A Broken Outlaw (Belles & Bullets Book 7)

by Caylen McQueen

  “When Shuchun Jun ran away from me, I was devastated,” Emperor Ju-long told her. “I didn't understand why she wouldn't want me. It was the world's greatest insult. How could anyone reject me? Me! The emperor!”

  Gwen didn't know if he wanted a reply, so she responded with a shrug. A dull ache of dread clawed her stomach. She was incapable of words.

  “After she left me, I thought I'd never want another wife. I was too sad. Too broken.” When the emperor removed his undergarments and joined her on the bed, Gwen whimpered audibly. She had yet to remove a single article of clothing, but she assumed it would be her turn soon. “Feng was the one who insisted I find someone else. He was the one who convinced me. He said a Columbigan bride was exactly what I needed to lift my spirits. And he wasn't wrong.” When the emperor slid closer to her, Gwen slid backward. “I'm glad I found a new bride. You make me forget about Shuchun Jun, Gwen. You're even more beautiful than she was.”

  “Thank... you?” Gwen squeaked the words. When the emperor seized her wrist and kissed her hand, she was dangerously close to retching. She closed her eyes, trying to block him out, but she could still feel his lips traveling along her arm.

  “I used to think Columbigo was a disgusting country, full of greed and filth and affluence,” the emperor continued. “I wanted to take it, to fix it, to make it something better. But... if Columbigo has you, maybe it doesn't need to be fixed. You're the best thing about this country, my darling. You're this country's gift. You're my treasure.”

  “Uhhh...” When his moist mouth loudly suckled the soft skin of her inner elbow, Gwen squinted and suppressed a whimper.

  “How does it feel to be an empress?” As he asked the question, Ju-long peeled Gwen's dress from her shoulder, and his lips crashed against the newly exposed skin. “To be no one... and then suddenly you're someone. What is it like? Of course, I was born into a life of privilege, so I can only guess how you might feel.”

  “It's... surprisingly...” Gwen's words died in her throat when she felt his tongue sliding along her neck. At that moment, she would have rather been in a grave.

  “Surprisingly what, my darling?”

  “I... don't know.” Gwen wanted to say it was horrifying, but it wasn't the answer he hoped to hear.

  Emperor Ju-long tugged on his wife's dress, exposing more skin. A timely knock on the door temporarily delayed her misery. “Who the hell is that?” the emperor roared. “I specifically said I did not want to be bothered for the next three hours. Who would be stupid enough to visit me now, of all times?”

  As her naked husband rose from bed and waddled to the door, Gwen's mind was stuck on the words three and hours. Was that how long he intended to keep her in his bed? For three hours? Her body shuddered at the thought.

  When the door opened, Nicky Gunn shoved an unconscious guard into Ju-long's arms, catching him off guard. As the emperor staggered backward, Nicky raised a cutting board and clobbered him on the head. He expected the blow to knock the old man out—or down, at the very least—but Ju-long stayed on his feet. A trickle of blood skipped down his forehead, over his nose and across his lips.

  “Nicky!” Gwen gasped the name of her potential hero. “Nicky, you came!”

  Nicky didn't have time to answer, because the old emperor launched a counterattack, and he was stronger than he looked. He threw Nicky against the wall and punched him, directly on the nose. When Nicky's head hit the wall, he whimpered pitifully.

  Enraged by the blood on his face, the naked emperor threw Nicky to the floor and sat on him, pinning him to the ground. “How dare you!” The emperor's meaty fist connected with Nicky's face, again and again. “I should pluck out your eyes, boy! I don't know who you are, but you'll pay for this! You'll pay for interrupting my--”

  Ironically, the emperor was interrupted again. This time, it was Gwen who attacked him. She slammed a porcelain chamber pot onto the emperor's head as hard as she could, knocking him out cold. He fell on top of Nicky, who babbled inaudible words of self-pity as he rolled the naked emperor off of his body.

  “Nicky... you saved me!” Gwen exclaimed.

  Nicky sat up, scratched his head, and chuckled. “Uh... who saved who?”

  “I honestly didn't think you'd come, but you did! I didn't think you cared enough to intervene!” Gwen grabbed Nicky's arm and dragged him to his feet. “Of course, it would've been better if you'd intervened before the wedding, because now I've got a husband I don't want!”

  “Yeah. Sorry about that.” Nicky shrugged and smiled sheepishly. “I didn't know what to do. I didn't have time to come up with a plan.”

  “It doesn't matter. The important thing is... you came. And now I have a chance to escape.”

  “That's good and all, but I should probably warn you... I'm not that good at planning.” Nicky checked his reflection in the emperor's fancy mirror. When he saw blood all over his nose and chin, he tried to scrub himself with the sleeve of his shirt. “In fact, my plan ends here. I got myself on the airship, but now I have no idea how to get you off of it.”

  “That's okay, because I've got a plan!” Gwen declared.

  “Oh, yeah?” Nicky nudged the emperor with his foot, then he crouched down to check his breathing. He was still alive, which was good. Nicky never meant to kill the man. “Alright, Gwen. What's your plan?”

  “We just... walk out.”

