Paid to the Pirate by Una Rohr
Chapter 43
Colt
I’d lost her once, I could suffer it again. Couldn’t I?
But the last time, I hadn’t lost this much. I’d focused on losing the crew’s future and all the freedom entailed for myself and my men which the Crimson Eye could purchase. At least, I’d tried. Now, after those nights with Charlotte… after holding her, loving her, safeguarding her… I’d lost so much more. I’d lost the her -- the us -- I’d only ever dared to imagine in the darkness of my cabin after several cups of rum.
Devil in hell, what could I do about it?
Nothing. She despised me all over again and for even greater reason. All that time I’d thought she’d been a willing participant in a game she’d constructed, I thought, wincing, and all that time she didn’t remember...
Conks had joined our gathering and the look in his eyes told me it was done.
She’s gone.
Charlotte had been delivered to shore by Miguel, who stayed on deck for watch duties while we debated below.
Twice I’d tried taking her, forcing her to stay with me, and twice I’d failed. A third time and she’d slit her own throat, just as she’d sworn.
And if I didn’t pay attention right now, Sedge might slit mine.
The crew had divided between Sedge and me, but I had a few tricks up my sleeve he couldn’t predict, not to mention Johnson’s subversive eloquence in swaying men to my side. It was remarkably subtle every time Johnson brought up a point that seemed, overtly, to be in Sedge’s favor, but secretly raised concerns giving way to the men questioning his ability to lead. Though we were evenly matched, the men supporting him were all muscle, no mind.
Sway over sabers, dear Sedge.
This was my ship and he wasn’t going to take it from me.
You conniving little bastard.
I’d planned on being merciful, but after his suggestion to maroon me for slaying Robert, I’d debated what sort of accident would befall the eager climber once this matter was settled. Perhaps when he scaled the rat lines I’d cut the ropes, and he’d have a physical downfall to match the metaphorical one he was about to experience. Sedge marched around the hull, grandstanding about his abilities. I sat, letting others speak on my behalf. I did my best to appear thoughtful, if not contrite.
I needed it to be believable, after all.
Once the vote is cast, I can allow myself to consider how to survive without Charlotte…
The pounding of rain upon the ship’s wooden sides dimmed sounds of whatever commotion ensued above deck. It wasn’t until the door swung wide and Miguel sloshed down the steps that everyone turned to take stock of an unexpected guest upon our vessel.
I froze. Something in my bones told me it had to do with Charlotte and a chill raced down my spine.
“Beggin’ your pardon, the man said, swiping a cap from his head and holding it near his chest. “But I was made to send you a message. My name is John. Please don’t hurt me. If I didn’t tell you, they said they’d take my wife and children and-”
“Spit it out now!” I growled, springing to my feet.
“He’s taken Miss Charlotte, he’s hurting her,” the man supposedly named John announced, trying to appear shaken and so clearly a part of whatever scheme was happening that I was certain that even the dimmest man on my crew could see through him. “Said he’s making her scream to make you scurry.”
I broke out in a panicked sweat because those words rang true. A fear like I’d never known set my heart racing, pounding. The room disappeared and nothing mattered but getting off my ship and getting to Charlotte.
“She’s not in the brig?” James asked. “How’d she escape?”
Sedge snorted. “Wouldn’t be the first time the bitch gave us the slip. Or the second.”
“Who has her?” I demanded, ignoring everyone and fisting my hands against the urge to clutch this man’s collar and to shake him, to lift him off the ground and dash his head against the wall.
“Daniel,” John replied, confirming my suspicions. “He said to come alone or he’ll kill her. He said the longer you take, the more he’ll hurt her.”
I’m going to kill him. You. Everyone involved.
“It’s a trap,” Conks said behind me, announcing what we all knew to be true.
“A trap?” John asked, with false, wide eyes. “I wouldn’t know anything about that, I’m just the messenger. I only saw Daniel take her into the woods. Said I was to bring you to him.”
“It’s a trap,” Johnson said, sagely. “And one you have no choice but to walk into.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Sedge interrupted, stepping into the center of the circle and raising his hands. My stomach knotted and my head began to throb. “She’s not going anywhere.”
At his words, a few of the men on Sedge’s side brought their hands to their swords, tensing. A chorus of “ayes” echoed around the rocking hull. It was too many men to fight through.
Fuck. I closed my eyes and re-opened them, determined.
“You can have her. My ship. Command of The Dread Night,” I announced, words tumbling from my lips. “Let me go to Charlotte and I’ll end this debate now. I’ll give you my captaincy, no vote required.”
The men behind me sucked in a collective breath of surprise. Lazily, wasting time, Sedge paused and replied, “No.”
I can’t fight my way out of this, I thought again, eyeing the men at his back.Even those supporting me supported justice. Killing Robert might be excusable, with the right persuasion. Attacking half the crew to do as I pleased, like a tyrant king, would not.
“You can have the Crimson Eye!” I shouted, not caring how desperate I looked. “My share, all of it. Just let me leave, now.”
“We need her to find the Eye,” Sedge countered. “Maybe we should all go get her together.”
Grumbles rose up from the men.
“I’m not walking into a trap,” someone protested. “What if they’ve got the whole town waiting to grab us and make us dance the hangman’s jig?”
“We’re not risking our necks to rescue her,” James agreed, facing Sedge as he stepped into the circle. Turning to me he said, “And even if we did, we’re not setting her free. Her only use is in leading us to the Eye.”
“She’s of no value to you, she’s already confessed where it’s hidden!” I raked my hands through my hair, frustrated and growing more panicked with every passing second. Visions of Charlotte being cut and raped invaded my mind, torturing me. I felt like I might do something foolish if I didn’t get off this ship soon, like drawing my sword to begin cutting down men, which would only lead to them restraining me and ending all hope of saving her.
