Page 109 of Paid to the Pirate

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.

Chapter 44

Charlotte

“Open your mouth and call to him or I’ll be forced to cut it wide open and make you scream.”

Hunched above me on one side, Daniel’s man growled the command. Daniel took the other side, holding me to the sodden earth despite my frantic kicking.

“Or maybe we’ll cut out your tongue,” the man added.

Rain from both men’s hair splattered my face, making it difficult to see, but I couldn’t miss the twin sets of glistening blades held to my face with evident threat. I clamped my lips tighter and braced for pain.

“How can she scream if you cut out her tongue?” Daniel asked, huffing. I wasn’t sure if he said it because it raised a good point -- or if because some part of him deep down didn’t want to hurt me too badly. I hated the gratitude and relief that washed over me.

“Fine. There are other sensitive parts,” the man said ominously. He slid down my body and stabbed his dagger so quickly into the mud between my legs that he would have managed to cut me if I hadn’t squirmed out of the way. The temporary relief I had felt was replaced by sheer panic and I regrettably let out an instinctive cry.

“That’s it, girl,” the man praised. With his dagger lodged in the dirt, he attacked with his bare hands instead. Gripping my arms, Daniel’s man squeezed like he wanted to break my bones, then twisted my skin as if he aimed to tear the flesh from my body.

“Stop!” I shouted, between garbled screams of agony.

It only made him hurt me more.

My skin was soaked from a mix of the cold rain and my own hot sweat. It was an advantage.

In my thrashing against Daniel’s grip, I managed to free my arms and throw Daniel’s man off balance. The slippery grass helped too, as did our motives.

They wanted to keep me alive -- at least a little while longer. I had no such compunction.

I couldn’t wrest control of either blade. I couldn’t overpower either man. All I could do was maneuver myself.

With a cry, I rolled away on the wet grass, hearing the tear in my skirts as they were freed from the dagger. Daniel’s arm plunged downward as he tried to stab my body or my skirt -- I wasn’t sure which. Either he aimed at wounding me or pinning me back to the ground. Fortunately, his man also lurched forward, attempting to use his body weight to detain me. In the synchronized tussle, Daniel’s man quickly collapsed on the ground, taking my place --

-- and Daniel’s own dagger, already in motion, stabbed the man right in his unprotected back.

I gasped as the lackey gave one cry and slumped, dead in the grass or unconscious on his way there.

Oh my god, I’ve done it,I thought, scrambling away.He’s dead. One man down and one to go.

Daniel stilled, eyes widening in shock at having slain his own companion.

My victory was short-lived.

Tangled in my sopping skirts, I’d only made it to my knees before Daniel came to his senses. Instead of drawing his sword, which I’d at least have had some chance of fighting, Daniel grabbed his pistol from his belt and aimed it at my head.

I froze, mouth parted in horror.

He wouldn’t really shoot me. Would he?

Daniel leapt to his feet. Keeping his weapon trained on me, he stepped closer, until he stood above me with vicious fury in his eyes.

Yes, he would. He’s going to shoot me.

I tried not to weep. My heart pounded so rapidly in my head it drowned out the sound of rain beating on the trees.

I’d nearly done it. I had been so close.

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