David growled and sat back down. "You have no spine," he muttered. "Just like Father said."

"Well, what the hell did you expect me to do?" Hawthorne growled. "What the hell did you want?"

David growled and stood up. "I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE!" he yelled, then sat back down. "I thought you had I grand plan. Why did you kidnap me? To hear you complain about how your so wanton over my father!?"

"No, that's not the reason at all. We're going to use you as an exchange."

David glared at him. "Exchange for what?"

"You'll see... When the time comes, you'll see. Meanwhile, if your father wishes to execute Josephs, that's fine by me. Tell me... Do you think he would?"

David glared at him. "Answer my question, what are exchanging me for!?" His mind was racing through options, a predominant one being suicide. No bargaining chip and his father would take revenge.

"Alright... We're going to exchange you for your father, then sell him to the Navy. They pay handsomely for pirates."

David blinked. No he wasn't going to allow that. He smirked, plans forming in his head. "Not as much as Lord Vincent will pay for my return."

"Lord Vincent? What does that old fool care about you?"

David smiled. "He's my mother's husband," he said. "He thinks I am his son so he offer seven thousand gold pieces for my safe return. A price that is only growing in my absence."

"Well, do you think he'll pay for your return if he were to find out that, hypothetically, your father was a dashing young pirate captain?"

David raised his eyebrow. "Substantually less," he said in an are you nuts? tone.

"Another thing: I wish to see your father scream. He's broken my heart more times than you can imagine. This isn't about money."

David blinked, then laughed. "Apparently there's a story that I've missed! He's never told me of a time that he had your heart. Are you that delusional?"

"Yes, that is a story you missed. What, why did you think we hate each other?"

David growled. "The same reason he hates most other pirates," he said. "They tend to be dishonorable."

"Oh, and he isn't? He's a pirate too, you know... We used to be bedfellows, but then he abandoned me to run off with your mother. It broke my heart beyond repair. And that's why I do what I do."

David snarled. "Of course he's honorable," he said, fighting against the binds. "He's not like you rats."

"Ok. Prove to me he's honorable, and worth sparing, and I'll let you go."

David smirked. "How any ships has he sunk? Innocents he's killed? None." He kept fighting with the rope, only making it tighter.

"How many innocents do you think I've killed? None. I only give what is coming." Hawthorne smirked.

David closed his eyes. "Can you really kill him?" he asked. "You'll have him under your thumb. Why give that up?"

"Because... What use would I have for him?" Hawthorne asked, confused.

David smirked. "Be sure he never leaves you again," he said. "And make him feel the pain you've felt over the years."

"That is actually quite a good point... But what I'll do to him is a lot worse than what the Navy would do... You do realise that, yes?"

David's insides turned. "The Navy would hang him. Can you live with that?"

Hawthorne shrugged. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. Perhaps I would not need to live, once that purpose is complete... But, I see your point. But, could you live with yourself, knowing your father is being tortured?"

David chuckled. "I'm not my father," he said. "With him gone I get the Rose and his reputation."

"You... Really don't care about your father?" Hawthorne gasped.

David shrugged. "Doesn't mean I'm going to tell you the Rose's weakness," he said. "Protecting my future."

"I understand that. However, I don't really care anymore. Good day." Hawthorne replied, leaving the room and locking the door behind him.

Elias was still tied to the mask. "Please... Sir, I'll tell you everything!" he shouted at Montagne.

Montagne growled. "Then start talking," he snarled, sharpening one of his swords.

"Hawthorne's planning a negotiation. He wants to kidnap you, and sell you to the navy. That's literally all I know."

Montagne chuckled. "You know more," he said. "Where does he make port?"

"He... He makes port at Brazil. He... He has a house there..."

Montagne smirked and grabbed his chin. "Anything I should know, Josephs?"

"No, sir. That is all I know." Elias replied. He noticed, with shame, he was getting a hard on from being tied up and manhandled.

Montagne smirked and pressed his knee against his cock. "How interesting," he said, rubbing against it. "Do you truly want forgiveness?"

"Yes... Yes sir!" Elias replied, nodding desperatly.