“What would Mother think?” The words came out in a snarl.
Christian didn’t see the hand. But the impact sent his head snapping back. He kept his face twisted away as a sharp metallic taste filled his mouth.
“You will not speak of her.”
Christian spat out a mouthful of blood and faced his father. “I’ll speak of her whenever I want. How dare you try to justify becoming the very thing that killed her?”
A mottled flush crept above his father’s beard. “Perhaps I made a mistake in letting you live.”
Speaking of lives . . . “Where are my men?”
“They’re safe. For now.”
“How many?”
“Such concern for your crew, Lieutenant.” A greying brow arched. “It’s misplaced. I could turn every one of them against you by the time we anchor in Tortuga.”
Christian’s lip pulled back. “Never.”
His father chuckled. “I’ll give you the same advice I gave Miss Warstein: Never say never.”
What had she said never to? He tried to imagine her facing off with the feared captain. Poor thing. His pulse steadied. He needed to focus on getting her out of here. “What are you going to do with her?”
“I’ll wait until her uncle shows his face. I’ve got special plans for him.”
Christian remembered the elusive answers Warstein had given him. “What’s the history between you two?”
His father’s eyes darkened. “I think it’s time for you to leave.” Hestrode to the door and opened it. The giant entered immediately and crossed over to Christian.
Once his bonds were free, he jumped to his feet. “What about my crew? What is their fate?”
“For your sake, I will spare their lives. Think of it as a reuniting gift. I’ll sell them in Tortuga.”
“Slaves? You mean to make them slaves? They are members of the United States Navy.”
“Which means they will bring me a high price. Would you rather I killed them?”
Christian ground his teeth together.Choose your battles.“And me?”
His father leveled his gaze at him. “I’ve yet to decide.” He turned to his table and sank into the seat. “Take him away.”
The giant grabbed Christian’s shoulder and pulled him from the room. Before the door shut behind them, he twisted and faced his father’s back.
“I’ll tell you what Mother would think. She would hate you.”
Chapter Thirteen
Samantha glanced atChristian. When he’d come back last night, he’d paced his cell for hours. She’d sat in silence, waiting for him to calm down enough to speak. But she’d fallen asleep before then.
He leaned against the wall, his eyes closed. Was he sleeping? The ribbon tying his queue had come loose and a wave of hair obscured his cheek. A dark scab covered the cut above his brow. As if alerted to her thoughts, his eyes opened and she jerked upright.
He watched her for a long minute before stretching. “What are you thinking?’
How handsome you are.
She swallowed. “That we only have a day and a half at the most before we reach Tortuga.”
“You’ll be safe. He thinks your uncle is bringing the map. He won’t risk harming you.”
