“They’re boarding.” The boat rocked under the pull of the grappling lines, the ropes groaning as the pirates tightened their hold. Metal scraped against wood in harsh bursts, each sound cutting through the uneasy silence between Ethan and Liam. Liam’s pulse hammered in his ears. He pressed himself back against the cabin wall, his breath ragged.
Through the thin gaps between the crates, he could see them clearly now—faces shadowed by scarves and hoods, movements fast, efficient, practiced. One of them slammed a boot against the railing, testing the grip of the hooks. The entire boat shivered from the impact. Another voice shouted from their deck, guttural and commanding.