Heart's Ransom

  * * *

  “I want you to take the crew―all of them―aboard La Venganza and make south for Lisbon,” Rafe told Claudio. “Furl all of the sails on El Verdad before you go. I want her dead in the water so that Ransom will come after me while the rest of you escape.”

  “No,” Claudio said, shaking his head. “Absolutely not, Rafe. I am not leaving you alone to face―”

  “I am not asking you, Claudio,” Rafe said, his voice abrupt and sharp, drawing the boatswain to immediate silence. Rafe met the older man’s gaze evenly. “I am telling you. It is my ship, my helm―my rules.”

  Claudio glanced sideways at Kitty. They were speaking in Spanish, and she did not understand their exchange, but he lowered his tone nonetheless as he cut his gaze back to Rafe. “You do not want to face this alone, hijo,” he said.

  “It is mine to face, Claudio,” Rafe said, and when Claudio drew in breath to protest, Rafe pressed his fingertips against his mouth. “You reminded me once that I am the captain of this ship, and with Cristobal gone, that makes me in charge of La Venganza’s helm, too. The crew is my responsibility; my heart and mind have to lie in what is best for them. That is what you told me.”

  Again, Claudio opened his mouth to object, but this time, Rafe kept him silent with only the uplift of his brows, the implore in his eyes. “Call all of the sails furled,” he said. “Take the crew and board La Venganza. Leave me here with Kitty and head south. That is what is best, Claudio. Those are my orders.”

  “He will kill you, Rafe,” Claudio whispered, visibly stricken. “If not here, on the main deck, then he will deliver you to England to be hanged.”

  “It does not matter,” Rafe said, shaking his head.

  “Does not matter?” Claudio said, his eyes widening. “Rafe, listen to me. You―”

  “It is Ransom’s right to do with me as he wishes,” Rafe said. “I stole his daughter. Whatever my reasons―no matter the cause, that remains. I will tell him what happened. I will tell him why. And if he decides to kill me, I will not cower or beg. There is nothing left for me anyway.”

  Claudio blinked at him, stricken. “I am ruined,” Rafe said, leaning toward him, holding his swaddling-bound hand up between them. “I am ruined,” he said again, his voice suddenly choked and strained. “There is nothing left for me, Claudio―nothing except my responsibility to this crew. Now do as I say.”

  He walked toward the stern windows, unable to bear the wounded bewilderment in Claudio’s face. “Hijo…” Claudio began gently.

  “Do as I say, damn it!” Rafe snapped over his shoulder. Claudio said nothing for a long moment, and then Rafe heard him murmur softly to Kitty. He then turned, sighing heavily, and walked toward the chamber door.

  “Yes, sir,” he said quietly, his voice hardened. “As you wish, el Capitan.”