Page 102 of A Devious Secret

Chapter Fifteen

Stephen didn’t flinch as he stared into the barrel of Benjamin’s pistol. He wasn’t going to give the man the satisfaction of showing any fear. If it was his time to die, then so be it.

He had many regrets, but the only one that stood out was not telling Gemma how he truly felt about her. He loved Gemma. He knew it, and he could deny it no longer. But she would never know how deeply he cared for her.

Benjamin sneered. “Any last words, Captain?” he asked as his finger twitched on the trigger.

“None that I wish to share with you,” Stephen replied.

As he braced for being shot, Haddington’s voice came from behind him. “Put the pistol down,” he ordered.

“Why would I do that?” Benjamin asked as he shifted his gaze towards Haddington.

Haddington came to stand next to Stephen, a pistol in his hand. “Because if you shoot Stephen, then I will have no choice but to kill you.”

Benjamin’s expression grew hard. “Why do you care if Stephen lives or dies?”

“Quite frankly, I can’t stand the man, but I don’t want him dead,” Haddington replied.

“Thank you for that,” Stephen muttered.

Haddington shrugged. “It is merely the truth,” he said. “You are a nuisance, but my wife thinks highly of you. I just don’t quite see it.”

Benjamin’s eyes narrowed. “Just go inside,” he stated. “This doesn’t concern you.”

“I disagree,” Haddington countered. “I find myself curious as to why you are trying to kill Stephen.”

“I have my reasons,” Benjamin said.

“Which are?” Haddington pressed.

Benjamin adjusted the pistol in his hand. “I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

“That is true,” Haddington agreed. “But you will have to explain yourself to my friend. While I was distracting you, he was able to sneak up behind you.”

Stephen heard the gun cocking before he saw Hawthorne step out of the shadows behind Benjamin.

"Kindly put your gun down," Hawthorne commanded.

Benjamin’s hand wavered. “If I do that, I am a dead man.”

“Look around you. You will be a dead man if you pull that trigger,” Haddington said. “But you will live another day if you put the pistol down.”

“How do I know you won’t kill me once I lower my pistol?” Benjamin asked.

“I guess you are going to have to trust us,” Haddington replied.

Benjamin huffed. “I don’t trust anyone.”

“That is your mistake,” Hawthorne said.

“You are just going to let me walk away?” Benjamin asked.

Hawthorne shook his head. “No,” he replied. “We are going to escort you to Newgate.”

Benjamin’s face paled. “Why?”

Hawthorne kept his pistol aimed at Benjamin’s back as he said, “I have been thinking, and I can’t help but wonder how it is possible that you were able to escape when your ship was attacked.”