Page 107 of Paid to the Pirate

“It’s a trap,” Johnson said, sagely. “And one you have no choice but to walk into.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Sedge interrupted, stepping into the center of the circle and raising his hands. My stomach knotted and my head began to throb.“She’snot going anywhere.”

At his words, a few of the men on Sedge’s side brought their hands to their swords, tensing. A chorus of“ayes”echoed around the rocking hull. It was too many men to fight through.

Fuck.I closed my eyes and re-opened them, determined.

“You can have her. My ship. Command ofThe Dread Night,”I announced, words tumbling from my lips. “Let me go to Charlotte and I’ll end this debate now. I’ll give you my captaincy, no vote required.”

The men behind me sucked in a collective breath of surprise. Lazily, wasting time, Sedge paused and replied, “No.”

I can’t fight my way out of this,I thought again, eyeing the men at his back.Even those supporting me supported justice. Killing Robert might be excusable, with the right persuasion. Attacking half the crew to do as I pleased, like a tyrant king, would not.

“You can have the Crimson Eye!” I shouted, not caring how desperate I looked. “My share, all of it. Just let me leave, now.”

“We need her to find the Eye,” Sedge countered. “Maybe we should all go get her together.”

Grumbles rose up from the men.

“I’m not walking into a trap,” someone protested. “What if they’ve got the whole town waiting to grab us and make us dance the hangman’s jig?”

“We’re not risking our necks to rescue her,” James agreed, facing Sedge as he stepped into the circle. Turning to me he said, “And even if we did, we’re not setting her free. Her only use is in leading us to the Eye.”

“She’s of no value to you, she’s already confessed where it’s hidden!” I raked my hands through my hair, frustrated and growing more panicked with every passing second. Visions of Charlotte being cut and raped invaded my mind, torturing me. I felt like I might do something foolish if I didn’t get off this ship soon, like drawing my sword to begin cutting down men, which would only lead to them restraining me and ending all hope of saving her.

“Let me go and you can have it all,” I swore, looking Sedge dead in the eye. “Use my ship to captureThe Dark Blade.Take the Crimson Eye for yourself. I renounce my claim on any of it. Take my gold and whatever’s in my cabin. Everything is yours if you let me leave now.”

My offer struck the crew into stunned silence. Long seconds passed with no sound but the rain beating the deck above. Sweat gathered at my neck as I tensed to fight a losing battle if we couldn’t come to an agreement.

Sedge let his lips curl into a bastard’s smile. He looked over his shoulder and nods were exchanged between him and the men on his side.

Turning back to me he said, “Go now. Take nothing and never return.”

A surge of relief swept over me. I immediately shifted mentally into imagining potential scenarios in which I might find Charlotte and how to get her out of them, safely. My mind still raced as Johnson grabbed my arm.

“Captain, wait,” he said, speaking on behalf of Conks as well. “We’re coming with you.”

“As am I,” Miguel piped up, stepping forward.

I wanted to protest; they weren’t my best fighters and I didn’t want to get them killed. But they wouldn’t fare well on a ship under Sedge’s command and I needed any help I could get, knowing I walked into an ambush of some kind.

With a cocky grin and a wave of his hand, Sedge showed that he was happy to get rid of what he deemed the least able-bodied of the crew.

I had no time to argue with anyone.

“Let’s go,” I said, already storming up the stairs and into the rainy night.

#

Conks, Johnson, Miguel and I boarded John’s small boat, leavingThe Dread Nightbehind forever. I didn’t think about my books, my clothes, my gold, or any worldly possessions. I didn’t care about my ship or the Crimson Eye. My only focus as we fought the waves on our ride across the stormy bay was getting Charlotte away from Daniel and somewhere safe.

The biggest asset I possessed was that the bastard sitting before me didn’t know thatIknew he was in on it.

I laid a hand on his shoulder and said, “Thank you for your help in saving Miss Charlotte. I imagine this must be frightening for a simple man such as yourself to be so regrettably tangled up in.”

“Terrifying,” John said, nodding. “I’ll take you where Daniel’s hiding her in the woods and then, if you don’t mind, I’ll be getting back to my wife and kids.”

You’ll be dead within the hour. Enjoy your last few moments alive.

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