“Let me go and you can have it all,” I swore, looking Sedge dead in the eye. “Use my ship to capture The Dark Blade. Take the Crimson Eye for yourself. I renounce my claim on any of it. Take my gold and whatever’s in my cabin. Everything is yours if you let me leave now.”
My offer struck the crew into stunned silence. Long seconds passed with no sound but the rain beating the deck above. Sweat gathered at my neck as I tensed to fight a losing battle if we couldn’t come to an agreement.
Sedge let his lips curl into a bastard’s smile. He looked over his shoulder and nods were exchanged between him and the men on his side.
Turning back to me he said, “Go now. Take nothing and never return.”
A surge of relief swept over me. I immediately shifted mentally into imagining potential scenarios in which I might find Charlotte and how to get her out of them, safely. My mind still raced as Johnson grabbed my arm.
“Captain, wait,” he said, speaking on behalf of Conks as well. “We’re coming with you.”
“As am I,” Miguel piped up, stepping forward.
I wanted to protest; they weren’t my best fighters and I didn’t want to get them killed. But they wouldn’t fare well on a ship under Sedge’s command and I needed any help I could get, knowing I walked into an ambush of some kind.
With a cocky grin and a wave of his hand, Sedge showed that he was happy to get rid of what he deemed the least able-bodied of the crew.
I had no time to argue with anyone.
“Let’s go,” I said, already storming up the stairs and into the rainy night.
#
Conks, Johnson, Miguel and I boarded John’s small boat, leaving The Dread Night behind forever. I didn’t think about my books, my clothes, my gold, or any worldly possessions. I didn’t care about my ship or the Crimson Eye. My only focus as we fought the waves on our ride across the stormy bay was getting Charlotte away from Daniel and somewhere safe.
The biggest asset I possessed was that the bastard sitting before me didn’t know that I knew he was in on it.
I laid a hand on his shoulder and said, “Thank you for your help in saving Miss Charlotte. I imagine this must be frightening for a simple man such as yourself to be so regrettably tangled up in.”
“Terrifying,” John said, nodding. “I’ll take you where Daniel’s hiding her in the woods and then, if you don’t mind, I’ll be getting back to my wife and kids.”
You’ll be dead within the hour. Enjoy your last few moments alive.
“Of course,” I lied. My men and I exchanged a glance, wordlessly communicating our intentions.
We play this game at sea and we’re by far better players than you.
“She’s not far from his manor,” John said. “’Bout a five-minute walk.”
By the time we reached the shore, my men were soaked and wary, fingers twitching on the hilts of their swords. We trudged up the beach and into the woods, breaking into the quickest pace possible that still allowed us to listen for any enemies approaching.
My head and heart pounded in a war to be the first to explode.
Charlotte, Charlotte. I’m so sorry. I’m coming.
Only the barest glow of moonlight shone through the clouds and the foliage, hindering our progress in the thick woods and making me feel as if I’d go insane.
After a few minutes a sound carried through the trees and I was forced to halt to listen.
Was it --
Yes. God help me and God help the man who caused it.
Over the beat of rain onto the earth, I heard Charlotte scream. Beside me, the man called John twitched.
Quicker than he could react, I grabbed him and brought my blade to his throat. With his back pressed to my chest, rain dripped from my hair onto his shoulders. I didn’t know his plan and didn’t care. He wouldn’t live long enough to enact it.
“Your next words determine your fate. Don’t waste your breath lying. I know you’re a part of this.”
Charlotte’s screams were meant to distract me and by God, they were. I could see how torn my men were too, instinct calling them to run in her direction but wisdom telling them to stay put.
Struggling to breathe, I demanded, “Where are the others hiding and how many are there? Lie to me and you’re dead. Think carefully before responding. Your life depends on it.”
I heard a rush of liquid as the man, unwillingly and full of fear, relieved his bladder onto his breeches. I almost felt bad for the coward. I doubted he’d lived an honorable life and he wasn’t going to be given an honorable death.
“Two men in the woods,” John confessed, voice shaking. Thank God, I thought, it’s not the whole town. But a different panic rose within me because if Daniel didn’t want others involved, that meant what he was doing to Charlotte was unspeakable.
“Behind the boulder before you approach. It’s up the slope there on the left,” John continued in a rush, pointing into the darkness. “I was supposed to signal our approach and they’ll shoot you before you even get close. There’s four of us in total as he’s got one man with him. Now let me-”
I sliced his throat in one clean swipe. It could be considered a mercy to put him out of his misery before he knew it was coming, but in truth I didn’t have the time to waste either way.
“Take care of the men at the boulder,” I ordered Conks and Johnson. “Miguel, with me.”
We raced forward while Conks and Johnson veered left, heading to the boulder and hopefully taking out the two men with the element of surprise. Miguel had no problem keeping up with me as we raced on, leaving them to their fight.
There was no need to be silent as Charlotte’s screams increased, covering any noise. My blood raced and my hands tingled, desperate to beat Daniel’s face until it was unrecognizable and then to tear the flesh from his limbs.
When the screaming stopped, so did my heart.
What had happened?
My heart began working again when I heard a struggle. I faltered, tripping over my own feet as I picked up speed.
She’s fighting back. That’s my girl.
I heard a man shout, and from the volume I knew I was only seconds away.
Hold on, Charlotte. I’m coming.
I burst into a rain-soaked clearing and my eyes widened. Daniel had raised his pistol, pointing it at Charlotte who, on her knees, looked up with defiance.
It was a scene from the worst possible nightmare, etched forever in my brain.
I saw Daniel’s hand move, finger tightening on the trigger, and every fiber in my being screamed in agony.
Because I knew I wasn’t going to make it in time.