Page 5 of Kidnapped by the Pirate
A slow, ghastly smile curled the devil’s lips. “You will be.”
Chapter Two
Hawk ignored the boy’s trembling dagger, nodding to his men. “Relay these orders to Mr. Snell: Confiscate any cargo worth taking. Leave the ship and crew unharmed and with enough food and water to survive. The lady shall continue to Primrose Isle. Unmolested.”
As the men scurried out, followed by the redheaded sailor who had happily given up all the Proud William’s secrets, he gazed down at Walter Bainbridge’s precious son. “Your journey will be delayed.”
“De—delayed?” Bainbridge asked. He was smooth-faced and slim, long-legged with ordinary brown eyes. His short, light-brown hair curled, damp with sweat. He’d missed a button on his dark waistcoat, and it hung askew above his white shirt and tan breeches.
His black, square-toed shoes were surprisingly scuffed, white stockings bunched at one ankle. Red splotches flushed his pale cheeks. He had surely been untroubled by hard work a day in his life.
Utterly unremarkable aside from his parentage.
“You’re coming with us.”
The woman cried out. Hawk almost laughed as Bainbridge screwed up his courage and lunged. With a simple twist and squeeze, Hawk liberated him of the dagger, which was constructed of fine steel in a simple wooden handle.
“Don’t hurt yourself, boy. Your father won’t pay for a carcass.” He spied the dagger’s sheath on the floor and held out an imperious hand for it. Bainbridge bent and reluctantly handed it to him. Hawk tucked the weapon into his belt.
“Pay?” Bainbridge’s daughter sputtered. “But he hardly has any money!”
Hawk assessed her. Modestly expensive gown, yet paste jewels. He took a step forward, and they jerked back as one. He asked, “And how did that come to pass?” He likely knew most of the story, but perhaps Bainbridge’s children could impart new information.
She inched around to stand by her brother’s side, clutching his hand. “The family fortune went to his elder brother. He’s squandered everything else on his dream for Primrose Isle. He managed to win the governorship, but if not for the Crown’s money to establish the new colony, he barely has a thing.”
Bloody son of a bitch couldn’t even spend my prize wisely after he stole it. The Spanish galleon had been laden with spices, gold, and tons of uncoined silver. Hawk still cringed when he remembered how proud he’d been to appear at the Court of Admiralty with his hard-won plunder those years ago. Ready to give England her share in accordance with regulations, doing his part in the war with Spain. What a fool he’d been.
He pretended to mull it over. “In that case, I’ll offer him the fairness he denied me.”
The siblings exhaled, shoulders slumping in relief. The girl said, “Thank you, sir. Whatever it was our father did, I swear—”
“I’ll give him a month to gather the funds before our arrival. A hundred thousand pounds.”
As one, their jaws dropped. The boy sputtered. “It’s too much!”
Possibly, but an arrogant man who valued his heir would find a way. Bainbridge’s pride would demand it. Besides, Hawk hadn’t waited years for revenge to go easy on the swine now.
Ignoring their dismay, he announced, “Around about the night of the next dark moon, we will arrive at Primrose Isle and announce ourselves. Your father will personally row out a skiff into the harbor. Alone. He will meet my ship. I will exchange his son for the ransom. Simple.”
Bainbridge’s children locked gazes, hopelessness passing between them, tears slipping down the girl’s cheeks. Hawk understood their dread. Their terror. Remembering his own after being unfairly sentenced by their father, he reveled in their misery.
She cried, “Sir, have pity! My poor brother has committed no sin.”
“Pity? Your father created me: the Sea Hawk. And I have become the monster he bore and so very much more.” Hawk added, “And your brother will only be the first to suffer if Bainbridge doesn’t comply. Tell your father that his precious Primrose Isle will bleed and burn unless he meets my demands.”
She opened her mouth to speak again, but Hawk tired of her calls for mercy and cut her off with, “No treachery, and your brother lives. But if Bainbridge plots against me…” He kept his voice low. A calm utterance was sometimes more menacing than a shout. He peered intently at the son, who had wrapped an arm around his sister’s shaking shoulders.
“If your father defies me, this boy dies. Painfully. Slowly. I will gut him like a fish, slice him into pieces, and deliver them to your father one by one.”
He had been so very patient in his revenge, and this was his moment. He grasped hold of it with both hands, giving no quarter.
She gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth. Bainbridge the younger’s chest rose and fell rapidly, but he kept his chin up.
His sister’s eyes overflowed with more tears. “Please, I beg you. Let my brother come with me. He’s to be married! We’re starting a new life! He’s never harmed another creature. He’s kind and good.”
