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My face burned and my mind raced. I tried to calm myself so I could focus on what to do next. A barrage of options flew through my head. But first, I was paying Dominic a visit.
I dropped the rope I held and strode across the deck, rushing down the ladder. I skipped the last several rungs, my feet landing hard on the cabin floor.
I hurried down the hall and to Dominic’s door. One hanging lantern lit the room, revealing him sitting straight-backed on the floor, his hands cuffed but his stance alert. He looked like a man waiting to be rescued, not a resigned prisoner.
Before I spoke, Cael's voice came through the radio once more. "Enforcer Dunn?"
Dominic stared back at me.
"Why is he asking for you instead of Merrick?” I asked.
He opened his mouth, then shut it, shaking his head wordlessly.
"You gave us away, didn't you?"
He shook his head again.
"What exactly did you tell them?"
"I told them nothing," he said, but the way his voice shook and his eyes shone told me otherwise.
I didn't know why I was wasting my time questioning him. I had to warn the crew if we stood a chance of getting away. "Keane!" I shouted, preparing to climb the ladder back up to the deck.
“Stop!” said Dominic, his voice rising. “It’s too late for them!”
“What does that mean?”
His eyes shifted. “I can't say I like you, but you did save my life. If you have the opportunity to save yourself, I suggest you take it,” he said with urgency.
It seemed to be a confession and a warning at once.
I wasn’t sure whether to hurt him or thank him. After a long moment, I lowered my voice. “Is it an ambush?”
He answered with one quick nod.
“And what about you?” I gestured to his chains.
He shook his head. “They’ll come for me. I’ll be safer here than anywhere else.”
“Fine.” I turned to go find Cait. I didn't have a precise plan, but my self-preservation was kicking in and Cait was the only person on this boat I felt truly responsible for. The rest . . . well, as Keane had said, they had the weapons they needed to fend for themselves.
And it was time I stopped trying to save everyone.
“Thank you for telling me the truth,” I mumbled before climbing up the ladder, leaving Dominic behind.
Once on deck, I could see that we were even closer to shore. Everyone on board seemed to wait a long breath before moving into action and dropping the anchor.
Cait stood at the stern, watching the island with a frown etched into her face. Cambria was the last place she wanted to be.
"Cait," I whispered once I was at her side. “They know we're coming."
She turned, her jaw dropping. "How do you know?"
“Because Dominic warned them."
She shook her head, swearing. “I’ll wring that idiot Enforcer’s neck.”
“Leave him,” I said. “At least he told me. I don't know whether we should warn everyone or?—"
