Page 115 of The Worst of Them

“This has nothing to do with last night,” Jack said, his tone laced with menace. “The captain’s order was ignored. You were commanded to keep her out of trouble.” His gaze slid to Morgyn. “And you were told to settle your issues in Tortuga. They were not to return to this ship.”

Morgyn paused, her gaze flicking between Jack and Cecily. The last time she had properly seen them together was the day Cecily had pulled the knife on her. Morgyn wouldn’t have known Jack was Officer Marín, so she must have assumed some hatred remained between the two.

“I tried to leave my issue in Tortuga,” Morgyn said, uncommonly subdued. “But it appears she got loose.”

“Oh, yes,” Jack said lightly, like rescuing young women from jails was something he would do for anyone. “I freed her myself. When she didn’t return to the ship yesterday, I thought it’d be a shame to lose such a valuable crew member. She’s saved lives, you know. More than you ever have.”

Morgyn frowned, another long moment passing as she reassessed. Then she nodded at Cecily and said, “I saw her cavorting with Spanish officers. There’s no telling where her allegiances lie or what she’s told them about this company. It’d be a poor choice to have a Spanish sympathizer on board. If we’re attacked, who’s to say she won’t join them and kill the rest of us?”

It was Hester alone who kept Cecily from charging forward at the accusation, going so far as to press her finger to Cecily’s lips to keep her from snarling a response.

“Who’s to say anyone wouldn’t?” Jack replied evenly. “We go where the best pay is. But that’s not the point, is it?” His head tilted, the same snake-like movement he’d done as Officer Marín. “While the articles may not extend to what you do beyond this ship, I’ve seen how you’ve treated your fellow crew. You are divisive, threatening, and cruel, and your presence will affect the company at large.”

“Against Cecily?” Morgyn tried to laugh. “It’s only between us. It’s no one else’s concern.”

“Well, I’m afraid you’ve gotten me involved.” He stalked forward, the silken viciousness in his voice reminiscent of the many taunts he’d traded with Cecily from their first days of knowing one another. This was the lethal first mate who kept order at any cost. “Cecily has been under my charge for weeks, so I know she’s done nothing to seek or antagonize you. Rather, you have sought her, and she has protected herself. It hasn’t escaped my notice—nothing does, and no matter what you say, I am duty-bound to do what’s best for my crew.”

“Be reasonable,” Fiero said.

“My job is reason. And justice.”

“You’re not going to…to kill me,” Morgyn said. She pressed herself against the rail as Jack neared.

Stopping a few paces away, Jack swept a hand toward the starboard where Greyson had just finished affixing a plank to the edge. “I’ll offer you this: Leave the ship, and you can keep your life.”

Morgyn’s eyes widened. “You expect me to jump?”

“We’re still relatively close to land. I’d consider that quite merciful.”

They had left harbor, but were still near enough for one to return if they were a strong swimmer.

“Jack,” Fiero said pleadingly. “Reconsider.”

Jack drew his gun and leveled it at Morgyn. A few gasps shuddered through the crew, many of them from new faces who had signed on in Tortuga.

At the helm, Copson watched, emotionless.

“I won’t reconsider,” Jack said, edging Morgyn closer to the plank as she tried to sidle out of the path of his bullet. He matched her step for step. “Not for a matter that puts my crew at risk. There has been enough warning of the consequences of discord, and we do not offer so many chances.”

“If you think Cecily won’t do it,” she said, her voice trembling, “if you think she won’t turn on you—” She stepped onto the plank, encouraged by the gun aimed at her. “She’s a snake.”

“And a damn fine one she is,” Jack snarled, his voice ringing over the deck as his composure fractured. “She’s a benefit to this crew, yet you only provoke her. Do you think I don’t see it? That I haven’t seen everything? Cecily earns her keep and doesn’t complain, while you—what have you done? You’ve goaded her into showing her fangs.”

Morgyn stopped at the far end of the plank, her arms out to keep her balance as the wood bounced and swayed in the wind. Jack remained at the edge of the ship, his arm extended.

“You stole from her,” Jack said, his face twisting with rage, his words sharp with it. “You taunted and tested her. You framed her. You tortured her.”

“Fiero,” Morgyn cried, but the man didn’t move—not while the first mate was delivering judgment that could easily be turned on him.

“I’m well aware of what Cecily is capable of,” Jack declared. “And to that end, your gravest offense of all is that you put the woman I love into a cell and made her relive every horror she’s endured. Your petty revenge was abject disloyalty against this crew and my family after we saved you, fed you, protected and paid you—and for what you’ve done, you have not returned the cost.” The gun cocked. “You miscalculated, Morgyn.”

He pulled the trigger.

28

LADY COPSON

Cecily had given a lot of thought to what it might be like to see Morgyn die.