Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
DAMON
The world moved in slow motion as Larry thrust his sword through Will’s stomach.
He’d been on my crew once. Dubbed by himself as the Deceiver for attempting a mutiny and then jumping ship to escape my wrath.
He should have drowned in the sea, but apparently he got lucky.
I heard rumours of him surviving and starting his own crew, but I paid little mind to it.
I hoped maybe we’d be able to meet one day so I could put my sword through him, but I wasn’t going to seek him out. He wasn’t worth my time.
Maybe if I had, I wouldn’t be watching Will’s face go pale as he slowly looked down at the iron in his belly and back up at Larry’s face.
His body swayed, like he was close to collapsing, and a familiar flash of determination and anger swept over his face.
With a quick movement even I almost missed, he returned the gift Larry handed him, thrusting his sword through Larry’s chest. I watched in horror as Will collapsed, Larry falling a few breaths after.
Henry got to him first, sliding on his knees and pulling Will’s head into his lap. He slapped at his cheeks, screaming at him to keep his eyes open. The fight was over, my crew handling the rest of Larry’s. I kneeled beside Will, pressing my fingers against his neck.
“Is he alive?” Kendrick stood nearby, his shirt covered in blood, and his expression tight.
“For now. Can you save him?”
Kendrick shook his head. “No. I’m not that skilled. He needs a proper doctor.”
I glanced towards shore and then at Lockhart. “Take three. Get me a damn doctor. And make it quick.”
Kendrick did what he could, putting pressure on the wound.
That Will was even still breathing was a miracle, and I wasn’t sure how long that miracle would last. I had no knowledge of medical procedure.
Feeling useless wasn’t something I was used to, and it pissed me off.
I wanted to bring Larry back to life so I could kill him myself for hurting Will.
It felt like ages before Lockhart returned. From the look on the doctor’s face, he wasn’t brought onto the ship willingly. He protested and squawked, but we didn’t let up until he was standing over Will.
“Fix him. If he lives, I’ll let you go,” I growled.
He shot me an incredulous look, his gaze whipping between me and Will. When I didn’t waver, he sighed heavily, his shoulders slumped in defeat. “Get him out of the rain. Somewhere dry and clean. I’ll do what I can.”
“You’ll save his life if you know what’s good for you,” Henry snarled. It was the first time he sounded something like a real pirate, and I’d have enjoyed it more if I wasn’t so worried about Will.
With the help of the crew, we carefully moved Will to my quarters.
Thanks to Will’s diligence, it was the cleanest place on the ship.
He’d even taken the time to change the sheets after our morning fuck.
His face pinched when we laid him down, his skin pale and clammy.
Blood soaked the cloth Kendrick kept pressed against his belly, and more came out from his back.
If the doctor didn’t do something soon, Will would bleed out.
“Some space, please, for me to work,” the doctor demanded, nudging people out of the way. Kendrick glanced at him over his shoulder, his expression determined.
“I’m the surgeon on ship. I can help.”
With a dip of his chin, the doctor allowed him to stay, but the rest of us were shunted out of the room to give them space to work. Even I was forced to leave, Lockhart guiding me out with a hand on my shoulder.
My mind felt clouded, and an ache had settled in my chest, making it hard to breathe right.
I could barely manage the mask I wore in front of my crew.
I couldn’t show weakness, not even in the face of my worry.
But a numb feeling spread from my fingers throughout my body, and I moved on instinct alone, barking out commands to strip the dead of their goods and toss the bodies overboard.
I sent Lockhart and a small group to the other ship to search it and kill anyone else who was waiting there.
All of it mattered very little to me. Not while Will was at death’s door.
I checked on the Davenport children after the bodies were cleared away.
The girls were tear-stained and clinging to their brother, who had obviously told them what happened.
The eldest girl held the dagger Will once used to protect her.
Smart boy. He armed even her when the odds weren’t in their favour.
He wasn’t going to give another crew the opportunity to take them again.
Larry wouldn’t have been as kind as I was.
He didn’t have any true morals. The reminder of Will’s diligence only made the pain worse, and I had to internally slap myself to get my head back on straight.
Henry didn’t protest when he was disarmed. I took his sword, and Will’s dagger back, but I didn’t force them back to their room. They weren’t going anywhere.
Hours passed before the doctor came back out. He looked grim but determined, wiping his hands on a cloth as he strode to meet me.
“How is he?”
“He’s alive. I’ve done what I can for him. But I can guarantee he won’t stay that way if he stays on this ship.”
A snarl ripped from me, and I felt my hand reach for my cutlass, but Kendrick spoke before I could remove the doctor’s head.
