14
Roberta joined Nicholas on the gangplank leading down from the India’s Pride at the docks of Port Royal. They’d been surprisingly silent for most of the journey. Neither of them had felt like speaking after leaving Dominic behind.
“You’ll be glad to see your father,” Nicholas said, trying to start a conversation.
“I will,” she agreed, but her heart was still broken. “What if…” She halted, turning to face Nicholas. “What if he is gone?”
The pain that showed on his face echoed her own.
“You mustn’t think about that. Dom’s a cat with nine lives. But we’ll likely never see him again, and that’s for the best. He’s at risk if he comes too close to a place like this. Better that he slip away to some small port and remain safe.”
They both started down the slatted wooden walkway. Halfway d
