him.
"You don't need to apologize, captain Noah, I understand," I replied, and I wanted to add he is a good kisser, and I hate myself to find his kiss sweet because I know how much I love my husband but it was a fact. Captain Noah could kiss and make someone long for it, and I couldn't stop myself from blushing as I remembered the kiss we shared.. And I know Captain Noah's kiss saved my life.
"Thank you, Madeline, for your understanding, you are too beautiful, and I know I don't have any right to kiss you, but saving you was very important for me. I will never allow those pirates to hurt you, but they have guns, and I am afraid if they will do something terrible to you and Karen." He responded.
"We need to leave this place tonight." He declared, and my eyes widened.
"Don't worry, Maddie, I grew up in the ocean, and I spent my entire life in the water. I already planned everything, and this is the only chance we have to escape since everyone is having a good time. We need to leave before Wyatt can hurt you and my sister." He said, and I don't know if it would be possible for us to leave the ship in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere, but I know I need to trust Captain Noah because he is the only one who can save me.
"Okay, but after what happened to your boat, I can't stop myself from feeling so scared," I said, and he stood up and walked closer to me, and he put his hands on my shoulders.
"Madeline, I will save you no matter what happens. I will not allow something to happen to you. All I need from you is your trust. Believe me, and we can do this. And I am sorry if I couldn't take you back to Zambo." He declared, and I nodded my head at him.
"You should take a nap, Maddie. Karen will get you here when it is time for us to leave." He said and turned his heels away from me, and he gently closed the door after he got out of my cabin while I took a deep breath. I need to take another leap of faith, and I wish we would all be safe. I know I couldn't sleep knowing we are going to escape tonight, there is a big chance we can't make it, or we could die in the water, and I hope everything will be alright.
I lay on the bed thinking about my life, and of course, about my husband. I smiled as I tried to remember his handsome face, his masculine voice that will always make me feel euphoric, all the sweet moments we shared, and I couldn't stop my tears from falling as I thought about him more. I missed the way he touched and kissed me. I closed my eyes as I felt the rocking of the boat, and I let my tears fall on my cheeks. I hate crying, but this time I allow myself to cry because I know I need to release the pain that I felt inside. I closed my eyes while I put my right palm on my chest.
"Maddie, are you alright? Why are you crying?" I heard Karen's voice, and I didn't notice she got inside our cabin, and I sat up on the bed and looked at her beautiful face.
"I am fine. How about you? Are you okay?" I asked, and I couldn't stop myself from feeling so worried about her, and my guilt was eating me up.
"You were the one who was crying, Maddie. Are you still upset that my brother kissed you?" She asked, and I shook my head right away, and I smiled at her.
"Of course not. I cried because I felt guilty for what is happening to us right now, especially to you. The kiss I shared with your brother was nothing, Karen. Besides, Noah only kissed me to make the Pirate captain believes that I am Noah's wife." I responded, and she chuckled.
"Yeah, you are right. It was only for the show, but I could tell if you weren't married, I am sure my brother would go crazy over you." She replied, and her words made me blush.
"I want you to stop worrying about me, Madeline. I can take care of myself, and I know how to play my game. I can play Captain Wyatt with my fingers. Besides, we will leave this boat later tonight when everyone passes out." She added.
"How did you get away from Captain Wyatt?" I asked after I realized she came back to our cabin unharmed. And I couldn't be happier that the wicked captain let her go.
"I have my ways, Maddie, and I am not afraid of him and his men." She declared.
"And I know my brother plans to flee tonight. I came here to see how you are doing, I can't forget the horror that registered on your face when Captain Wyatt asked my brother to give you to him, and I felt glad my brother was clever enough to claim you as his wife. How I wish we met in a different circumstance, Madeline. I want to be your friend." Karen said.
"You know we can be friends, Karen. I want us to be friends." I replied, feeling so happy that she wanted to be friends with me.
"I hope it could be that simple, Madeline; I can't afford to have friends knowing I will be here in the ocean night and day." She said, and I could see the sadness on her lovely face.
"Don't you want to have a normal life, Karen? I mean, you can look for a job in the mainland." I replied, and she smiled at me.
"I don't know how to live on the mainland anymore, Madeline. I am used to the simple living in the ship, but now that, The Wildflower has gone, we don't have a choice but stay on the land for the time being." She said.
"Do you have a place to stay?" I asked, and she shook her head.
"We will only rent an apartment every time we need to stay in the mainland." She replied.
"Oh, I see. When you meet my husband, you can tell him we are friends. We have so many properties where you and Captain Noah could stay." I said, and she beamed at me.
"Thanks, Madeline; maybe we can visit your home once you can go home." She replied.
"Me too, " I replied, and I felt sad for Karen as I realized Noah is the only one she has.
"Don't worry, Maddie, my brother, won't let anything happen to you. And I am sorry, If we can only have our way, we want to take you back to Zambo and deliver you to Archois City, but you know who we are dealing with, I don't want us to be in trouble." Karen said, and I could see the sincerity on her face.
"I understand; what you had done to me was more than enough. I won't survive the fire without you, and I could have died." I said, and I gave her my sweetest smile.
"I need to go back to the party, Madeline; I don't want Captain Wyatt to look for me and wonder what I am up to; I hope you will not cry again. And be ready; we are leaving tonight whatever happens; I have some mission to do." She said as she winked at me.
"Be careful, Karen," I responded.
"Thank you." She replied and got out of our cabin quickly.
The remaining hours were like torture, and I couldn't stop the rapid beating of my heart as I waited for the right time for us to leave the ship. I don't know how they will do it, but deep in my heart, I can't deny I am having doubts. The pirates have guns, and they can shoot at us at any time. I hope we can escape without complications.
"Madeline, it is time to leave; this is our chance; we are just thankful the ship is drifting as of the moment." I heard Karen say after she tapped my shoulders. I didn't realize I doze off as I waited for her to come back to me. I got up hastily from the bed.
"Hey, it is okay; take your time, Maddie; you are pregnant; you don't need to rush; my brother is already waiting for us in the lifeboat. The coast is clear for at least one hour." She said, and I don't understand what she meant, but I can tell she had done something to the pirates.
We got out of our cabin, and Karen was right. I hadn't seen anyone, and I wondered if all of them had got drunk. I felt so thrilled as I walked behind Karen, but I couldn't stop feeling so nervous as I followed her to the gangway, and the moment we got inside the lifeboat and Captain Noah started the engine, I released a sigh of relief. I couldn't stop myself from smiling when I saw Karen grinning, and I could tell she felt so triumphant at the moment that she outsmarted the pirates, especially the wicked captain. And I felt so relieved and happy that we got away safely as we moved away from the pirate ship,