“He’s being truthful, Captain. Injuries like this are prone to infection. If Will stays on the ship, there will be no way for us to help him when the infection comes. I can’t remove it like I would a limb.”
Fear and disbelief gripped me, and I couldn’t think straight.
This island, while it had a doctor, wasn’t going to be any better for Will.
If things went wrong, there was only one doctor there to care for him.
He needed more. But where the hell would I bring him?
I couldn’t let him die. Not after he risked his life to save my ship. Not after…
“Captain.” Henry’s voice wavered, like he was fighting his own emotions, but his chin went up as he moved to stand beside the doctor. “Bring us home, Captain. My father can get the best doctors for Will. He’ll be taken care of there.”
“No.” I refused to send Will back into servitude. It wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted his freedom. If he woke up back in the hands of his employers, he’d stay out of obligation. He’d never be free again.
A firm hand gripped my shoulder, and Darrow appeared beside me. “He can’t have his freedom if he doesn’t survive the night, Captain. The wind is in our favour. We can get him there in time.”
Looking over my shoulder, I took in the faces of my crew.
They had grown to enjoy Will’s company. They looked just as unhappy as I felt sending him away.
But Darrow was right. I was killing Will myself if I refused to get him the help he needed.
And I couldn’t stomach doing that. He meant too much to me.
“Mad Eye. Get this ship moving. And someone get word to Lockhart. I want us in Port Antonio as fast as the wind takes us. Anyone who slows us down will be meeting Davy Jones!”
The journey itself was easy. We weren’t far from our destination.
In the past two weeks, we’d been skirting the area, catching rumours of Davenport’s progress and intentions.
We arrived at nightfall the following day.
We knew he was planning an ambush with the royal navy, but since we were earlier than intended, we hoped we wouldn’t have to deal with that.
They wouldn’t come near us while the children were still on board, since they knew we’d take action, but we were prepared for an escape afterward.
As long as Will was offloaded safely with the doctor. He couldn’t stay here with us.
A sharp pain sliced through my chest every time I thought of it.
I thought of Will’s smile, the way he relaxed with the crew, the sound of his laugh as he finally let loose.
I hated sending him back to live under Davenport’s rule, but if it was between his life and his freedom, I couldn’t be selfish enough to keep him.
I was a damn pirate, refusing to take what belongs to me.
Some of Will’s chivalry must have rubbed off on me.
We anchored close enough to allow Davenport to row from the docks, but far enough away for a quick escape if needed.
It took a while for Davenport to realise we were here, but I saw movement along the dock, and eventually, a longboat came for us with a handful of men inside.
Including the messenger with our money. He was a nervous fellow, practically shaking as he climbed on deck.
He clung to the rail, his eyes darting continuously to the long boat like he was ready to make a quick escape.
Must not have been getting paid enough to risk himself for the children.
“Bring the prisoners,” I growled. I was in full Sea Wolf regalia, armed and presentable, despite my turbulent mood.
It actually worked in my favour, because I couldn’t keep the scowl off my face.
Darrow led the children forward, stopping them before reaching the messenger.
Will came next, his abdomen wrapped in white cloth.
Semi-conscious, but out of it, he wouldn’t be making it off this ship alone.
He’d be lowered down by rope. The messenger looked confused at the addition, but Henry spoke up, his expression foreboding.
“He’s my manservant. He was hurt in an attack. He needs medical attention.”
The messenger jumped and nodded quickly, his voice stuttering. “Y-Yes, my lord. H-However, I was o-only given enough payment for y-you and your sisters…” He looked terrified to admit it, his eyes darting to me and my crew before shooting a pleading look at Henry.
“He’s worth nothing to me,” I gritted out. “I made him work to keep his life. He can go.”
That was a crock of shit. I hated even putting the words to air. Will wasn’t worthless.
The messenger gave a jerky nod, thrusting a large bag of coin at me. “From Governor Davenport. For the return of his children.”
I shot a look at Trumble, who stepped forward to take the coin.
Darrow led the children to the ladder, sending the girls down first since they were worth less than Henry was.
And Henry didn’t argue. He refused to get on the longboat before Will had been lowered down.
It would be a tight fit, and uncomfortable for him, but the doctor followed directly after and would make sure Will was seen to properly.
Or his life was forfeit. I’d hunt him down myself.
I wanted to go to the rail, to see that Will was safe, but I forced myself to the helm instead. I couldn’t show weakness. Will was in the safest place he could be.
Perhaps this was for the best. This life wasn’t easy. Most pirates didn’t live to grow old. Will wasn’t even certain he wanted to stay with our crew. Perhaps that fire that I saw in him would push him to leave the Davenports and strike out on his own. Find his own path. He deserved nothing less.