Thorne’s laugh came cold and calculated as his gaze never left Josephine. “I got what I needed. I’ve no need for your help anymore, boy.”
“You’ve got one name. What about the rest?”
Thorne swung to face him. He ran a thumb over his blade, his grin growing wider. “Ross will squeal like a pig by the time I’m done with him. He’ll give me all that I need.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
The question hung in the air. For the first time, a sliver of hesitation slid across Thorne’s expression. Those green eyes sharpened, but the pirate didn’t answer.
“It can’t hurt to have a naval lieutenant working for you.” Isaac’s voice had lowered, sliding the offer out like a dare.
Thorne ignored him and walked past him to the group, each footstep reverberating through the deck. He stopped in front of Samantha and grinned. “I hear congratulations are in order.”
She set her jaw, staring straight ahead, her eyes fixed on the sea beyond the pirate’s shoulder.
“Come now, is that any way to greet your father-in-law?”
Josephine’s mouth dropped.Father-in-law?The words echoed, hollow at first—then struck their mark. Her mind flashed back to the orders she and Isaac had found. Mrs. Thompson. Captain Thompson.The truth aligned, sharp and merciless, knocking the air from her lungs. Thorne was Christian’s father.
Samantha’s gaze flitted to her for a brief second before returning to the captain. “You’ll never be family to me.” The words ground out through clenched teeth.
Thorne chuckled. “I see you’re feisty as ever.”
His gaze leveled on Josephine for a moment, before he turned to Isaac with pursed lips. “Alright, Lieutenant. I accept your offer.”
Josephine didn’t miss the way Isaac’s shoulders curved inward. Offering to work alongside the very enemy whose capture his entire career hinged on… Her heart squeezed. For someone who had fought so hard—had made it his goal to take the pirate down—the sacrifice would cut him deeper than any wound, something akin to a preacher selling his soul to the very devil he sought redemption from.
Thorne nodded toward the gangplank. “After you.”
Isaac turned to Josephine. “Are you alright?”
She nodded, tears pricking her eyes. “Don’t do this.”
He glanced behind him, then leaned in, voice low. “This is the only way. It’s not his nature to leave survivors.” His fingers lifted, brushing a wet drop from her cheek.
Thorne cleared his throat behind them. “Go, boy. Before I change my mind.”
A muscle ticced in the lieutenant’s jaw, but he dropped his handand turned. Once he made it to the pirate ship, two men took him by the arms. They tried to drag him from the railing, but he dug his feet in, twisting to face Josephine and his surviving crew.
They stood silent as the pirates combed the bloodstained deck, picking up fallen weapons. Josephine dropped her eyes to her feet as they tossed the bodies overboard, each heavy splash making her flinch. Once satisfied, the men filed onto the frigate.
Captain Thorne waited for the last of his crew to file across before he lifted a foot to the gangplank. He paused midstep, turning back to Josephine and Samantha, his lips twisting into a grin. “I’ve changed my mind after all.”
Isaac surged forward, but the two brutes grabbed his shoulders, holding him back. “Don’t you go back on your word!”
A hollow laugh rang out between the two ships. “You should know better than most, a pirate’s word is good for nothing.” He started toward the bound crew and Josephine shrank back.
Isaac thrashed against his captors, muscles straining as they struggled to hold him tight. “Don’t you dare hurt them.”
“I wonder…” Thorne slid his sword free and pointed it between the two women. “Which one you care the most about?”
The pirate set the blade below Samantha’s chin. “This is awfully familiar, don’t you agree? Really, we need to stop meeting this way.”
“Go on.” Her eyes narrowed and she leaned into the steel at her throat. His brows lifted as he adjusted his stance, his arm easing back to keep his sword from piercing her. “Why don’t you finish the job you started? Lucky you, your son’s not here to stop you this time.”
His gaze darkened, blade steady in his hand. “Don’t worry, daughter, I’ll have my pound of flesh yet.”
Thorne glanced behind him at Isaac’s stoic form and raised his voice. “You’re not making this game very fun, Lieutenant.” Isaac didn’t answer and stood straight, his face like stone.