  “Walk out? And how do you figure that'll work?”

  “I'm the new empress, right? Empress Gwen. If anyone tries to stop us, I'll make them wish they hadn't!” Gwen marched to the door and motioned for him to follow. “Come on. Let's go!”

  “I dunno, Gwen. A part of me doesn't think this is a good idea.”

  “It'll work. It has to work!” Gwen insisted. “Just keep your head down and let me do the talking, alright? Whatever you do, don't say anything stupid.”

  No one stopped her in the hallway—in fact, a pair of pretty maids actually bowed to her. She wasn't stopped by anyone on the airship's deck, where servants were busily setting up for the evening feast. Some of the food smelled so delicious, Gwen almost regretted that she wasn't staying to eat it.

  Nicky and Gwen didn't encounter any opposition until they reached the gangway, where they encountered the stern guard who threatened to shove Nicky's face into the cake. When he saw Nicky approaching with the new empress, his brow furrowed.

  “Your Highness...” The guard kept his eyes on Nicky as he dipped into a bow. “If you're going to leave the airship, this servant would like to ask where you intend to go.”

  “This servant has no business asking such questions, does he?” Gwen fired back at him. “Now step aside, or I'll tell my husband you hassled me!”

  “O-of course, exalted one.” The guard immediately stepped aside and motioned for her to pass. “Your servant is curious, though... why is Your Excellency in the company of this man?”

  “The company I keep is no concern of yours, is it?” Gwen haughtily raised her chin. “Ask me any more questions, and I'll tell the emperor to cut out your tongue!”

  “This one apologizes profusely, Your Majesty.” The guard bowed again. “Forgive this servant for being a fool. A thousand apologies would not be enough.”

  “You're right. It wouldn't.”

  Gwen breezed down the gangway and didn't look back. When they were a considerable distance from the airship, Nicky increased his pace and walked beside her. “Damn, girl!” he cried. “That was impressive! Real impressive! I didn't think it'd be as easy as that, but it was!”

  “Well... I am the empress!” Gwen's nose wrinkled at the thought. “As strange as that is, it's true.”

  “I can't believe that man is your husband,” Nicky groaned.

  “I can't believe it either.”

  “But you never have to go back to him!” Nicky assured her. “You can stay with me... we can hide! If anyone tries to find you, I'll fight them off! I won't let them have you again. I won't--”

  Before he could finish, Gwen
grabbed his head and pulled him down for a kiss. Nicky grinned against her lips. Her kiss was unexpected, but it was certainly welcome.

  “Thanks, Nicky.” Gwen slid her arms around him and squeezed. “I thought no one cared about me... but you proved me wrong. So... thanks.”

  Twenty Eight

  “Isabella... why are you so upset with me?” A panicked Tom Harriot chased his fiance across the deck, desperate for her attention. “You're not looking at me the same way. Hell... you're barely looking at me at all! Are you really that angry?”

  “I am!” Isabella had been trying to ignore him, but his persistence paid off. She finally spun in his direction and said, “When I saw that man's face... when I saw what you did to him... I felt as if my Tom Harriot was gone. I fell in love with a man who was gentle, calm and protective. I fell in love with a man who would have done anything to keep me safe. But now I'm starting to realize there's a completely different version of you, and this version is too much like your father.”

  “My father?” The comparison sucked the air from his lungs. “Please don't compare to me to him. Please.”

  “Do you remember when I was captured by Gareth Harriot?” Isabella asked. “He battered my face until it was all cuts and bruises, just like you did to Josiah Cole. I didn't think you were still capable of such a thing. It's been a shock to my system. I don't know if I can forgive you, quite honestly!”

  “Please, Isabella!” Harriot suddenly dropped to his knees and encompassed her legs in his arms. He didn't even care that a few of Isabella's crewmen were watching the spectacle. His need for forgiveness outweighed any potential embarrassment. “I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! It'll never happen again!”

  “Tom...” Isabella whispered. “This is humiliating. There are people watching us. This is--”

  “I love you, Isabella!” Tom declared. “I have a darkness in me, it's true. But you make it go away. If I lose you because of this, I... I...”

  Isabella's resistance weakened when she saw the tears in Tom's eyes. She was inspired to put an end to his misery. “When did I say you would lose me?”

  “I don't know. It's always a fear of mine. You're the only good thing I've ever had. You make me glad to be alive again. You--”

  Isabella interrupted. “It's alright, Tom. I'm not leaving you!” She tried, with little success, to lift him to his feet. He was too big and too stubborn to budge. “Nevertheless, I find it difficult to rush into your arms after what you did. I need time.”

  “How much time?”

  Before Isabella could answer, one of her soldiers ran forward and forced a spyglass into her hand. “Pardon the interruption, Your Highness, but this is of the utmost importance. You need to see this.” The soldier directed her attention to the sky. Isabella's main craft was accompanied by a flotilla of three smaller ships. As soon as she raised the spyglass, she heard a synchronized blast of cannons, and one of her airships exploded. Her flotilla was caught in a pincer attack. Four monstrous airships were closing in on all sides of them, and it was only a matter of time before they turned their attention to Isabella's ship.

