Chapter 3
Three
DAMON
The lad was bold. I’d give him that. Most would cower the moment they saw me. He knew who I was, I saw the recognition in his eyes, but still he fought the inevitable.
I wasn’t sure if it was boredom or curiosity that made me lift a hand, pausing my men from following the order to kill him.
They forced him on his knees before me. He struggled against Darrow’s hold on his hair, his teeth bared and his eyes wide and filled with fury and panic.
He was smart enough to know the danger and reckless enough to face it anyway. It only made me more intrigued.
“You think so? Do tell,” I purred with a grin.
The crew chuckled along with me. It was always fun to play with them before they died.
Seeing the false hope light in their eyes only to watch it drain away as they were thrown over the side to dangle there for the sharks or the sea to take them.
It could last days, and the crew loved to bet on how long they’d last. I’d bet good money this one would last longer than the rest.
“I’ll tell you. As long as you guarantee the girls won’t be harmed.”
I snorted, crossing my arms over my chest. “It doesn’t work like that, boy. I have no interest in playing games.” I waved a hand lazily towards the blond who tried to attack me. “Let’s see who lasts the longest over the edge.”
That made my crew cackle, and they forced the blond to his feet, pushing him towards the gangplank to my ship. I moved to follow, halting at the boy’s next words.
“I wonder how your crew will feel when they realise you struck gold and threw it overboard on a whim.”
His voice held such conviction, I considered the possibility that he wasn’t just trying to save his own ass. Spinning, I jerked my chin at Darrow, who hoisted the boy to his feet.
“What are you talking about?”
The boy glared at me, stubborn defiance written all over his face. It made my hands itch to teach him a lesson. But it was the lack of fear that surprised me. He fully believed his words. He felt his information was worth a great deal.
“Answer me.”
“I will. If the girls will remain untouched and unharmed until they are returned to their father.”
He was getting more specific. Smart lad. Curiosity won, and I waved my hand at the men holding onto the girls. I wouldn’t have let them rape them anyway, I didn’t allow that on my ship, but I kept up the show to appease the boy.
“Speak.”
Tipping his head towards the blond, the boy raised his eyebrows. “That’s Governor Davenport’s son. His only son. He’ll pay three times what you might get for his daughters just to get that one back. And he’d pay a great deal in the first place for his girls.”
I shot a glance at Lockhart, my quartermaster.
He knew better than I did the gossip of the colonies.
I’d heard of Davenport. Rich lord appointed governor of Port Antonio.
He was known as a cheat, and I heard he was dabbling in the slave trade.
Which meant he had money to spare. If the boy was being honest, then we could make out like kings by keeping the son alive.
Lockhart shrugged. “Haven’t heard much about Davenport. No way of knowing if he’s telling the truth.”
“Ask the merchant captain,” the boy insisted. “He was paid a specific amount for each of them. His son was worth more, so he paid more for him.”
All eyes swung to the merchant captain. He’d been smart to surrender, since we would’ve torn his ship to pieces if he hadn’t, and he mentioned the children he was transporting, but he made no mention of the son being important. I could’ve lost good money because of his silence.
Stalking toward him, I fought back a smirk when he squirmed, his eyes darting around in panic. I stopped in front of him, raising an eyebrow.
“Is what he says true?”
“I-I- No! I was paid equal for all three. I had no knowledge of–”
“Get me the captain’s log,” I snapped. A few of my men leapt to follow the order, heading for the captain’s quarters.
All diligent captains kept record of everything on their ship.
Including the amounts paid to them for transportation.
He could lie to my face, but the ink would tell a different story.
“W-Wait! I-I’m telling the truth! I’ve done everything you asked! I–”
The log must not have been hidden because Salty came back a moment later, handing me the book. The boy wasn’t lying, more was paid for the son than the daughters, but the amounts given didn't amount to much either. I walked away from the captain, holding the book in front of the boy's face.
“Doesn’t seem like he was willing to pay much at all.”
He didn’t look fazed by the numbers in front of him, looking up at me with obvious exasperation. Cocky little shit.
“Davenport is smart. He wouldn’t pay everything up front. Unlike most, he only pays a third up front. Two-thirds upon safe delivery. Triple those numbers to get the correct amount. Then add more because when he realises his children have been captured by pirates, he’ll pay extra to get them back.”
I looked again at the merchant captain. His glare was locked on the boy. I jerked my chin in his direction. Lockhart and Wakeman grabbed the heavy set man, forcing him onto his knees beside the boy.
“Is what he says true?” I demanded, adding, “Lie to me again and it’ll make things worse for you.”
The merchant captain’s mouth opened and closed without a sound. It was answer enough. The boy was right. It was the son who’d make us rich, and I nearly tossed him overboard because the merchant captain didn’t mention his worth. He’d face consequences for that.
“Move the children onto the ship. Try not to injure them. I am a man of my word, after all,” I ordered with a smirk.
The knife was pulled away from the blond’s throat, and he was dragged off, his sisters trailing behind him weeping.
They’d be put in the cabin next to my room and kept there for the next few weeks.
Long enough to give Davenport time to gather the money, but not long enough to give him time to plot against me.
The merchant ship would deliver the message. Well… what was left of it, anyway.
Dropping my gaze to the boy at my feet, I considered him. Even after my men released him, he knew better than to get up or even meet my eye. “Who are you?”
He shook his head. “Nobody. A servant in the governor’s household.”
My eyebrows jumped a little. Interesting. “You could’ve used that information to barter for your freedom. You used it for the girls instead. Why?”
“Because they didn’t deserve to be raped merely for being female.”
A quaint idea but not the reason he did it. I was good at reading people, and he was leaving something out. I gripped his hair, yanking his head back.
“Try again.”
Narrowing his eyes, he glared at me. “They’re the only people in the world who treat me like their equal.”
That answer was honest. The feeling was a familiar one.
I too was seen as no better than dirt in my youth.
I clawed my way to where I was now, a feared and respected captain of one of the most notorious pirate ships in the Caribbean.
Unlike me, the boy didn’t use what little leverage he had to pull himself out of the situation he’d found himself in.
Instead, he demanded to save the girls. Honourable, if a little stupid. Still, I appreciated his honesty.
“I’ll tell you what. I’m feeling amiable today. I’ll bring you with us and let you see for yourself that the girls remain unharmed, if you agree to a few conditions.”
“What conditions?” he asked gruffly.
“One, you’ll serve as my cabin boy. I’m in need of a new one.”
A round of snickers filled the air. It wasn’t a glamorous position, but he said he was a servant for Davenport, so I doubted it’d embarrass him.
“Two, you’ll make a promise not to cause trouble for me. The safety of those children are in your hands. If you act out, they will be punished for it.”
He nodded along, not protesting the conditions. My eyes flicked to the lying captain close to him and a smirk crossed my face.
“Final condition. You want to be on my ship, you need to prove you’re strong enough.
” Grabbing his arm, I forced him to his feet while Lockhart did the same for the merchant captain.
With the little knife I took off him in the cabin, I sliced through the bindings on his arms and shoved him away from me.
“Last one standing lives to see another day. Begin.”