"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.

A soft moan escaped her lips as she stretched; he had to fight the urge of leaning over to caress her. He braced himself as those beautiful aqua green eyes heavy with sleep sparkled as they focused on him.

"Good morning," she smiled sweetly. The next few moments that passed was torture for him.

With little emotion, he mumbled the greeting back.

The coldness in his tone slightly alarmed her as she slowly sat up. Playfully, she went up on her knees and crawled towards the end of his bunk, and faced him. His heart pummeled in his chest so furiously that he feared he would surely expire before her the way she lovingly looked up at him and reached up to place her hand over his chest.

He swallowed at the lump forming in his throat, fighting the urge to pull her into his arms. His fists tightened at his sides refusing to raise them to touch her. He pulled away then and cleared his throat.

"Get dressed," he murmured.

Her brow creased with a frown. The awkward silence between them was unsettling.

"Justin?" she whispered his name slowly climbing off the bunk. She stood behind him.

She pressed her hand gently to his back and he stiffened. "I said get dressed," he grumbled harshly once more.

She stood watching him with confusion and turned to do as he said.

Out the corner of his eyes, he watched her slow, jerky movements as she dressed and covered herself in the elegant fabrics of her gown from the night before. She was ravishing in such finery at the ball as she looked this very moment and his knees buckled.

He looked away from her questioning gaze filled with a tinge of moisture when she shakily ran her finger down her bodice and the rest of her gown, then looked up at him.

He swiftly straightened himself and strode towards the door then swung it open. He looked at her sharply then stretched out his hands.

"Come," he whispered.

He watched that beautiful face lower and sadden. But, just the same her soft hands landed in his.

He pulled her along ascending the steps on shaky legs; he prayed she did not notice.

He could feel her pull back as he cleared the last step and made his way with her on deck where officers of the British Royal Navy stood by.

They cleared the path as he struggled to pull her along making their way to Haines as he stood with two of his officers flanked at his sides.

She tried to pull away but his hand wrapped around her upper arm in a tight grip.

"Justin, what are you doing?" She looked away from the triumphant gaze of Haines.

His jaw clenched as she clutched her fingers into fists on his shirt. "Why are you doing this?" But he ignored her. Her heart fell at her feet as he pulled her fingers away and held her at arm's length.

"Here is your wife," he muttered.

She gasped trying to pull free from his unforgiving hold.

"Why would you do this?" She cried.

Agony crossed her face as she struggled more in his hold.

"You don't belong on this ship," he hissed shaking her.

His roughness did not stop her from lashing out. "You promised-"

"I promised you nothing. Don't confuse the night we spent together with anything," his voice was low and raspy that she could barely hear him.

"How could you say that?" she shoved at his chest with rage.

His resolve was slipping and he needed strength and restraint. He needed to get her off the ship before he did something reckless that could cost them all dearly.

"It was an itch I needed to scratch lass, nothing more," he pulled her close and tightened his grip. He would drown in those eyes. No doubt if she had a dagger at that very instant, she would plunge it into his heart. His cruel words no sooner left his lips before she reared back and slapped him hard.

"You vile bastard. How could you?" She cried out.

"Take her. Now!" He shot a murderous glare to the man at Haines's side.

"I hate you!" She shouted as she was thrust into the officer's arms and hauled away screaming.

Justin trembled furiously. Pain shot to his chest with what he was doing.

He stood there numb; barely hearing what Haines had said until the thump was felt of a large trunk dropped before him.

"For your cooperation, I leave you with something we found on another one of Cuthburts ship. It has nothing of value. We have no use for it." Haines muttered with a shrug.

Justin did not respond. He just looked up at the man that for now held all the cards to his future as he gloated staring at him. Justin bit his tongue on the insults he wanted to shout and the anxiousness to curl his palm around the hilt of his scabbard to lop Haines head clean from his shoulders.

"You got what you want. Remember my warning. Now get the bloody hell off my ship." He hissed between his clenched teeth.

He watched the sadistic smile of Haines form before he gave the order to his officers to retreat and set the sails.

And with that Justin stood helplessly still, the echo of her cries fresh in his mind as he watched the ship sail away.

*****

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