He grabbed my wrist and tugged me forward. The knife slammed into the wood next to his arm. A warning for him.

"You'll be sorry if you don't remove your hand from my wrist. The only reason I didn't stab you is because of little Davis," I hissed. "Now, Hywel or you're going to become handicapped."

"Rachel, what are you doing?" George questioned from across the room. "What have I said about playing with knives!"

He couldn't hear our conversation. He didn't know what happened over here. He was clueless.

Hywel listened to me, releasing my wrist and stood up.

"That it's dangerous and that I should be careful of your countertop?" I called back, pulling the knife free. "Or, that I should only use it on ill-minded people?"

A small indent in the wood was all that was left to show what happened.

"Aunt Rachel?" I tensed at the sound of little Davis. "Why did you try to stab my dad? Is it because you're still made he let me play with that man?" she asked, pointing to one of the pirates across the room.

I glanced in the direction he was, seeing a man with his back towards me. He was towards the corner, with short red hair and a shirt that was worn on the back.

Turning, I saw a look on Hywel's face that I understood. He realized that he was suddenly in a difficult position. Would he allow himself to arrest me in front of his daughter? He had always tried to protect her from seeing things like that.

"No, your dad just asked to see the kind of knife we had on hand. Sorry if it scared you." I placed it down, leaving it on the counter in front of him before I walked towards her. "You be a good girl and go to the back to get the picture you drew. Your dad plans to take you home in a minute."

She nodded, disappearing to get it.

"Rachel."

I sent Hywel a look. "Don't so my name so casually." What was this pain stabbing me in the chest? "You're only alive because that girl lost one parent because of me."

Why did I feel hurt? Hywel was only doing his job. Even if he wasn't on duty.

He was still a saylor. He still had to uphold justice.

George had told me to be careful of the people I trusted and befriended. And I was. Of course, I was.

So why did I feel like I was being betrayed? It would have eventually become like this. I was an accused criminal, broken free of the cells, so of course, it would become like that.

"You should leave and not return, Davis." George carried the barrel back behind the counter. "We'll be busy with these pirates for a while and then I'm closing the place for the night. I don't think the saylors will have time to deal with more on their plate."

"You can't just tell me not to return, George," Hywel snapped back. "She knew a day like this was coming."

"No, she knew the day that someone got proof would come. Not the day where justice turns it back and she's betrayed." George placed his hand on my shoulder as he talked.

I looked away.

"I'm doing my job!"

"You don't even know if she's wanted or not! You didn't ask her how she got out, Davis. You didn't ask her why she's here. Why she was being hanged like that pirate before her!"

I knew George was only trying to look out for me. But I didn't want him to blame Hywel. I knew what it meant being friends with a saylor. I knew that Charlotte would have to do it as well and she's a captain.

"How do you know I didn't ask?"

"Because she wouldn't look so heartbroken if you did!"

Was I heartbroken? Over losing a friend? Over him doing what he thought was right?

No. Of course, I wasn't. That would be stupid.

That would mean I let my guard down.

I watched as he left with little Davis, saying nothing. He passed Jacob and William on his way out, pausing with surprise and shock appeared on his face at the sight of them. George called the boys over, Hywel meeting my gaze with a look that I couldn't explain.

Betrayal? Rage?

Why would he feel like that aftering seeing the two boys?

Turning, I entered the kitchen, feeling the pain. Why did it have to be like this? Why did I have to say anything? I should have known he wouldn't let it go.

I shouldn't have said anything.

I wanted to scream. To break something. To somehow make this pain of my own betrayal to go away.

My hand slammed on the stovetop, items cluttering to the floor. Tears burned my eyes. I was so angry.

I thought I had more time left. I thought we had more time left. I hated this. Hated that I felt like this.

It was all his fault.

He took the time I thought I had left.

"Rachel." George sounded wary as he entered the kitchen. "Forget about him. We'll figure something out."

I wanted to believe him that we would but I didn't have time to include him. There was only one thing I had left that I could do. One thing that would get me out of Carlisle that night.

"I know. You're always able to come up with something." I couldn't face him. I didn't want my face to betray me to show that I would be doing this alone. "I'm sorry for that."

His shoes echoed on the wood before he came to a stop behind me. "It's going to be fine, Rachel. I need to leave but I'll be back soon. Then we'll figure everything out."

I nodded. "Don't worry, I can handle the lot out there." Turning, I gave him a slight grin. "I have an old knife to use if any of them gets handsy."

George chuckled. "And a gun."

"That has no powder," I said following after him as he started back to the front. "George."

"Isn't there?" He looked over his shoulder as he pulled the door open. "Well, just because we know that doesn't mean they will."

"Just be safe. It's still a mess out there."

