#truthfully a lot of conflict could have been resolved if Jack had just handed over his piece of eight to like Gibbs or someone

[nothoughtsjustmhaandotherthings]

I know we all harp on Jack for wanting to ditch the gang during AWE but truthfully if I had just been brought back from the dead you would not catch me running headlong into danger for like decades. The Brethren Court can get fucked, I’m taking my early retirement

[banditthewriter]

Trust Is Earned - Charles Vane - 9

My birthday gift to myself and all my readers is this chapter. You’ll know why when you read it.

Warning: Violence.

*gif not mine*

Enjoy!

------

The meeting between you, The Ranger crew, and The Walrus crew went about how you expected.

On one side you had Flint, Mr. Gates, Billy, and Silver for some reason. On the other side you had Jack Rackham, Anne Bonny, and a very unimpressed Charles Vane silently smoking.

Lucky, Emmett, Miles, Edward, Nigel, and Pope were all in the room as well. You had decided that if this went through, both crews needed to be familiar with your… well, your crew.

It was the most people you’d probably ever had in your shop at one time and it was definitely the loudest it had ever been. Even your crew were getting involved, mostly to tell people to lower their voices, but there were some insults being thrown as well. 

You, Anne, Flint, and Vane were the only ones silent. Flint looked like he was being silent because Mr. Gates had threatened him otherwise. Anne was always silent. And Vane… 

Well truthfully you hadn’t been able to get a good read on him lately. 

You gave Nigel a nod. He raised one hand to his mouth. Two fingers in his mouth, he let out a piercing whistle that made the entire room turn deathly silent. 

“Now that I have your attention once more,” you said with a motion to get the two pirate crews to sit back down, “let’s talk about how this will work individually now that I’ve explained how to keep the other crews from having me drawn and quartered at first light.”

Emmett snorted and you rolled your eyes. His morbid sense of humor came out at the worst times. And now Vane was glaring at him.

You had never wanted children less than you did just then.

“In any given week I get almost a dozen leads from my contacts from outside of Nassau. I do as much vetting as I can before I pass them on to Vane to pick from. That’s currently. The change would be simply that I would give the first best lead to the crew that’s here. If there are times when you are both in Nassau, it’ll be an alternating schedule.”

Jack had something to say about that, oddly enough.

“How can we trust you to be unbiased in those situations? I might remind you that you’ve had relations with members on both crews so your opinions might be skewed.”

You rolled your eyes.

“How many times do I have to say that Vane and I–”

“She can be trusted,” Vane said with authority, drawing all eyes to him since it was the first time he’d spoken since he got there. “Her word is enough for me and it’ll be enough for you two.”

Anne gave a nod. Jack was a little slower on the uptake, but even he agreed. Then it went to The Walrus crew. Technically Silver didn’t get a vote, but even he agreed with that.

“So we’re in agreement? Great,” Mr. Gates said as he started to stand.

“Not so fast,” you said as you went to stand back in between both of the crews. “There is a stipulation that I’m requiring in this before we move forward. One that is non-negotiable.”

With everyone’s attention, you went into it.

“I won’t have my customers killing each other. As long as we are working in harmony, we will be living in harmony. No more brawls between the crews, no more petty grievances, no more stealing,” you said with a glare at Silver who immediately nodded. “If there are legitimate concerns or issues, they will be handled in a forum like this, here in my shop where it’s worked out together. And if you can’t trust me to be unbiased at that time, one of my crew can step in to hear both sides.”

You knew they would agree to your terms simply because asking them not to murder each other was an easy task if it made them as much money as you promised. And since Vane could back you up on that—not that he did, Jack had to—you knew they would agree.

Contracts were brought up for all three of you because you were nothing in not thorough. You signed it, followed by Flint and Vane. Then you went one further and had Jack, Mr. Gates, and Lucky sign it as well.

“It looks like we’re all in business together now. Congratulations lady and gentlemen. I’m going to make you all very rich as long as you do your part as well.”

