Page 127 of An Imperfect Scoundrel
“I’d ask Mrs. Dubois, but she’s unconscious,” Cedric said, glancing over his shoulder at Alana.
He shouldn’t have removed his attention from Mr. Evans. Pain detonated in the side of his face where Mr. Evans struck him, and Cedric dropped his gun, his hand covering his cheek.
Launching himself forward, Mr. Evans rammed his shoulder into Cedric, knocking him backward. They rolled, Cedric latching onto Mr. Evans’ arms as he tumbled backward.
Flipping them over, he came to rest atop Mr. Evans and swung before the man realized the wrestling movement Cedric had applied. His blow struck Mr. Evans in the temple.
Crying out, Mr. Evans folded his hands into a thick fist and slammed them into Cedric’s chest, shoving him back just enough to allow Mr. Evans to scurry out from beneath him.
However, before Cedric could climb from the floor, the distinct sound of a hammer cocking back reverberated through the cabin. Lifting his head, he stared into the barrel of a gun. Mr. Evans swung, smashing his pistol into Cedric’s face and knocking him sideways.
“This is my ship now.” Mr. Evans’ gaze flicked toward the bed. “Perhaps I’ll let you watch while I take her.”
“No!” Cedric pushed up, but Mr. Evans shoved the gun into his face, backing him down.
“I’m the captain. I decide what happens to the prisoners.”
Mr. Evans gestured toward one of the chairs, and Cedric slowly rose, his gaze furtively searching the cabin for his gun, which winked at him tauntingly from the far corner of the chamber.
“Captain Taylor’s assessment of your character was accurate,” Cedric muttered as he sat in the indicated seat.
Mr. Evans froze, obviously thrown by the statement.
“What did Captain say about me?”
“That he suspected you were behind the mutiny aboard his ship, and I shouldn’t trust you or sail with you.”
“That’s intriguing.” Mr. Evans scratched the side of his head with the pistol, considering Cedric’s admission, then he grinned. “He’s correct, of course.”
“I shall inform him of the fact.”
Mr. Evans shook his head and pointed the gun at Cedric.
“You shall do no such thing. You’ll be dead.”
“Are you a fool? We’ll all be dead. Or haven’t you noticed the two Naval ships currently attacking us?”
The smile on Mr. Evans’ face chilled Cedric’s blood.
“They’ll stop once I signal them of your demise.”
Shock. Disbelief. Betrayal.
None of those words encompassed the magnitude of what Mr. Evans had admitted to doing.
“The punishment for mutiny is death.”
“Of all the lives aboard this ship,CaptainShaw, you should be most concerned with your own.” He grabbed a discarded section of rope from the floor, keeping the pistol pointed at Cedric. “Once these men realize the power that I have, they’ll beg to sail with me.”
“Do you think you’re the first pirate to make a bargain with the Navy?” Cedric forced a derisive laugh. “They’ll betray you once your usefulness has run out, which I suspect would be shortly after you inform them of my death.”
Mr. Evans paused, considering Cedric’s words.
“If I don’t kill you, they will sink my ship.”
“That they will,” Cedric replied, leaning back in the chair.
He could see both Alana and Mr. Evans from this position. She was stirring, knowledge Mr. Evans hadn’t yet realized.
