Page 67 of Devil of the High Seas
His fingers tightened on her throat again. “How do I know you aren’t lying?”
“I have no reason to lie. How do you think that Gavin managed to chase you so quickly after you mutinied and forced him from his own ship? He stole one of my brother’s vessels and a crew. My family has money. He kidnapped me and took that ship, knowing he could ransom me as well as the ship’s return to my family.” She had to think fast and pray Beauchamp would believe her tale.
“Let me and the boy go unharmed and you will be able to collect a king’s ransom for us.”
Beauchamp considered this, then released her. She rubbed her throat, trying to recover her breath.
“A king’s ransom,” he murmured, greed glowing in his eyes. He turned toward her and struck her hard across the face before she could react. She stumbled, colliding with the table, but didn’t fall.
“You’re a strong one, aren’t you?” he muttered, then bellowed for Billy to come in.
“Take the girl to the hold and toss her in the cell with the boy. She is not to be touched by you or any of the crew. I will hear of it if she is harmed. She is worth a fortune in trade, and you and the others can have every whore in Sugar Cove with the money we’ll get for her.”
Billy narrowed his eyes at Josephine. He grunted and grabbed her by the hair, dragging her out of the captain’s cabin. She stumbled behind him as he forced her down the corridor. The man clearly had an unusual definition ofharm.
They reached the hold, and she saw Sam in a cell behind iron bars. He watched with wide, terrified eyes as the pirate shoved her into his cell. Her scalp screamed at having her hair pulled, but she didn’t make a sound until she and Sam were alone.
“Are you all right?” she asked the child.
“Y—yes,” the boy said, his lips quivering.
“My brave Sam. Come here.” She held out her uninjured arm, and the boy cuddled up to her like a frightened puppy. He would never admit to being afraid, but she would still comfort him as best she could.
“Are we going to die?” he asked in a small voice.
She squeezed his shoulders. “Do you think Gavin would allow that to happen?”
“No,” Sam snorted confidently. “He’ll kill these bloody pirates.”
“Yes, he will. He’ll come for us. We just have to keep calm.”
Sam let out a shaky sigh. “I’m glad you’re here, Josie.”
“Me too, Sam. Me too.” She stroked his hair and held him in the darkness of the hold. She had bought them some time, but she wasn’t sure how long she could keep Beauchamp and his men at bay.
Gavin... Hurry...
CHAPTER16
The Black Isle was three days away, and every minute of that short voyage was torture for Gavin. He barely slept or ate and snapped at anyone who dared question him. He had but one driving purpose that kept him on his feet. He had to save Josephine and Sam. It was his fault they were in danger.
All of the women who had traveled from England on theSea Serpenthad chosen to remain on the Isle of Song, except for Brianna who needed to be ready to captain the Serpent if they encountered danger. No one could match her in quick wit and sailing ability and that would be important if they faced Beauchamp in a sea battle. Gavin had felt a twist in his gut as he’d watched her kiss the forehead of her sleeping infant son as she said goodbye. There was every chance she and Nicholas would perish in the coming fight, and that thought churned through Gavin with a ferocity he’d never experienced, not before he’d met Josephine. He kept thinking of the possibility of children with her and the thought of their baby alone in the world chilled him to the core of his soul.
Adrian had remained behind on the island as well, and had been given command of thePixieand a decent crew to sail the ship. Griffin had expected Dominic to stay behind, but when the man had pulled him aside, he’d said that he was needed every man able to fight that they could spare. Adrian and the Pixie’s crew he’d been given would provide everyone on the island a means of escape should they be attacked again. Gavin knew all of this heartbreak, all of the danger was because of him and choices he’d made.
“Gavin.”
He jerked at the sound of his brother’s voice, then glanced at Griffin as he stepped up next to him and caught his arm.
“Is that it?” Griffin asked, pointing toward the mist-shrouded island that slowly materialized on the horizon.
The twist in his gut tightened. “Yes,” he growled.
Another man might flinch, but his brother merely tightened his hold on his arm. “We will save them both. But,” he continued, a dip in his voice, “if you aren’t careful, you could get them or yourself killed.”
Griffin’s care infiltrated Gavin’s skin, sinking beneath his bones to awaken some of the affection he’d long buried.
“That’s what this Beauchamp fellow wants, isn’t it? He wants you to react rashly.” Griffin continued, each word deliberate and measured. “If you are unbalanced, it will give him an advantage we cannot afford.”