Everyone started to file out of the room. All except Vane who hadn’t moved from where he’d gone after he signed the contracts.

“What started as a way to keep me from killing you has turned into quite a business venture for you.”

You laughed and looked at the contract in your hands with the ink drying.

“A lot has changed since the night Billy and Silver came to my shop.”

“For the better?”

You looked up and met his eyes. Those eyes that you still saw in your dreams even though you now went weeks without seeing him.

“Most of it.”

“Charles, we need to go let the men know they can’t fight with The Walrus crew anymore. They’ll take it better from you if you promise alcohol. And lots of it.”

Jack’s interruption was right at the best time. You smiled at Vane and then turned to roll up the contract, intent not to watch him walk out of your shop again.

You’d grown to hate that sight.

------

It was Pope’s turn to be on watch at the shop. You had offered him some dinner and then went to your rooms to finish the dress you had been working on for the last few weeks. Normally you could make a dress fairly quickly but you had taken time with this one.

For some reason. You didn’t really understand why you were so invested in this dress.

You heard Pope’s familiar voice call your name from the shop. With a candle in one hand, you made your way into the shop. He wasn’t at his cot. Instead you found him at the door.

“He asked for you.”

Curious as to who was knocking on your door after dark, you made your way over and took Pope’s place at the door. On the other side was Vane. He looked annoyed for having been made to wait rather than just breaking in like he usually did when he needed to talk to you.

“Vane,” you said in greeting, giving him an odd look. “Come in.”

He shook his head and took a step backwards, inviting you outside instead. You looked at Pope who didn’t look pleased with the idea, but he gave you a nod and went over to where the cot was set up.

That’s as much privacy as you could get. And it was Pope’s way of telling you that he trusted Vane enough not to be stationed at the door instead. You left the candle inside and stepped out of the shop with Vane.

With the shop door shut behind you, you turned to face him. It was dark out but the moon gave enough light for you to be able to make out the look on Vane’s face. He looked conflicted. The only thing you had to compare it to were times he’d been in pain but even that wasn’t an exact match.

“What is it? Is something wrong?”

He turned away from you, tilting his head so that he could look up at the moon.

“You didn’t mention everything that happened the night I was attached by The Tempest crew.”

At first you were confused, but you quickly realized what he meant. The kiss. You hadn’t told him about the kiss, about his nightmare.

“What… I mean… you remembered?”

He let out a short laugh, still looking away.

“Thought it’d been a dream because you didn’t mention it. You just confirmed it for me.”

He hadn’t been sure until just now? You wished you had a better poker face, had been able to hide that piece of information better.

“You thought it was a dream?”

He turned his head to look at you.

“You think it’s the first time I’ve had a dream about having you under me like that?”

There was a breeze that moved through the trees, but it wasn’t nearly enough to cool your heated skin at that. And your heart was pounding in your chest, stealing your breath.

“I didn’t mention it because you didn’t remember it. I didn’t… think you wanted to remember it.”

He turned his body fully towards you. Then he crossed the scant distance that separated the two of you until his body was almost completely pressed to yours. He didn’t give you a chance to to be surprised before his mouth was on yours. 

The kiss was exactly like the one from that night; claiming, searing, a brand that’s been on your skin as you went about your days. He kissed with his entire body, molding to yours with his arms around you like he had every intention of trying to climb under your skin.

And you’d let him. God, whatever it took to never lose this feeling, you’d make that happen.

As his tongue teased against yours, he pushed you backwards until your back hit the door. It gave him more leverage to press against you, his leg thrust between your thighs and his hands in your hair to guide your head to where he wanted it.

“Ma’am? Is everything alright?”

You pulled away from Vane’s mouth to let out a shaky laugh. Vane took the opportunity to kiss down your neck while you struggled to catch your breath.

“Everything’s fine Pope, just the wind.”

Vane laughed at your very obvious lie. You pushed against his chest until he broke away from you a little more. Not that he fully stepped away. His hands seemed permanently attached to you and you didn’t mind at all.

