Within a Captain's Hold (27 page)

“We need some food, and I want to go over the map of the island to see if I’ve forgotten some spider hole where he could be hiding.”

Bates appeared at his shoulder.

“Bates, you’re forever where I need you. Have some food and ale sent to the study.”

“At once. There’s a parcel there for you as well.”

Jaxon frowned. “What kind of parcel?”

“A box, sir. It was at the door early this morning, addressed to you. I put it on the desk.”

The hairs on the back of Jaxon’s neck lifted. He rushed into the study. The simple package wrapped with twine indeed had his name written upon its lid in elegant script.

Jaxon cut the twine and lifted the lid. Bile rose in the back of his throat. His brain screamed,
Noooo.
He let out a savage howl like some tortured beast.

Robbins was standing next to him. He made a sound like air leaving bellows and crumpled into the closest chair. “Blast me eyes. I ain’t seeing this. Tell me, I ain’t seeing this.” He covered his face with his hands.

In the box was Cookie’s wooden peg leg, its wide leather straps cut at odd angles. Jaxon’s mind raged. “He has her. Cookie is dead and that evil son of a whore killed him. Now he has Annalise.” A tidal wave of fury and terror had him clutching at the doorframe. “Bates. A fresh horse. Now.”

Robbins leapt to his feet and wiped at his eyes. “I’m going with you.”

Jaxon shook his head. Ice-cold determination filled his veins. He wanted the man’s head and he’d be the one killing him. “No, you’re riding back to port. Get Quinn and as many men as you can find, and meet me on the north rim.”

“You ain’t going alone. It’s a trap.”

“I bloody well know it’s a trap. But that bastard has
Annalise
.”

“But--”

Jaxon gripped the boy’s arms. “I’m not debating this with you. Go. Ride as fast as you can.” He shoved Robbins toward the foyer.

Moments later, Jaxon took off like a ball shot out of a cannon. Pushing the horse, he headed straight for the caves. Wolfsan knew he was coming and Jaxon was riding straight into his snare, but he couldn’t think past the fact he had Annalise. There was no telling what he would do to her.

Thunder rumbled overhead. Jaxon put his heels hard to the horse.

* * * *

Heavy rain made the shore path slick as Jaxon crept along. He slipped into the first cave. Fetid water pooled at his feet, but it was dry enough to load his pistols. His pulse surged, resolve turned black and razor sharp. He was close.

Moving with stealth, he slipped into another cave farther up the ridge and hid just inside the opening. Tall rocks stood as sentries. The murkiness of the day made it difficult to see into the cave’s depths. Jaxon pushed the wet hair away from his face and peered into the dim opening.

He saw her. His entire being screamed to rush to her, but instinct held him in check. Wolfsan had stuffed a rag into her mouth and lashed her to a stone. Jaxon strained to hear past the surf, rain, and rush of blood pounding in his ears.

His eyes took a moment to adjust to the gloom before he scanned the rest of the cave. He saw none other than her. Another minute and she’d be safe in his arms again. He glanced back over his shoulder. No one was behind him. It would take him no time to release her and send her off to meet up with Robbins, Quinn, and the rest. They couldn’t be far behind.

Then he would wait for Wolfsan to return.

“Anna?” Jaxon stepped out of hiding.

Annalise shook her head violently. He snatched the gag from her mouth.

She choked. “No. Behind--”

* * * *

The rock that hit the back of Jaxon’s head dropped him to the cave floor. Annalise screamed and struggled against her restraints.

Wolfsan laughed. He kicked Jaxon hard in the ribs.

“Stop.” Her shriek filled the cave.

Wolfsan silenced her with a vicious backhanded slap to her face. She fought to remain conscious as darkness threatened her vision.

“Shut up.” He kicked Jaxon again. “What a stupid fool. That was too easy.”

Wolfsan dragged Jaxon to one side of the cave and removed his weapons. He bound his hands and feet and tossed his pistols and cutlass far away from him. Wolfsan brushed his hands and smiled at Annalise. “How wonderfully this turned out. No struggle, no fuss.”

Annalise’s head swam. She must stay awake. Her face stung where he had hit her.

A trickle of dark blood ran down Jaxon’s face.

“Is he dead?”

“No.” Wolfsan patted her cheek. “Not yet. Soon. Are you that impatient to be a widow?”

