He tugged his cravat loose and tossed it to the floor. Miss Warstein was as tight-lipped as her uncle. Silence fell across the brig, save for the tapping of her slippers on the damp wood. His eyes drifted shut as he contemplated his next course of action. If he could get out and free his crew, perhaps they could take Thorne’s men by surprise.
A creak of hinges brought him to his feet and the hatch swung open with a groan. The same man who’d thrown him in the cell earlier came down the steps. He dangled a set of keys in front of him.
“Captain Thorne wants a meeting.”
Already? Christian crossed his arms. “No.”
Miss Warstein glanced over with worried eyes while the big man came to a stop in front of the cell.
“Did I hear you wrong? I could have sworn you said no.” The man’s voice came out in a low growl.
Thorne could wait. Christian wasn’t going to bow to any demands. He may be locked up, but he would show the mangy pirate that some things would happen on his terms.
He met the giant’s eyes. “Tell Thorne I’ll meet with him after supper.”
“You’ll meet with him now.” A key slid into the lock. So much for prisoners’ rights.
When the door swung open, Christian launched himself at the man. He aimed low, throwing a punch right into the groin. No reaction.What the hell?
His opponent’s hand snaked out and wrapped around Christian’s neck. He struggled to pull the vice-tight fingers loose while the man let out a laugh.
“You’ll have to try harder than that, boy.”
Christian swung again. Higher. But his reach wasn’t long enough and the blow missed. His vision swam as the grip at his throat tightened.
“Now are you coming, or not?”
He gritted his teeth. “Not.” The word barely came out.
“Have it your way.”
With a violent shake, the man dragged Christian forward. Miss Warstein let out a little scream as the thick fingers crushed against his windpipe. Christian wheezed, trying to get air.
“Stop it!” Miss Warstein pleaded. “You’ll kill him.”
Another laugh. “He’d be better off dead.”
Christian aimed a kick at the giant’s knee but his energy had waned and it glanced off. The room swam around him as rings of blackness grew larger in his vision. His hands fell from their struggle at his neck and his muscles slackened.
“Lieutenant!” Miss Warstein’s voice came from a long distance away, so faint he could barely hear it.
Damn pirates.
*
The clink ofsilverware brought Christian back to the present. His eyelids slit open and he bit back a groan. Fire burned through his throat. He tried to lift a hand but couldn’t.
He was bound to a chair.
His fingers flexed against the armrests and he opened his eyes. A man in a crimson jacket sat at a table. Thorne.
The captain faced away from him, cutting a piece of his meal. He lifted his fork to his mouth, then dipped his head.
“You’re awake.”
Christian didn’t answer and swept his gaze around the cabin. Immaculate. The floors shined and the shelves behind the desk were lined with neat rows of books. A captain’s bed was set with nary a rumpled sheet. It reminded him...
It reminded him of his own cabin.