“You should go before he decides to come out here.”

“Let him,” Vane challenged as he moved to nuzzle against your cheek and jaw, his lips dragging gently against your skin.

It was at odds with how you expected him to be that it made you lose your breath all over again. It took strength you didn’t realize you had to push him back enough to meet his eyes.

“Charles,” you said softly, beseechingly. 

It might have been the use of his first name which you had used so very little in the time you’d known him. Or maybe he could just see the resolve in your eyes. Either way, he leaned in for one last kiss before he separated himself from you fully.

“I’ll be by in the morning to talk about this,” he said as he dragged his fingers across your cheek and down your jaw.

“I’ll hold you to that.”

You watched him turn to leave. Although you’d hated that sight so much lately, the knowledge that he would be back in the morning gave you hope and joy. You couldn’t wait.

Once you were sure that you were as calm as you possibly could under the circumstances, you slipped back into the shop. Pope was sitting on the cot, his eyes on the door as you walked in. He took one look at you and must have been able to read what happened. He rolled his eyes and moved to lie down on the cot.

“Should I expect any more late night visitors?”

You grinned as you passed by him on your way back to your rooms.

“Not tonight Pope. But perhaps in the future I might be able to convince you and the rest of the crew to sleep in the bunkhouse sometimes.”

Pope laughed as he eyed the front door of the shop.

“Aye, maybe so.”

------

There was a hand on your cheek, a gentle touch that you leaned into. It didn’t feel familiar, didn’t feel like Charles. Was this a dream?

Your eyes fluttered open, desperate to know if you had dreamt the touch or if he really was there with you. Instead of seeing the familiar, welcome sight of Charles, you saw a strange man staring down at you. The moment you registered that this was real, not a dream, you opened your mouth to scream but his hand clamped down over your mouth.

“Don’t need to bring the rest of your men for us to kill. You gonna be good and not scream?”

You nodded. You had no intention of staying quiet, but you needed to get your bearings first. Your crew were just a ways away, would definitely hear your scream, but you needed to wait. You wanted to know what the hell was going on before you called them in here.

Where was Pope? He never would’ve let someone get this close.

The hand moved from your mouth slowly and you made a show of keeping your mouth shut. That seemed to satisfy him, but it didn’t stop him from yanking you up by a fistful of your hair. Someone else grabbed your wrists, alerting you to the fact that there was more than one man in your room. As they tied a rope around your wrists, you were also tugged forward and out of your bedroom.

They dragged you along through the rooms and into the shop. Everything was as it had been except Pope’s cot was empty. You saw a crowd of men not far from the door and your eyes were drawn there. Pope was on his knees in the middle of the floor, blood pouring from his stomach and chest already. A knife was at his throat, probably a threat on your life if he made any sound.

“Pope,” you said softly as you started forward, but you were yanked back by your arms painfully.

“Can’t leave no witnesses,” the man that held you said, a nod given to the man with the knife at Pope’s throat.

One quick slash was all it took. A river of red gushed out as he gurgled and tried to stem the flow uselessly.

You screamed, loud and long. At least as long as it took for someone to slam the back end of their pistol against your temple.

In and out of consciousness let you see the world in bits and blurs. You were over a shoulder. There was shouting. Gunfire. People screaming. Your name, that was your name. More gun shots. And then… silence.

------

The swaying is what woke you. Your body rolled to the side a bit. Then back to the other side. It was rhythmic almost and just the slightest bit familiar.

A ship. You were on a ship.

Your eyes opened almost immediately once you’d had that thought, but then you groaned and shut them again. The room was spinning. You wondered if it was seasickness already affecting you.

Most likely it was from being bashed in the head.

You didn’t have much clue as to what was going on. You remembered someone waking you, tying your hands. And then Pope… God, Pope. Your stomach turned as you remembered the sight of the blood, Pope desperately trying to stop it. 

Whoever these people were, you were going to make sure they paid for what they’d done.

