Page 26

“What should we do with him, Captain?” Horse asks as he holds onto a struggling prince, Matisse on his other side. “I seen the cell, she’s taken a beatin’ from the roundshots.”

I nod at Lothar. “See what welding you can do on the cell and if there needs to be reinforcements in the hold, if anyone is still alive down there. And the ship might need some repairs in the hull from the rounds.” I look to Horse and Matisse. “In the meantime, put him in the chains. At least that will keep him in one spot.”

“Chains!” the prince cries out and he looks so indignant that I feel myself losing control. He can’t deal with chains and yet he was prepared to kill Henry before my eyes?

I move like the wind and I’m at the prince in a second, pushing him against the rise of the quarterdeck, my pistol drawn and pressed up against his chin.

“I don’t know how many times I have to hurt you, Prince,” I practically growl at him. “But it’s starting to eat into my time. Still, if you ever, ever threaten Henry again, I will cut off your cock and feed it to you with a spoon.”

“That’s a good one, Captain,” Horse chuckles.

I remove the pistol and slip it back in my holster and nod at them to take the sniveling prince away. They do so, Matisse twisting his bad arm even further, making him howl all the way down through the decks.

Good. I’ve barely had that prince for a couple days and he’s already becoming more trouble than he’s worth. If we don’t end up getting our weight in gold for him, I plan to torture that royal bastard for a very long time. Might end up doing that anyway. I’m not always fond of patience.

I turn to focus on the princess now. She’s in Sterling’s grasp and the sight of it makes my chest tighten, just a little. She doesn’t look frightened per se, just watching the scene unfold in front of her, her blue eyes taking it all in, but with that powder-brained ape having his hands on her, I’m feeling a sting between my ribs and I’m not sure what to do about it.

“And you,” I say, slowly sauntering over to her. “I have to decide what to do with you, darling. It’s my lack of foresight to think we wouldn’t need two sets of chains.”

“I say I take her down to the hold,” Sterling grunts. “Put her in with the others. If she’s worthless to the prince and he doesn’t care if she lives or dies then let her provide for us in other ways.”

I stare right into Sterling’s void of a soul. I know exactly what he means about herproviding. “You’re not taking her anywhere. You’re handing her over to me.” He bristles and I cock my head. “I damn well mean it, baldy.”

His lips open and he bares his teeth at me like a fucking animal. I know the rest of the crew is watching closely to see what I’m going to do. Is this when he’s going to declare his mutiny? Will any of them follow his lead?

“First rule of the ship is that the captain gets the best of the goods,” I go on and gesture to the princess.

“Actually, the rule is that all the treasure is doled out equally,” I hear Thane say from behind me and I could kick him in the fucking shin for that.

“Afterthe captain gets first pick,” I remind them. “And I’ve already picked her as mine. Be happy with the vermin in the hold, Sterling. This one has my name on it.”

Sterling snorts. “I don’t see your name on her.”

I know what he means. He’s not being figurative and now I’m not either.

“You will,” I tell him. I look to Lothar. “Before you start your welding, better get the iron ready.” I turn to Cruz. “The rope please.”

He tosses me a spool of rope while the princess stiffens under Sterling’s grasp.

“Iron?” she asks, the fear finally finding her again.

Sterling just scowls while I motion impatiently for him to hand her over to me. “Mark my words,” I tell him. “I’m markingher.”

He growls at me, beady eyes flashing in contempt, and after a delay, shoves her toward me until she’s falling into my arms.

“Hello, luv,” I purr as I stare down at her. “Rescuing you once again.”

I grab a tight hold of her and bring her to the stairs and down to the main deck below.

“How is this rescuing me?” she practically snarls, squirming under my hands.

“Believe me, darling, I’m the better option,” I tell her. “And there’s no one else here to save you. Your lovely prince certainly won’t.”

“The ship that attacked us, they were coming for me.”

“The navy? Maybe they were, maybe they weren’t. Doesn’t matter now when we’ve left them far behind. Their ship will have to be scuttled soon and our ship can sustain a lot more than that feeble little show they gave us.”

I pull her toward my quarters when she sticks her foot in between my ankles and I nearly trip, my grip loosening just for a moment, just enough for her to yank herself out of my grasp.