Liam flinched at every sound, backing tighter against the cabin wall until his shoulder blades ached. The pirates moved with purpose—four of them, spreading across the boat like they’d done this countless times before. One of them, tall and broad-shouldered, pulled down the scarf from his face just enough to speak.
His voice was rough, his English broken but sharp. “Stay quiet. No fight.” He jabbed a finger at Ethan, then at Liam. “You sit. You live.” Ethan lifted his hands slowly, a show of compliance, though his eyes burned cold. “We don’t want trouble,” he said evenly. “Take what you want. Just don’t hurt anyone.”