Page 79 of The Swan Syndicate
She slowly lifted her head, scowling at the kink as she slowly rolled her head from side to side. Two men filled her line of sight before a third came into view.
He bent down, his face close enough for her to smell his foul breath and the remnants of alcohol. “Lady Swan. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. My name is Cheval.”
Great. Of all the luck.
She didn’t see a reason to respond, so she remained silent while she wrestled with her fear.
He lifted her head with a single finger under her chin before using it to caress one of her cheeks. “I can see why MacDuff has become enamored with you. Or was it the promise of French rifles?”
Her eyes widened. She couldn’t help it. How the hell did he know about the rifles?
He stepped back and laughed. “Oh, yes, I know all about the little trade you were trying to make with him.” He pulled a dagger from his pocket.
She blinked. “That’s mine.” Her throat was sore, and the words came out raspy.
He took a long look at the dagger. “Yes, I found it in your pocket. Too light for my liking but well crafted. It will make a nice addition to my collection.”
He tapped the side of the dagger on her cheek. “I’ve been working my way into MacDuff’s lucrative network for months. I don’t need another competitor moving in. If it wasn’t for your French rifles, you’d be feeding the fish by now—or perhaps pleasuring my crew.”
Her skin crawled. This was really bad. Then the rest of his words worked their way through her foggy brain.
“You don’t have a contact for French rifles.”
He grinned and his brown teeth explained the rotten smell. “Now I see why MacDuff canceled his meeting with me. You’re a smart one—for a woman.”
Maybe there was a way out of this. “If you think I’ll give up my contact, you’re not as smart as you think.” This might not be the best approach, but she couldn’t appear weak. She needed time. Beckworth had to have found the swans. Had to know where she went. Was he already following them?
Cheval strode to the other side of the room, and one of his men moved with him holding a lantern, which he placed on a tall barrel. Another man was there in what she now recognized as a cargo hold filled with crates and barrels. This man was also tied to a chair, but she didn’t recognize him. At least it wasn’t someone from theDaphne.
The man looked terrified. That didn’t lessen the jackhammer that had moved from her head to her chest.
Cheval pulled the man’s head back and slowly sliced her dagger across the man’s neck. It wasn’t deep, but the man flinched as a line of crimson formed. “I’d considered torture to see how long it would take before you gave up a name.” He used the blood-stained dagger to point a finger at his men who stood several feet away. “You see, I have a crew of betting men. Risk takers. They like making bets on how long a prisoner will last before giving up information. They even place bets on how long before one dies.”
His men chuckled and nodded.
Good grief. He should change the name of his ship to theShip of Horrors.
“The men would have had a good time betting on you, but you provide a unique opportunity. The current bet is how longbefore I convince you to work for me. It can be quite simple and relatively painless.”
He strode back to her and pulled her head back by her hair as the dagger sliced in front of her face. It didn’t touch her, but she understood his point.
“You can become richer than you thought possible working for me. I have my own network. Not nearly as large as MacDuff’s.” He bent closer. “But everything he has will one day be mine. All you have to do is partner with me. You get your contact to trade with me and you get a nice fat share.”
She swallowed hard and considered how Beckworth would play this. He’d tell her to play along. Stay alive as long as she could until help arrived.
She squared her shoulders and ignored the ripples of pain along her spine. “So rather than work a deal with MacDuff, I trade with you.” The men always promised she’d get a nice share of the profits. Like she was supposed to believe that. She’d laugh in his face if she wasn’t concerned about her dagger still gripped in his fist. So, she appeared to consider it. “I’d have to discuss it with the captain of my ship.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Consider your ship a loss.”
What did that mean? Had they done something to theDaphne?
“Your men have no idea where you went. This is your new home—by my side.” That ugly grin was back. “And in my bed.”
“Not likely.”
“You see, I had a feeling you’d be stubborn. A woman trying to barter with men is always like that—at first.” He walked to a table on the far side of the hold. He pocketed her dagger and picked up a crossbow. It was a smaller version, maybe eighteen inches long. Any other day she’d consider it cute.
“I find examples are the best form of persuasion.” Cheval selected a crossbow bolt. She knew the general idea of how theyworked but never paid attention to the mechanics. Now, she followed every step he took in loading the bolt.