Her mind screamed. She shut her eyes tight. The pull of insanity beckoned her into sweet oblivion. No. This wasn’t over. If Jaxon was alive, it wasn’t over.
Think, Annalise. Dammit, think of something.
The faces of Wolfsan’s victims swam before her mind’s eye. Herbert, Alice, Cookie, Nell. The sharp ache in her chest threatened to consume her. There was only one way to save Jaxon’s life.

She opened her eyes and stared into the eyes of the devil. “I’ve changed my mind.” She swallowed the rising bile in her throat. “You’ve won. You have me. I’m yours. I’ll go with you, if you agree not to harm him. You said you could be kind, but I’d never given you the chance. I’m giving you that chance. Spare him, and I-I’ll marry you.” The words turned bitter in her mouth. “Leave the captain unharmed, untie me, and we can leave for London on the first ship. I’ll be your w-wife.”

A bright smile grew on his foul lips. “Oh, darling, that’s wonderful news. We’ll be married in a grand celebration just as soon as we return to England.” His smile fell away. “But I’m afraid the captain needs to be punished for stealing you away from me. Don’t you see, he spoiled everything? He’s tainted you with his hands, his mouth, his
cock
.” Wolfsan’s features twisted into a mask of pure hatred. “He must pay dearly for that. Before I kill him, though, you’ll show him how much you’ve come to care for me,
my love.
All of
me.
My hands, my mouth,
my
cock.” He ran sharp fingers down her neck.

Annalise let out a sob.

Wolfsan chuckled. “I’m starving. Did you bring anything to eat on your little adventure?”

Lighting a lantern, he rummaged through Annalise’s belongings and helped himself to some bread and wine. Taking a drink, he grimaced. “Such hideous taste in wine. You have so much to learn. I find torture and killing are far more enjoyable when the wine is good.” He tried another taste and scowled. “This swill isn’t fit for dogs.”

Wolfsan rolled up his lace-trimmed sleeves, brushed a bit of dirt from his breeches, and threw a splash of wine into Jaxon’s face. “At least it’s good for something.”

* * * *

Jaxon sputtered and woke. Wine burned his eyes. His head pounded. Where was he? Ropes chafed at his wrists, and his feet were tied.
Wolfsan.

“So nice of you to join us, Captain Steele. I’m thrilled. Annalise and I welcome you most heartily. We are going to have such fun, aren’t we, darling?” He kissed Anna’s cheek.

Jaxon shook his head to clear his vision.

“Of course, for you the fun shall end rather abruptly, but I’ll see your wife has a fine show. One she’ll never forget.”

“You’re a murdering bastard, Wolfsan. I’ll save the Crown the cost of the rope and kill you with my bare hands.”

“You’re very amusing, but I have already grown tired of hearing you.” He picked up the gag he’d used on Annalise and shoved it into Jaxon’s mouth, strangling his shower of insults. “Much better.”

Beyond Wolfsan, Jaxon locked gazes with Annalise.

She shook her head. Tears welled in her eyes. She mouthed the words,
I love you.

Jaxon nodded with the tiniest movement of his head.

Wolfsan missed the exchange. He was busy taking a long pull from a bottle of wine. “Ghastly.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “So, Captain Steele, shall I tell you my plans for your soon-to-be widow?”

Jaxon did his best to sit up. How long had he been out? Had he been unconscious ten minutes or an hour? Were Robbins and Quinn heading up the trail? Jaxon rolled to his back and rose, bracing his back against the rocks there. It seemed the bindings on his wrists were connected to his feet. Shifting allowed them some give.

“That’s fine,” purred the duke. “Make yourself comfortable. I want you to have a good view while I ravish your wife.” He drank more.

Wolfsan put down the bottle and stood in front of Annalise. “It is most unfortunate you’ve violated her. She was mine. I went to all the trouble of getting rid of that foolish oaf Herbert to have her.”

Annalise let out a breath as if she’d been punched.

“Lord Gatherone. He was laughable, the simple oaf. He was an easy kill and then she was mine.
Mine.
I wanted her first. By rights, the privilege of taking her purity belonged to me.” He stopped to purse his lips and run a finger up Annalise’s thigh. “There is something so arousing about drawing virginal blood. Don’t you agree?” He shouted at Jaxon, “You stole that from me.”

He gave him an icy smile. “But no matter, when I take her, I shall make sure I draw a bit of blood somehow, if not for my amusement, then for yours. You’ll be a witness to our consummation.” Wolfsan stroked his chin. “Perhaps I should mark her as my own. I had considered branding her like a fine horse, but I don’t have the proper irons. I could just carve my monogram into her lovely flesh.”

