Just as Emiline closed her fingers around one of the pistols, Broderick moved away from her, aimed, and shot the man who was about to kill Henry. Within seconds, the second man swungand aimed his pistol at Broderick, but before he could pull the trigger, Emiline shot him in the chest.
Not wasting any time, Broderick reached for his sword, but the third man had turned his weapon onto Emmie.
“Drop your sword or I’ll shoot her,” he warned.
Emiline’s gaze met Broderick’s, and she shook her head. “Kill him. Don’t worry about me.”
Before Broderick knew what was happening, Henry was knocked to the ground, holding his knee as Mercer loomed over him, still gasping for air. He quickly bent and retrieved his pistol before glancing at the two men who lay dead on the deck in a pool of their own blood.
“Hawk!” he shouted. “You have not won. You willneverwin again.”
“Actually, I think you are wrong, Mercer. Captain Hawkwillwin.”
The familiar voice that boomed through the air was followed by several clicks from pistols. Broderick swung his head to look in the direction of the voice to see Phillip standing with two other crew members, Spencer and Stephens, all holding pistols and pointing them at Lieutenant Mercer and the other man.
“Daughtery, what in the blazes are you doing?” shouted Mercer. “Kill Broderick Worthington. And for heaven’s sake, shoot Mr. Crampton and Lady Sarah as well. I’m fed up with this game, and I want them all dead now.”
Mercer’s last man turned his weapon toward Phillip, but Spencer shot the bloke before he had a chance. He, too, fell by his deceased comrades.
Smiling, Phillip walked toward Mercer, shaking his head. “Looks like you are all alone now.”
“What is wrong with you?” the lieutenant yelled.
“I’m not going to kill my best friend, Broderick Worthington, and I’m never again going to do what you tell me to do.”
“What?” Mercer asked, and both Broderick and Emiline echoed him.
Phillip glanced briefly at Broderick before focusing on the lieutenant once more. “You see, Mercer, I haveneverbeen a traitor. But the only way to bring you to your knees and capture you was to make you believe I was one and, in doing so, helping you to get Captain Hawk.”
Spencer took the pistol from Mercer’s hand. Phillip turned to Broderick and frowned.
“Please forgive me for putting you through this turmoil. I had to make Lieutenant Mercer believe I was working with him. That was the only way we—you and I and our crew—could finally win and be free of this imbecile.”
Broderick’s mind whirled with the unbelievable confession. He didn’t know whether or not to trust Phillip, yet his heart told him to believe. If Phillip had really been the traitor, he would have been standing with Mercer, not Spencer and Stephens, and the pistol would be pointed at Broderick instead.
Speechless, all Broderick could do was nod at Phillip. Emiline returned to his side and wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her head on his chest. Still, he was too stunned to do anything. He couldn’t even remember sliding his arms around her shoulders, but how else would she be in his embrace right now?
“Youliedto me?” Mercer yelled, and lunged for Phillip.
Phillip tried to ward off the attack, but the lieutenant was able to grip his weapon. They struggled, but Broderick knew Phillip was stronger. Within seconds, the pistol fired. Mercer staggered back clutching his bleeding chest. He stared at his bloody fingers and then switched his shocked gaze back to Phillip before staggering to the ground in a dead heap beside the others.
Finally, Broderick was able to breathe a relieved sigh. Emiline did so as well before hugging him tightly.
“We are alive,” she whispered brokenly.
“Yes, we are.” Broderick nodded, looking at Phillip as his friend walked closer. “Phillip… I don’t know how to thank you.”
His friend clapped his hand on Broderick’s shoulder. “As many times as you have saved my life, this is the least I can do.”
Emiline lifted her head, tears filling her eyes as she stared at Phillip. “You really are not the traitor?”
“No. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you about my plans, Broderick, but I had to make Mercer believe I was with him and against you. If Mercer thought I was lying, we would both be dead, my friend.”
Broderick nodded. “Very true. You are forgiven this time, but for the love of God, don’t put me through that agony ever again.”
Phillip chuckled. “I assure you, I went through agony too, and I will never do it again.”
“Pardon me,” Henry said, walking up to Phillip. “But do you know where my daughter is being held?”
