Page 63 of Kidnapped by the Pirate
Perhaps he would fail miserably. Yet as he listened to the steady song of Nathaniel’s breath—felt its rise and fall, wanted to press his lips to the mole on the top of Nathaniel’s shoulder—the world seemed full of possibility.
It was madness. He shouldn’t care about anything but collecting the ransom in two days.
Tension gripped him, a shiver of fear slithering down his spine. He had to stay on task, especially when some of the men were growing restless. He’d been taking a piss in the trees, dawn not even a hint on the horizon, when he’d heard the voices. Voices not as hushed as they should have been thanks to the barrel of rum.
“If you ask me, this ransom is a fool’s errand. Captain’s going to get us all killed for nothing.”
“No one asked you, Deeks,” a voice replied dryly. Sounded like the navigator, Boland, a lettered man who’d deserted the Royal Navy. Hawk hadn’t asked why.
“Bainbridge might not even have the money.” Hawk strained to hear, trying to place the voice. Ah yes, Tully, the newest, troublesome recruit. Tully went on. “You heard the bitch say it, Deeks. So what happens if he still don’t have it by the deadline? Then we’ve been sailin’ around doing naught but wastin’ our time when we could be waylayin’ ships.”
“She did say it,” Deeks confirmed.
Tully added, “We all know the captain’s fuckin’ that little fop.”
“Can’t blame him for that. Most of us would take a go at that sweet arse given half the chance.”
Boland spoke up again. “Yet when was the last time the captain actually bedded anyone? It’s not his usual way.” He paused. “It’s concerning, I’ll grant that. This…playing at courtship.”
Hawk stood stock-still in the trees, the men’s shadows barely visible on the edge of the beach. He’d finished pissing, but he didn’t move, his cock hanging out, heart thudding.
Deeks laughed. “I heard he was dreaming about retiring and becoming a fucking farmer or the like.”
A round of raucous laughter, and Hawk stood there in the darkness feeling unbearably small. Who had Snell told? Or had someone overheard them? He supposed it was immaterial, yet it stung nonetheless.
Deeks added, “A man like that? Can you imagine? Who the fuck does he think he’s kidding?”
Tully said, “Seems clear t’me the captain’s more interested in buggerin’ that fancy arse and spinnin’ fantasies than doin’ what’s best for the ship. For us. Is he even going to give the little brat up?”
Someone Hawk couldn’t place spoke. “Bainbridge did save O’Connell. He’s not so bad.”
“Yeah, and we’s grateful,” Tully said. “Lettin’ him up on the deck, not restrained nor nothin.’ No offense to O’Connell, but is he worth your share of that ransom? We’ve been good to the whelp. Left him alone and not laid a finger on him.”
Deeks replied, “’Cause you know the captain will have your bollocks for earrings if you even looked at the boy the wrong way.”
“Exactly! Proves our point, don’t it? Sure, there’s keepin’ the prize unsullied to make sure we get the ransom. But it’s more than that. Cap’tn’s not in his right head about this. You saw how he let Bainbridge run off down the beach. His thinkin’s…”
“Compromised?” Boland suggested.
Tully said, “That’s it. Compromised and the like. You’ve all been servin’ under him too long. I see it clear.”
“So what are you proposing?” Boland asked. “Mutiny?” Hawk’s stomach clenched, his breath shallow.
There were low murmurs, then Tully said, “It ain’t mutiny if we take a vote, is it? I thought pirate ships were all…what’s the word?”
“Democratic,” Boland answered, and Hawk could imagine the roll of his eyes. “Yes, but you weren’t with us when Walter Bainbridge cheated us. We followed England’s rules to the letter, and he lied and declared us pirates. We would have all likely swung for it if we hadn’t taken them by surprise. They underestimated us—especially the captain. That is a deep wound. He wants his revenge against Bainbridge, no matter how infatuated he might find himself with the man’s pretty son.”
Deeks said, “’Tis true. Underestimate Captain Hawk at yer own peril. We got to be smart about this.”
Tully insisted, “All I’m sayin’ is that we make sure we get what’s owed us. If it weren’t for me, he might never have known who the little shit was.”
The nameless voice said, “There’s no way the captain will give up that ransom or spitting in Bainbridge’s face. No arse is that sweet. He’s getting it while the getting’s good, and like we said, who can blame him? But if Bainbridge doesn’t have the money, Captain Hawk will cut that boy into pieces and deliver them to his father one by one.”
Hawk tasted bile, reaching out to grip the rough bark of a tree as the men went on.
“Probably the ears first. Maybe lips.”
“Fingers.”
“Then his prick.”
