Chapter Thirteen
Talon was on his way to his cabin a few days later when he heard scuffling and a soft whimper down the corridor to his right. He paused, senses instantly alert, his mind conjuring up terrible images of Kate’s fate if she’d been discovered by one of Percy’s filthy men.
“Who’s there?” His harsh words elicited a loud thump and a muffled groan that made his hackles rise.
There was complete silence for a moment, and then a gruff voice let out a muttered curse. “None of yer damned business.”
Talon took a few steps forward, his eyes adjusting swiftly to the gloom. A large, brutish sailor named McGuire stood in the shadows.
Johnny, the cabin boy Talon had been teaching to read, cowered behind him. Johnny’s trousers were down around his knees, and his face shone wetly with shamed tears.
Talon’s rage was instant and intense. After so many weeks of boredom and frustration, he was itching for a fight. “Take your hands off him, you bastard.”
McGuire gave the boy a shove, sending him sprawling amidst the tangle of his pants. “I’m not finished with ye,” he warned before turning his full attention on Talon.
Knowing his only chance lay in going on the offensive, Talon struck first, sending a punishing, bone-crushing right to the man’s bulbous nose. He felt it give and knew a moment of savage joy as he followed with a left to McGuire’s gut.
McGuire stumbled back, but recovered quickly, coming after Talon with a growl. Talon swung again, but this time McGuire blocked the blow and retaliated with a fist to Talon’s temple.
Pain exploded inside Talon’s skull, but he pressed on, determined to kill the bastard so he would never be able to abuse the boy again. He couldn’t help thinking of his own cabin boy, Garrett. Fury drove his next few punches as he wondered if the lad, whom he’d rescued off the London streets, was being mistreated in this same foul way.
A door opened behind him, and he prayed it wasn’t Kate. He hoped she had the good sense to stay out of this.
Meanwhile, McGuire’s brute strength and large bulk had turned the tide of the battle. Talon renewed his efforts, battling exhaustion. His lip split beneath McGuire’s ham-like fist. He stumbled back and saw his brother step out into the passageway. Daniel sized up the situation, his gaze fastening on the trembling boy who was struggling to fasten his pants.
Talon turned his attention back to McGuire, who was coming at him again, murder in his beady eyes. Talon ducked, evading the first blow.
McGuire roared like a bull and raised his other fist. He stopped the swing in midair, sputtering in disbelief as Daniel stepped between them, pressing an elegant, lightweight sword to the bastard’s neck.
“Get away from my brother.” Daniel’s voice dripped with icy, aristocratic disdain. “Before I slit your filthy throat.”
Talon blinked, annoyed yet pleasantly surprised by Daniel’s help.
He’d never expected his brother to come to his defense or stand beside him. Some nameless spark of emotion had flared deep within him when Daniel called him brother.
Heavy footfalls sounded down the corridor. Percy rounded the corner, his dark eyes flashing. “What the hell are you trying to do to my ship, Montgomery?”
“Your ship?” Daniel lifted a brow as he lowered his sword from McGuire’s throat. “This is a Sinclair ship, Captain. I’ll thank you to remember that.”
Talon groaned and stepped forward, his momentary gratitude for his brother’s actions fading. The last thing they needed was for Daniel to challenge Percy’s authority in front of the growing group of men. Percy was God on this ship. All Daniel’s wealth and privilege could not help him here.
Kate would be left defenseless if Percy took it in his head to feed him and Daniel to the sharks.
“McGuire was molesting your boy,” Talon said, wondering if Percy did the same thing when no one was looking. “I was trying to stop him.”
Percy looked to the boy who had managed to pull himself together since Talon had seen him last. “Is that true, Johnny?”
Johnny flushed scarlet and stared down at his feet. “Hawk was trying to help me, sir. If he hadn’t come along when he did, Mac would have…” His voice broke and he trailed off.
Percy gave a grim nod and turned his wrath on McGuire. “You’ll get fifty lashes for this, Mac.” His gaze speared the other men who were watching the drama unfold. “And let this be a lesson to the rest of you. This type of behavior will not be allowed on my ship.” There was definite emphasis on the word my, but this time Daniel had the sense to let it go.
“Take him above,” Percy commanded, and several of the men rushed forward to do his bidding. The passageway emptied until only Daniel, Johnny and Talon remained.
Daniel put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “It wasn’t your fault,” he said, his voice low and dark, containing undertones Talon chose not to examine too closely. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
Johnny nodded and shrugged off his hand. “I’ll be all right,” he mumbled, hurrying away. He glanced over his shoulder once just before he climbed the ladder. “Thanks, Hawk.”
“You’re welcome.” Talon let his head fall back against the passageway. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, he realized how foolhardy he’d been. He ached all over, and his nose was bleeding profusely.
