Page 105 of Paid to the Pirate

“You’re setting a trap,” I whispered, pain squeezing my heart. Daniel nodded, confirming my fear as his gaze lingered on my body.

In that moment when my heart screamed, I knew.Oh god, I was a fool.Faced with Colt’s imminent death, I knew I didn’t want it. It didn’t matter what he’d done to my father, to me.

I still loved him. More than anything.

He’d tried to tell me how sorry he was,I realized. He believed I’d forgiven him and he was humbled and grateful. But I thought he’d been talking about past punishments, not the death of my father and his part in it.

Daniel seemed to be debating something as a few quiet seconds passed.

“I’ve stripped you naked before,” Daniel said, still eyeing my breasts, barely concealed beneath my chemise. “When you washed ashore like a siren of the sea.”

Stripped me?Chills ran up my spine again.

“I took your clothes that day and I might have had the opportunity to take more, but we were interrupted by Mr. Penningham’s bloody morning stroll along the beach.”

My stomach dropped to my feet as I pieced it together.That’s why I had no clothing when I was found. Recalling how I escaped Colt’s ship, I now knew it wasn’t the captain or any of his men who’d stripped me. But I didn’t know what had happened between when I’d fallen into the sea and when I’d awoken, naked, on the beach. Maybe I could have thought more on it, made some guesses, but there hadn’t been any opportunity considering recent events.

Daniel’s fingers traced my décolletage, lifting my locket. With a sharp tug, he yanked it clear off my neck, making me jump.

“I didn’t have time to secure this,” he said, pocketing my locket. I gulped as Daniel leaned into my ear and whispered, “Though I never got the chance to thank you for the gold I did have the time to acquire.”

My eyes widened and my heart skipped a beat.Colt’s missing bag o’ bits.The one I’d stolen to fund my new life off his ship. I’d assumed it had been lost at sea...

I gazed at Daniel’s elegant home, set amongst his rich farmland and adorned with beautiful art, tableware, and knickknacks. Everyone knew he’d come into wealth about the time that I was found, but no one knew how. Perhaps he’d doubled or tripled the money with wise investments, but it had all started with what he’d stolen fromme.

Even the pink dress Daniel had gifted me -- the one I wore the day Colt attacked our settlement. It was all with my gold. I’d bought my own dress.

Well, I supposed I’d first stolen the bag from Colt. But that was beside the point.

“Thank you, Miss Charlotte.” Daniel leaned back and with a sweep of his arms, he declared, “None of this would have been possible without the gold you provided.”

Fury at Daniel’s deception made my blood boil. He’d robbed me of a new life; one I deserved for all I endured. I struggled with the men holding me, determined to scratch out Daniel’s eyes the moment I had the chance.

“Remember, you brought all this on yourself,” he said, and from his disappointed tone I could tell Daniel was convinced it was true. “You were determined to be a pirate’s whore. We’re only obliging you.”

Dizzying fear threatened to take over my mind and I tampered it down because I needed to stay alert, to pay attention. Being alone with five men, the possible horrors they could inflict upon me were endless.

Determination to stay alive kept me struggling, however.

Daniel jutted his chin in the direction of the door, indicating to his friends to begin walking.

“Go toThe Dread Nightand tell Captain Colt we have his whore,” he instructed one of the men. “If he wants her, he comes alone. Otherwise, she’s as good as dead.”

To two of the men he ordered, “You’ll hide in the woods. Shoot him when he gets close.” Turning to address the fourth man, he said, ominously, “And you’ll help me with her.”

At last his gaze came to rest on me.

“And you, Charlotte, will scream for your lover. Save your strength, girl,” Daniel advised cruelly. “You’re going to need it.”

One of the men opened the door and shoved me forward, into the stormy night and towards the dark woods behind Daniel’s manor.

I clamped my mouth shut, determined. No one from our settlement could hear me above the rain.

You must not make a sound,I warned myself.

My screams would only bring about Colt’s demise.

Chapter 43

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