Page 23 of Scourge of the Shores
When his footsteps were no longer heard, Robert turned around to Danna. “Are you satisfied?”
She gestured with the pistol for him to sit, but instead, Robert stepped closer. Too close. The smell of spice and gunpowder clung to him. He lifted her pistols and pressed them beneath his chin.
“What are ye doin’?” Danna grunted. “I’ll blow yer head off.”
His cobalt eyes held hers, steady as a storm-bound sea.
“No, you won’t.” He pulled the triggers for her. He didn’t even flinch. Click. Click. Empty.
Danna’s breath hitched as she thought of the knife in her belt. She locked her jaw to mask it. He was infuriating. “Ye knew?”
Robert nodded. “You shot both and hit Cain twice in his eye.”
He ripped them out of her hands and set them on the bench.
“But why?” Danna said.
He chuckled. “Isn’t it obvious?” He spun around. “I want you to believe me.” He tilted his head.
“But why?”
He sighed with a shrug. His weight shifted as his eyes scanned the interior room in thought before locking eyes with her again. “I just need yer trust.”
Danna put her hands on her belt, within easy reach of the knife. “Don’t trust easily, especially a pirate still in the business of being a pirate.”
Robert mimicked her with his hands on his hips, near his knife, she noticed. “I suspected a Chadwick would be the most sensible one here.” He paced. “Look, Danna, I need your trust because I have a proposition for you.”
She inclined her head. “Aye, and what’s that?”
“Cain. Your problem’s an answer to my problem.”
“Mind explainin’?”
“If I kill a sea dragon, I know I could consolidate at least half of the Pirate Kings under my fleet.” Robert stopped pacing and angled his body toward her. “Half of the captains would yield to me. If you kill your sea dragon, your island’s safe.”
Danna pinched her lips and narrowed her eyes in consideration of his proposition. “Go on.”
“What if we team together, sail to the dragon’s den, kill it, return victorious . . . ” He took a step. “Win for you.” Another step. “Win for me.”
Danna lofted an eyebrow. It would solve her problems, and she would have newer, well-equipped pirate ships to help her defeat Cain; however, once they killed Cain, would Robert keep to his word, or was his whole righteous speech to Rosa for her benefit? They could hold her hostage or sink their ships and come back and take the island.
The pain in her leg grabbed her attention and pulled a small groan through closed lips.
“No deal,” she gritted, shifting her weight to her good leg. A wave of nausea passed over her stomach. She swallowed, hoping to keep it at bay.
Robert took another step toward her. “Why?”
“‘Cause I don’t trust ye.”
He smiled and spoke as if reading her mind. “I’m not going to sink your ships or hold your ships hostage for the treasures on this island.”
The room swayed. She steadied herself, blinking rapidly to get the sway out of her eye. “Ye may not,” her tongue grew thick in her mouth, “But Rosa, or the others? Any fool with eyes could see that chance.”
“If we’re successful, as I told you, at least half would submit to me.”
“And the other half?” She shook her head, and the room shook with it. “No deal,” she forced out. “I ain’t handin’ me people to yer mercy.”
Robert’s eyes dipped to her leg. “You sure are the bleeder. Should probably tie a tourniquet.”
