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.