Page 31 of An Imperfect Scoundrel

“I can’t do that.”

“You will do that,” Cedric replied without sympathy. “Eight other women crossed without issue.”

“All of them made it?” she asked, a faint note of disbelief in her voice.

Cedric pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking perhaps he should have thrown her overboard. “We take care of our hostages.”

“But no one else?” She indicated the railing.

“They weren’t worth anything.”

Rage exploded across her face, but before she could unleash her tongue on him, Mr. Hayward clamped his hand over her mouth and lugged her away, taking a longer route across the middle of the ship to avoid the growing hole.

Halfway through their journey, Mr. Hayward stopped dragging her and allowed her to regain her footing. Once aright, she nodded, lifted her skirt, and followed him across the deck. However, when they passed near the main mast, she shrieked, the sound causing Mr. Hayward to spin and grab her arm, yanking her forward.

Curious, Cedric walked along the railing, his gaze sweeping across the deck. Bodies littered the boards, laying in scarlet pools of salt water.

Considering Mrs. Parker had used a dead officer’s gun to shoot at Mr. Evans, and she’d seen Mr. Evans kill a man, he didn’t think seeing the dead now would cause her that much distress.

When he reached the mast, he realized why she’d screamed.

Tied to the base were several men, their hands bound above their heads. It must have been her husband she caught sight of, which meant the man was still alive, and there was still a chance he’d join his wife aboard the ship.

His eyes returned to Mrs. Parker as she climbed over the railing. Her head turned toward him just as her feet reached the board, and she shot a nasty glare in his direction. Grinning, he waved, the action drawing a snarl to her lips.

Mr. Hayward pushed her forward, forcing her to take two steps on the board. However, instead of leaving her to figure out how to cross the plank without falling, he climbed over the railing as well, and, taking her hand, escorted her across the gap.

Perhaps it was the idea of having a cabin boy, an experience Mr. Hayward hadn’t previously received, or perhaps it was that Mrs. Parker actually spoke to him instead of around him, but whatever the reason, Cedric had never seen his first mate act in such a cautious manner regarding another person, even a hostage.

Once they were across, Cedric turned back toward the railing, and followed the worn wood toward the blazing aft of the ship, stopping when he reached a spare lifeboat. Glancing over his shoulder to ensure he was alone, he pulled a knife from his belt, then sliced through the nearest rope.

A shadow caught his attention, and he paused, his eyes searching the hazy deck, but he didn’t find anything unusual.

After a moment, he returned to his task and sliced through the remaining ropes, stepping back as the boat dropped to the water with a loud splash. He’d been doing this since he took over as captain. Rowland disagreed with the practice but made no effort to curb Cedric’s compassionate nature.

He’d been cautious each time, choosing a time when the action wouldn’t be witnessed by anyone who would use his benevolence against him. No man would be foolish enough to head toward these flames.

Despite the newspapers repeatedly mentioning that passengers were rescued from the notorious Pirate Shaw, they never stated that the women were found in a lifeboat. The rescue was always attributed to the Navy, with no further details given.

He supposed it was better that piece of information wasn’t revealed, as it wouldn’t be difficult for his crew to sort out who was responsible for releasing the lifeboats. That revelation would cost him the one thing protecting him—his terrifying reputation.

A door slammed against the wheelhouse, sending a jolt of alarm racing through Cedric’s body. His head whipped up, his gaze searching for any hint of movement, but the smoke was too thick to see anything. Heart pounding, he raced toward the wheelhouse.

Bursting through the door with his pistol drawn, Cedric’s eyes bounced over the empty room. No one was there.

But there had been someone, and they’d seen him release the lifeboat.

CHAPTER SEVEN

ALANA

Alana’s heart thudded rapidly, threatening to break through her chest. She should have jumped. At least Mrs. Parker would have helped her swim.

“Why would you kill us?” she asked, unable to keep the tremor from her question.

Mr. Evans leaned over, his grimy face filling Alana’s vision. Specks of blood coated his skin and clothing.

How many deaths tonight were due to his hand?