Tempest's Embrace

Chapter 45

"The sea air has truly addled your brain," Bellamy whispered shaking his head.

Justin said nothing; standing with his back turned to his 1st mate.
"I must return her," he told Bellamy.

They had begun to argue when they saw the Admirals ship approaching them. It did not take long for Haines to catch up. He had to give Tempest up. When Bellamy tried to make him understand reason.
"She is carrying your child, we outnumber them. We can take them," Bellamy yelled.

"No!" Justin turned and walked below deck.
"You might as well toss her overboard." Bellamy blurted out angrily following him into the cabin.

Justin's feral gaze pinned him where he stood. "Yer sending the poor lass and your heir back to her own executioner and ye don't know it."

His guts dropped to his feet with what Bellamy had said.

"Please Cap'n, at least send her to one of the islands where that bastard of Haines can not get to her," he begged.

"I can not," Justin shook his head.

"Why not?" Bellamy stepped forward.

He looked up at Bellamy with a furious gaze. His first mate met it with equal ire.
"Who will attend to her? She needs to be where she can get the care needed when my child is born," Justin murmured.

Bellamy's thin-lipped silence pushed him further to explain.
"She is of gentle upbringing. I can not leave her alone on an island to fend for herself." Justin looked away.

"You should have thought of that before taking her to your bed," Quinn muttered angrily before turning away.

He couldn't stomach Justin's decision so he walked towards the door to leave.
"In case you have forgotten, Haines is above deck waiting for you to return his wife," Bellamy grumbled before slamming the door shut.

The vibration shook more than just the cabin walls. He lowered his head and braced himself against his desk. He would be a fool to turn back now. The idea of killing the Lieutenant was not bad but then again they would not be able to live in peace.

Dead or alive, they would constantly be on the run. The sooner he hands her over, the sooner he can bring her mother, Lady Charlotte Winstead to justice...and the sooner he can have Tempest back.

With a curse, he turned and walked out towards his quarters and stood by the door. He had reluctantly left his bed and her side the moment the tap at the door came.

With one last glance before leaving her side, he looked at her, and his heart felt heavy. It ached.
He could still feel her in his arms and taste the sweetness of her on his lips. His eyes shut tightly as he rest his head against the door in agony. The memories of their night together fresh in his mind left him weak and conflicted.

But he needed to do this. He was prepared for the consequences of handing her over. He would comply with his end of the bargain he made with Haines. In order to keep him and his men from being punished for what they had done.
He would sail away and never look back.
The promise felt bitter on his tongue but it was a sacrifice to ensure his child was born safe.
'I won't look for her or go near her again. But if any harm comes to her or my child, I will hunt you down. That is my promise, Lieutenant.'

He slowly turned the knob and entered. The view of her still sleeping in peace only increased the battle in his heart and his decision to hand her over to Haines.

At the foot of the bed, he watched her for several moments as she slept; captivated as always by her beauty. After a while, her head fell gently to the side and her eyes fluttered open.