He turned back to Annalise. “I started to do that very thing to that uppity maid of yours. Not the simpering girl in the garden.” Wolfsan put his hand to his forehead. “Oh, there are almost too many to keep track of. No, the one in London. Green-eyed witch. But I made her pay, too,” he bobbed his head, “an adequate sentence for stealing your gown and locket.” He frowned. “You never did thank me for returning it to you.”

Annalise shut her eyes and choked.

Wolfsan’s finger tipped her chin, forcing her to look at him. “I
said
, you should say ‘thank you.’ It is only proper.”

When she remained silent and simply glared at him, he struck her.

Jaxon reacted like a snared beast, bucking and fighting against his restraints. Wolfsan only laughed at him. He grabbed a fistful of hair, pulled Annalise’s head back, and moved to kiss her. She spit at him and he struck her again, then put his hands to the linen shirt she wore and ripped it from neckline to hem.

Jaxon howled his fury as he watched Wolfsan place his hands upon her breasts. He wrenched his wrists as the rope cut into his skin. Anna tried to fight him, but he stopped her with one hand about her throat. Pure terror crossed her face as Wolfsan’s grip began to rob her of air.

He released the hold on her throat and leaned over to lay a kiss upon the rounded flesh of her breast. As she gasped for air, he bit through her skin. Annalise screamed. An anguished cry erupted from Jaxon as he furiously struggled to free himself.

Wolfsan stepped back, wiping the blood from his mouth. “Why did you make us hurt you?” he snapped. “We have marred your perfect skin, but you left us no choice.” He picked up his knife and flicked the edges of her shirt out of the way with its tip.

Jaxon fought to keep his blind rage in check. His outbursts only seemed to spur on the actions of this sick bastard. He was terrified Wolfsan would cut her if he cried out again.
He’s a dead man, he’s a dead man, he’s a dead man.
Jaxon reined his fury. He needed to remain still enough to loosen his bonds. With Wolfsan’s full attention on Anna, it was his only chance.

He strained against the ropes. The coarse hemp shredded his skin as he wrestled to free his hands. Just a bit more, then Wolfsan’s dead. He twisted his wrist forward. Almost there.

Instead of cutting Annalise’s skin with the knife, Wolfsan bent and slit the sides of the pants she wore. “I loathe these breeches.” He ripped them from her, running his hands boldly down the naked front of her.

She stood eerily still. Her face chalk white. She stared at Wolfsan with empty eyes.

“What’s this?” he taunted. “No struggle? No shrieking?” He continued to claw at her.

She spoke through tight, pale lips. “Do what you wish to me. I’ll not fight you. That would please your twisted, rotted brain. Instead, I will lie cold and dead and you can do what you want with my body. But you will never have me. I’ll shut off my thoughts and take myself to a place within my mind where you can’t reach me. And when I am able, I will take your knife to my wrists and leave you a great pool of my blood in your bed.”

Wolfsan’s head snapped up. His mouth opened and closed like a dying fish. He jerked his hands away from her as if she’d scalded him, spun away, and pulled something golden from his pocket. A mirror?

“No, no, no. She wouldn’t. Calm yourself. She won’t. Not again. We couldn’t see that
again
.” He rubbed furiously at his eyes as sweat ran down his waxen face. He began pacing. “So much blood. So much blood. A great pool. She said
a great pool of blood
. Did you hear her? How does she know?” He started to pant. “Father? Father,” his bellowing echoed off the cave walls. “What have you done, you stupid, stupid fool?” Wolfsan’s body hunched over as if struck. He made a whined, keening sound. “Mother.” Veins stood out along his throat. “Mother? Mother?” Crazed eyes peered at Annalise. “How can you just
stand
there? Why don’t you
do
something? You’re smiling? She’s smiling into her mirror? Why doesn’t she scream? He’s dead. He killed himself because of
you
.” He gripped his ears and curled into himself. Again, he railed against her. “You should be screaming. There needs to be
screaming
.”

He rushed at Jaxon and gave him a swift kick in his side. The air whooshed from his lungs. He fought to find his breath again. Wolfsan pointed at him with his knife. “Scream.”

Silent tears rolled down Anna’s face.

He kicked Jaxon again, yelling at her, “Damn you, Bitch. I’ll strip his hide while you watch and cut out his heart.
Scream
.”

Jaxon roared against the gag in his mouth, pulling on his restraints with all his might. The ropes tore his skin. One hand jerked free.