Page 73 of Stealing the Merman

“You’re no legitimate captain,” Darin said, raising his voice to ensure everyone in the hall heard him. “You mutinied during battle. What was it? Pirate code article three, section A? ‘The captain shall have absolute control in time of engagement. He shall not be challenged until the end of battle. Mutineers shall be punished as the captain sees fit.’”

Noise arose downstairs, chairs screeched as they dragged over the marble floor, feet shuffled, but Darin’s eyes were fixed on Anne. She launched herself at him, flaming hair whipping and swords spinning as she whirled toward him and Finn.

The thunder of his flintlock echoed through the tavern, and hot smoke blew from the tip of his pistol. He’d struck Anne’s shoulder, missing the center of her torso as she’d moved too fast to aim. She dropped one sword as blood trickled down her arm, dripping onto the crimson carpet, which soaked it up without a trace. The wound didn’t stop her.

Anne’s blade raced toward him, Darin too shocked at her disregard of the searing pain in her shoulder to react.

Hands grabbed her from behind, four or five men yanking her back and knocking the sword out of her grip. They restrained her, but within seconds, more of them were onto Darin too.

Rough hands closed around his arms, his neck, his waist. “What are you doing?” he shouted, struggling in their grip, trying to get away. Their hold on him was unforgiving.

“Let him go,” Finn yelled, tearing at the men holding Darin.

“No!” Darin fought. “Don’t get involved. Don’t get in trouble. Please!”

And yet his heart ached as the men towed him out of the parlor, away from Finn, who was being held back by more men.

“Why are you restraining me?” Darin demanded, his feet dragging over the carpet. “You’ve heard me! Anne Doyle mutinied against Captain Conall MacGeorge during battle!”

“You shot a captain,” one of the men gripping him said.

“She’s not a legitimate captain!”

“The Brethren of the Coast will decide that when they hold trial.”

“Trial?” They were going to bring him in front of a pirate court? For defending himself against that monster of a woman? Darin fought harder, but it was in vain. The men hauled him down the stairs, out of the tavern and into the dungeon of Vieques.

The dungeon was dimly lit and stank worse than the most disgusting parts of town. The stench of urine, feces, mold and death hung from the low ceiling and had crept into the straw covering the ground.

The pirates threw Darin into a cell, the straw doing little to cushion his fall. He hit the floor and groaned in pain as his body connected with the hard stone. Agony sliced through his shoulder where it’d collided with the floor. At least the men had the good sense to lock up Anne on the opposite end of the dark corridor. The air was cold and damp, and Darin shivered. His arms hurt from the brutal hold of the men, and he was sure by morning blue and purple bruises would form. The key clinked as a guard turned it, locking Darin in.

Not five minutes later, Finn came running down the stairs into the dungeon. “Darin!” he said, hands curling around the thick bars of the door.

Darin sprung to his feet and clasped Finn’s soft hands. “What are you doing here?” Through the bars, Darin threw an anxious look into the corridor.

“I followed when they dragged you away.” Finn’s voice was a whisper. “I demanded to see you, and the guards agreed to let me speak to you but not for long.”

Tears shone in his eyes, and Darin cupped his cheek, his thumb caressing his skin. “You’re brave.”

“What are we going to do? I want to get you out of here.” Finn’s gaze swept the dungeon, and his nostrils flared. “This is no place for you. And Conall…”

“I know. You need to find him. If you talk to him and explain what happened, he’ll believe you. He doesn’t think we’re conniving with Anne Doyle, not really. He was shocked when he saw us with her, and his mind was in such a state of upheaval, he drew the wrong conclusions.”

Finn bit his lip. “They keep saying you shot a captain.”

“She isn’t a rightful one. Though if the pirates hold court, it will be my word against hers.”

“I’ll find Conall.” Finn’s expression firmed. “He will testify to what she did. I hate her so much, hate her with everything I have.”

“So do I. We’ll put an end to this. I want Conall to be happy.” Darin’s fingers tightened around Finn’s. “I want you to be happy, and I know you need him desperately. You need us both.”

“Yes,” Finn said, eyes downcast. “I’m sorry.”

“Hush, don’t be. You need us. You need Conall, and I need him too.”

“I love you.”

Darin pressed closer to the bars until the cold metal pushed painfully into his flesh. “I love you too.”

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