“Go with Lily.”
Her eyes widened. Her mouth puckered with distaste. “No. I won’t abandon you.” She glanced over his crew then back to him. “None of you.”
Fury surged through him, mingling with pride. He didn’t know whether to yell at her or rejoice.Crazy, beautiful pixie.
“Begin!” Blackbeard called.
TheKrakengroaned and shook as a massive cannon heaved its contents straight into theJolly Roger’s hull. Wood shattered. Another booming cannon fired, the sound ringing in his ears. Fragments clattered onto the deck near them. This time, Hook couldn’t look away. His ship deserved for him to watch its demise, no matter how deeply it hurt him to do so.
Flaming arrows zipped through the air, catching the sails, landing on deck. They must have spread oil or tar. Fire caught fast, licking at canvas, turning it black as night.Bastard. Blackbeard had planned this before they’d even given him their answers. He’d never planned to spare Hook’s ship, no matter what they said. The acrid smoke wafting into the air confirmed his suspicions. The blast of the cannons continued to echo through his body, jarring his teeth where he gritted them at the horror unfolding.
His ship was a goner. There’d be no coming back from this. The attack was overkill—a punishment for him. Of all the things he’d stolen, his ship hadn’t been one. It’d taken years for Smee and him to save and steal enough for her. Custom built, just for him. Their home on the sea.
Already the waves lapped into the splintered side. The bow dipped, settling into the rocky sea. Burned pieces of canvas let free and drifted down to the sea.
“Now then.” The words crawled up Hook’s spine as Blackbeard approached. “Any takers?” He scanned the crew, circling them like a butcher choosing a goat for slaughter. The croc’s crew wereeven worse—snickering and leering. If he’d been free, he’d have cut one’s eyes out just for the way he looked at Tink.
The cannons ceased firing. Blackbeard’s crew stared at his, watching, waiting.
No one spoke. They wouldn’t betray him, not even to save themselves.Shit. He had to do something. Anything.
“Drop them at the next port, and I’ll join you.” Him for his crew.
“No!” Tink yelled. He caught the flail of her blonde braid as she lunged for him.
“Pathetic,” Lily sneered, having re-emerged from somewhere. Her boot connected with Tink’s legs, knocking her to the ground. Tink screeched in pain.
“You bitch!” Hook yelled.
Lily whirled on him.
“Enough!” Blackbeard roared. He snarled in annoyance. “Take tha boys below.”
“But—” Lily sputtered.
“Now.” It was perhaps the only act of mercy he’d ever offered.
The youngest lad whimpered at the sight of the sinking ship canting over onto the rocks. I feel ya, boy.The anguish cut deep, enough for him to yearn to sink below the waves with his ship. It’d be better than whatever Blackbeard had in store. But he couldn’t, not until he saved Tink and his crew.
When the kids had been hustled away, Hook repeated his offer. “Take me. I’ll serve. But let them go.”
“Captain—” Sage began.
Hook snarled, demanding silence.
Blackbeard toyed with a section of his greasy beard, rubbing the black ribbons tied through it. Slowly, his impassive face broke with a grin. Golden teeth glittered between their rotting siblings. “Aye, a fine addition. We’ll let them go.”
He sagged in relief. Adrenaline ebbed, making his raw and bleeding wrists and bruised face all too known.
“Now then.” Blackbeard unsheathed his curved blade and stalked toward Tink.
“No!” Hook roared. “Stop! What are you doing?”
Tink went pale and still, her bound hands stretched before her.
“Don’t!” Rope dug into his wrists, burning worse than fire.
Blackbeard swung.