George nodded, giving me a faint smile before he walked around the counter. Deciding against watching him leaving I looked to find Jacob and William standing to the side, looking wary about the pirates. Jacob looked towards me as if sensing that I was about to call out or maybe he saw that George was leaving and knew I would be out here.

I waved him and William over, the pair walking slowly. I needed to tell them about the change in plans. That we were going to try and hitch a ride with this pirate and his crew.

A call for more ale was shouted towards me. Sighing, I got fresh tankards listening. William went into the back as Jacob stayed upfront as I finished making sure everyone had a new drink, though I couldn't do much more about the food.

"Come," I said once I returned back to the bar counter.

Jacob followed me into the kitchen where William was. It looked as if he was searching for food.

"Did something happen?" Jacob asked.

I looked at the short boy, wondering how he would do on a pirate ship. I knew it wouldn't be easy and I did trust Charlotte to help them if I left alone, but the look Hywel got when he saw them. It made me think it wasn't any safer for them than it was for me.

"No, that's not it." I ran a hand through my hair, the strands falling through it. "I'm going to see if this crew out there will join me. The two of you are welcome to join me if you don't want to be in Carlisle any longer. I can't guarantee that this will be any safer than going with Charlotte."

"Why are you leaving?" Jacob asked.

William looked uninterested. I felt like this boy would never grow to like me. He hasn't once spoken to me since they came to the Going Sally.

"It's just time for me to move on," I said. "Look, I can still get you away from Carlisle, I just won't be here to see it through. Usually, I wouldn't ask the person I'm helping if they want another way off from the one I already had planned. I'm doing it this time because I won't see the final results."

Jacob looked at William. He was afraid but he tried to look strong. I felt bad for the fifteen-year-old boy.

"We'll do it."

"Do what?" I asked, wanting him to say it. To confirm it.

I didn't know what would come with this decision.

"We'll go with you on the pirate ship."

"Okay." I looked at the door. "Time to face the red-haired captain of the Undead Beauty."

I walked for the door, my stomach twisting. I wasn't this nervous when it came to seeking passage for other people. I didn't feel like I was about to sign away what I had when it came to getting things ready for others.

There's no reason I should now.

The front was as noisy as before. I searched, finding the red-haired man I hoped was the one little Davis had been pointing at. Ignoring the call that someone wanted more ale or for me to bring them some women and men to have fun with, I walked to the pirate captain.

He turned, someone nodding in my direction. Squaring my shoulders I stopped before him.

"I want you to let me and these two boys join your crew. We want to be pirates for the vessel Undead Beauty."

He stood up, looking taller up close though nowhere near as tall as George. Running a hand through my hair, I tried to calm my nerves as I frowned at the man. His sharp amber eyes were like a pair of daggers, trying to dig my heart out. Not in some romantic way, from the way a twisted, sadistic smile came to his face.

It was clear that if we wanted to join my heart would be used for the sacrifice. Or maybe he would eat it for lunch. With that sudden glint appearing in his eyes, I was sure to find out.

It was because of Hywel that I was in this mess. Because of him that I needed a quick way off Carlisle. That I didn't have time to think about asking to hop onto this captain's ship to sail away.

If only he hadn't come that day. If only he hadn't brought these pirates. If he hadn't seen the boys or tried to arrest me, everything would have been alright. Right?

No, I wasn't that lucky.

"I'm Captain Velwyn, Love, and why should I allow you and these boys to join my crew?" He asked, his eyes leaving me for a brief moment to look behind me.

I knew the pair had followed me. That they hadn't stayed in the kitchen or even behind the counter. Hopefully, nothing happened to them with all these pirates surrounding us.

"Because I'll make one hell of a pirate and it's only for a short time."

"You're in trouble with the law. Becoming a pirate won't help you any," he stated eyeing me before his grin grew. "Get rid of the boys and you'll have a deal."

The words escaped me before I thought about what they could bring. "Sadistic pirate." I had nothing to go on to call him that, besides the twisted smile and how his eyes made me feel like he wanted to rip my heart out.

"I haven't even begun to show you sadistic, Love."

"What does sadistic mean?" Jacob question in a small voice behind me.

Running my hand through my hair once again, I thought about what I could offer. There wasn't much I could do for a ship. Never helped sail one before. Never had to worry about sailing one either.

"Just let her join, Macrina." A woman from the table he was sitting at lowered her drink. "It'll be nice to have more ladies on board."

"Leave the Captain alone, Lorena," a man advised. "He gets to decide who joins and who doesn't."

"I'm with Lorena on this, Saul. Besides, she hit the captain right on the head." A laugh escaped from a different man before he continued. "He is sadistic. I vote we let them join. The boys too."

"A pirate ship isn't a life for boys." Another man walked forward with a small black bag with crossbones. "But they might make a good resource for the day one of you numb skulls lose a finger."

The pirate captain looked at his crew before back at me. Then slowly he looked at the two boys.

What was he going to say?