His face softened while his shoulders slumped. “Thank you.”
She shrugged and her knee dropped to the deck as she reached for his boot. When her fingers brushed his calf, he stiffened. The hilt of a dagger poked above the opening of his boot and she plucked it free.
“You should do a better job hiding your weapon.” Color rose to his cheeks while she twirled the blade. “Now, promise you’ll be good and won’t try to do anything heroic?”
His brows pressed together and she pressed the blade to the ropes binding him. When they fell away, he stood still. She flipped the blade around and handed it to him. By the time he released half his men, her ship would be well out of cannon range.
She gave a little curtsy. “Please forgive me for saying this, but I hope we never meet again.”
He didn’t answer and she turned to follow Griff to the railing.
“Captain?”
She swiveled back with a raised brow.
“You do know, he’ll make you wish you’d killed him?”
She laughed. “I look forward to it.”
Once Samantha’s boots landed on theSiren, her shoulders curved inward. Being on theFalcon, facing the lieutenant had taken more out of her than she could have ever expected. She fought to take normal breaths as Griff gave the order to sail and took his place at the helm. Once the wind filled the sails, she approached him.
He stared out to sea. “You disobeyed a direct order.”
“What was I supposed to do? Let him kill you?” Her nails bit into the tender skin of her palms.
“If it came down to it, yes.”
“Griff, if I hadn’t stepped in when I did, you’d be dead, and the rest of us would be prisoners.”
He swung to face her. “What is the penalty for not heeding a captain’s orders?”
Samantha’s throat went dry. “Twenty lashes.” Griff stared down at her and she pushed the toe of her boot against the deck. “If that’s what this is about, I will gladly take them.”
She’d never been allowed to witness the infrequent but brutal punishments. But by God, if that’s what it took to earn respect, she would take a hundred.
“Your uncle would have my skin if I harmed you. Whenever you’ve sailed under me, I’ve never shown you any special favor. How do you think this looks to the other men? This little game of yours is over, Miss Warstein. For the rest of this trip, you will address me as your captain.”
Coldness laced his words and she took a step back. “I did what Ihad to. Don’t you dare tell me you wouldn’t have done the same.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw and he pointed to the main deck, where two bodies lay draped in spare sails.
Samantha blanched.
Those men had died because of her choice.
“The sea is no place for a woman. No matter what your uncle thinks. I was foolish to agree to go along with his request.”
Samantha dragged her eyes from the felled men and faced Griff. “I take responsibility for their deaths and will make sure their families are taken care of. They won’t want for a thing.”
His fingers tightened on the wheel and he pressed his eyes closed. “The responsibility is mine alone. I allowed the raid and they died under my command.”
Her gaze dropped to where his bloodied shirt stuck to the gash in his side. “You need to bandage that, Captain.”
“’Tis but a scratch.” He let out a long sigh. “While I appreciate your heroics today, it was a reckless decision. That very well could be your body lying there.”
It was as close to a thank you as she would get. She pulled her shoulders back. “It was the right choice.”
“We will let your uncle make that call. You are dismissed.”
