What in the hell do you mean by this, Sutherland?
His reply was calm even as his deep voice carried. I mean to confiscate whats left of your supplies and impress all of your crew.
Her mouth flew open, then closed wordlessly.
He had to conceal his surprise over her reaction. Glaring down at her, he drawled, You seem to be surprised that I am pillaging your ship and taking your crew captivehe pausedalthough we both know you shouldnt be.
She stood staring at him, bringing her hands up to her temples. She looked shaky and confused, but then it was as if a sudden realization crumpled her composure. Her face fell.
He had to strain to hear her next soft words. You all along. What did that mean?
She took a deep, ragged breath, and then louder she said, Youre right, I know exactly why youve taken us.
She wasnt even going to deny what shed done. Had some part of him wanted her to deny it, and deny it so convincingly that he would believe her? Instead, she only looked lost and beaten. As she sank down and huddled on the deck, he couldnt help but notice how very small and fragile she appeared in her oilskins.
He involuntarily winced when one of his men hauled her to her feet again, sending her reeling. With what looked to be one last burst of energy, she turned on the man and kicked him so hard he released her. Derek watched as she unsteadily swung her head back and forth, surveying the scene to come up with some means to fight.
He knew she was a fighter. What he didnt know was why he caught himself almost pulling for her.
There was nothing Nicole could do. Nothing but become Sutherlands prisoner. Her ship lay so low, her deck nearly met the Southern Cross s waterline. The the end was close. Chancey and most of her crew, many of whom were still unconscious, had already been taken aboard his ship and bound. She shook free of the sailors hand that had once again pinned her. If she had to surrender, then she would do it her way.
She walked with shoulders jammed back, her pride keeping her battered body ramrod straight as she marched to the steep gangway.
Sutherland had the gall to smile. He was enjoying this.
He hadnt come to rescue her. Foolish girl . No, shed been right about him after all. He was behind all the accidents. And it wasnt enough to harm his competitors ships. He had to crush them completely.
The pain in her head raced from severe to splitting, and her thoughts made it ache even more. No wonder his ship hadnt been moving; hed simply been waiting for his sabotage to cripple her ship in the storm. And it was sabotage. He and his lackeys hadnt been in Recife by mere coincidence.
She had to swallow hard to keep from screaming. For two days, she and the crew had known they would die. They hadnt eaten, slept, or drunk. Then to be taken prisoner by the man who was responsible for their sinking ship . The realization strangled her, made her feel as though she were falling.
Yet, when forced to walk past him, she kept her head high and her gaze straight ahead.
Look at me, damn you, he demanded in a low voice. When she didnt, he dragged her around to face him. He looked surprised by her appearance, and she hoped he could feel her hatred blazing out at him. When she looked at that face, still so cruelly handsome to her, she didnt know if she wanted to sink down and weep, or kill him.
When his initial surprise turned into a smug glower, she knew she certainly wouldnt sink down and weep.
The intensity of his reaction to Nicole never failed to amaze Derek. When he grabbed her arms and yanked her toward him, he had to guard himself so he wouldnt give away too much of his feeling. He hadnt seen her for weeks, and now to see her like this . Her eyes drew him, with their obvious hurt and pupils black from shock. Her skin was unnatural in its paleness, giving her a translucent look. Salt had collected on her brows, lashes, and hair and glittered all around her face in the fading red sunlight. Shes still beautiful to me .
Astonishing. With everything hed learned about her, he still responded to her. Not in a completely sexual way, although that was unquestionably present, but he felt a tremendous pull to her just the same. Obviously, some part of him didnt care that she was a malicious little bitch.
At the memory of his suffering men, his hands shot to her upper arms. Why? he demanded harshly. Why did you do it? When she stared past him as if unseeing, he shook her. Did someone put you up to it? Did someone make you do it?
He dimly heard her crew protesting, and realized the men wanted to distract him from her. She stood as if mute, refusing to look at him. He gripped her arms more tightly and ground out, Who told you to do it? Finally, she glanced up, but she frowned as if the question had confused her.
Shaking Nicole had enraged the few conscious captive sailors, and they strained to break away from their bonds and the men who held them. They could struggle all they wanted. No one would ever get in the way of his revenge. As far as he was concerned, shed transgressed on what was his so much that he could do what he wanted with her now.
Shed toyed with him. Shed definitely outwitted him. Hed believed shed come to him about her father when in reality she was callously ensuring a win. Worse, much worse, shed harmed his men.
Now that she was on his ship, he might as well own her. He turned to Lassiters sailors, and his sneer told them as much. When they fought even harder to get to her, he laughed a humorless laugh before returning his attention to Nicole.
He had to know why shed done it. He squeezed his fists around her thin arms, until she answered in a biting voice, No one has made me do anythingI do as I will!
Telling himself he wouldnt beat her there on the deck, he took her shoulders and shook her.
Until, with a strangled cry, she collapsed in his arms.
Fear crept up his spine when Nicoles body went boneless. He could do nothing else but catch her and scoop her up. When he looked up, the man called Chancey caught his eyes and gave him a stabbing look that said, What did you expect? Dereks face flushed. He hadnt meant to hurt the girl. Damn it! Hed never been angrier with another person. Even Lydia.
Guilt assailed him, and he wanted to get her away from him at once. He strode over and handed the unconscious Nicole to Chancey. The man easily grabbed her and cradled her protectively in his long arms even though his hands were bound.
Derek turned to the edge of the ship and jumped down to the Bella Nicola to join his men in ransacking for supplies. Replaying the scene on deck again, cringing from his own actions, he paid little attention as he made his way, though it was hard to miss that his men had stripped anything not bolted down. Except in the officers and captains quarters in the after house, which hed ordered were not to be searched by anyone but himself.