Slowly you rolled onto your knees. There was a bench on one side of the room you were in and you used that to leverage yourself up. Then you plopped down onto the bench to get your bearings.

Across from you were a row of bars. That told you that you were in the prisoner’s hold. It didn’t give you much more information beyond that since you had no way of knowing which ship you were on. Not yet at least.

The next thing you realized was that you were in your nightgown. It was modest enough that you weren’t scandalized, but the thought that those men had seen you like this. Touched you. It made your skin crawl.

That thought, oddly, made you think of Charles. Did he know yet that you had been taken? Or Flint? What happened to the rest of your crew? 

Charles had said that he would come by the shop in the morning. If he did, he’d find Pope’s body in a pool of blood and you missing from your home. He would look for you, wouldn’t he? After last night, you had to hope he would.

Because if he looked for you, you knew he’d find you.

With legs that shook a bit under you, you made your way from the bench to the bars that held you prisoner. From there you could just make out the door that separated the hold from the rest of the ship. It was possible that there was someone there standing guard, but you weren’t going to do them the courtesy of screaming for them.

Not yet at least. You needed to figure out a plan.

You had money. If they wanted you for a ransom, you’d have to explain that there was no one they could ask for money from besides you directly. Your crew could reach out to your contacts but it’d be a lot easier for you to get it then they could.

But you had a feeling this was something else. Maybe a crew was mad that you offered your services to Flint and not them? Maybe Eleanor Guthrie had paid someone to kidnap you because you stole her two best clients. Maybe… maybe.

You hated not knowing.

Just as you were approaching the point of calling out to see if there was someone outside the door, you heard the lock turn and the door came open. The man that had woken you was there. He grinned when he saw that you were awake.

“Ah, Miss Y/L/N, finally. Welcome to The Tempest.”

You felt a little as if the floor had opened up beneath you and you’d fallen into the ocean. That was one thing you hadn’t thought of.

“You have to know that you can’t just kidnap me without repercussions,” you said with a confidence you didn’t really feel at that moment.

“Perhaps if anyone knew who had taken you. And if I had any intention of you ever setting foot on Nassau again, I might even be worried about it.”

That made your hands tighten on the bars.

“What do you want with me?”

The man walked into the room but he didn’t approach the cell you were in. Not yet.

“Your man killed two of my men without any of these repercussions you speak of. Slaughtered them in cold blood after torturing them, mutilating them. Then he hung them up to be looked upon. There are rules in Nassau, but no laws to stop something like that from happening. So it’s up to me, their captain, to avenge them.”

If you had the strength you would’ve bent the bars wide enough for you to climb out of the cell and run away. The ship was anchored somewhere, the gentle sway giving that away. Even if it was in the middle of the ocean, you’d rather deal with that then with a pirate with a grudge.

“What was done happened because those men attacked me. As my business partner, Vane needed to–”

“That was not business,” the captain shouted as he stormed across to grab the bars himself. “Business would’ve been for him to return the beating onto the men, not to mutilate their corpses for fun. He did that for you.”

“And he was nearly killed for it!” You yelled the words back as you refused to shrink from the captain or his anger. “I saw him when The Tempest crew was done with him. They repaid him for that already.”

The captain was quick, his hand darting out to clasp around your throat. He squeezed and squeezed until you couldn’t catch your breath.

“What payment is that when my men are dead? When my only son hung from a tree to be humiliated and scorned after death?”

Even if you could have breathed, you were sure that would’ve taken it away from you. It wasn’t just a captain avenging his crew, but a father avenging his son. 

When the captain finally released your throat, you fell to your knees to catch your breath.

“Unfortunately for you, I can’t stomach the thought of killing a woman. Instead I’ve found a man who will take you off my hands instead. You’ll be brought to the colonies as a slave. It won’t be an easy life for you. I reckon very soon you’ll wish I’d killed you.”

On that ominous note, the captain walked calmly towards the door of the hold. 

And you were left on your knees, trying to find the words for a prayer that you would get through this in one piece.

X

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