  “Who is this?” Isabella shrieked. “Who's attacking us?”

  “We believe they're Emperor Ju-long's ships, Your Highness,” the soldier reported. “I just spoke to the captain, and he's recommending evasive maneuvers immediately. We're outmatched and outgunned and we have no hope of--”

  Before he could finish, Ju-long's airships showered them with cannon fire, and a second airship exploded. They didn't stand a chance.

  “So... the emperor's taking the fight to us before we take it to him?” Harriot's eyes narrowed as he studied the enemy airships. “Personally, I think we should launch a counterattack.”

  “Against four ships?” Isabella shrilled. “Are you insane?”

  “It doesn't happen often, but a disadvantaged airship can emerge victorious,” Harriot told her. “Did you hear what happened in Englund? Captain Francis Doon was outnumbered four-to-one, and yet he managed to turn the tide and win the day.” Tom nearly pointed out that he beat the legendary captain in single combat, but it wasn't the time or place for boasting.

  “Do we have Captain Doon with us? No. Do we have anyone comparable? No. Do we have...” Isabella's voice trailed off when the words of Carol Cassady rushed into her mind. What if the situation wasn't so hopeless after all? What if they actually had a chance? “Tom... I think we need Josiah Cole.”

  “The man I tortured? Why would we need him?”

  “I don't know yet, but I need to talk to him.” She heard another explosion in the distance, but she couldn't bear to look. “And I should probably do it quickly.”

  * * *

  “Take that, Jojo!” Carol squealed as she slapped her cards on the table. “Four of a kind! Bah ha HA! You think you're so good at poker, but you just got creamed! How's it feel to get beaten at your own game?”

  “You just got lucky,” Josiah retorted. “Real lucky. In all my life, I don't think I've ever seen anyone with four of a kind.”

  “I am lucky!” Carol declared. “Super lucky. I'm so lucky, four-leaf clovers stick to my ass when I sit in the grass. I'm so lucky, crickets think I'm good luck. I'm so lucky, I've got horseshoes flyin' at my face!”

  “That last one doesn't sound very lucky at all. It sounds kind of painful, actually.”

  Carol ignored him and continued, “I'm so lucky, rabbits want to cut off my feet and use them for charms. I'm so lucky, I've got--” Carol was abruptly silenced by the sound of an explosion. When she felt the airship rattling, she said, “Yeeeah... and suddenly, I don't feel so lucky.”

  “What do you think that was? Are we under attack?”

  “Maybe, Jojo, maybe. I guess we'll find out soon enough.”

  Instead of holding them in cells, Isabella decided to keep her prisoners in a heavily guarded hallway of the airship. Carol, Josiah and Patrick each had separate rooms. For the last few hours, Carol had been crashing in Josiah's, forcing her company on him. He didn't complain. In fact, Carol's company made him happy, even though he wouldn't admit it.

  When the princess burst into the bedroom without knocking, they gasped in unison. “Whoa whoa whoa! Hey there, Your Highness!” Carol exclaimed. “It's a good thing Josiah and I weren't having sex in here, because that would be... awkward.”

  “Why would we be having sex in here?”

  “I don't know, Jojo. You tell me.” Carol grinned at him. “I don't think it's such an outlandish idea, personally. I think—”

  “We're under attack!” Isabella's blurted words immediately captured their attention. “We're surrounded by four airships. We were hit just a moment ago. I'm sure you felt it. At this rate, our airship will surely crash. I know it's a lot to ask, but since all of our lives are probably at stake right now... maybe you can do something to help?”

  “Oh yeah!” Carol rose from the table with a whoop. “Now's the time to test that gun arm of yours, Josiah! This is the moment we've been waiting for!”

  “I think it's the moment you've been waiting for,” Josiah corrected her as she slipped the special sunglasses over his eyes. “It's the moment I've been dreading. Now I get to run back and forth, winking like an asshole.”

  “Aww! You haven't forgotten! Yeah, you're right, winking triggers the missile.” Without warning, Carol ripped off Josiah's shirt, detached his mechanical arm, and replaced it with the gun arm. “Don't forget... you have to focus until you hear a beep. When you're ready, close your right eye, and the missile will fire.”

  “I know, I know!”

  As she corrected the crookedness of his hat, Carol said, “Can I just say... you look handsome in your sunglasses and cowboy hat right now, Josiah. Very handsome. So handsome.”

  “Ahem,” Isabella recaptured their attention. “Whatever you're going to do, I suggest you do it now. We're short on time.” At that very moment, the airship rattled again, proving her point.

  Prodded to action by their impending doom, Josiah and Caro
l left the room and raced to the deck. Upon arriving, they saw four untouched enemy airships closing in on the last ship in Isabella's dying fleet. All four fired at once, blowing the ship to pieces. Only Isabella's flagship remained.

  Realizing he had little time to waste, Josiah ran to the side of the airship and raised his arm. “You do realize this makes me feel foolish... right?” Josiah asked as he waited for the beep. When it locked on, he closed his right eye.

  “I don't know why you'd feel foolish! I think you look awesome!” Carol reassured him. “In fact, when I look at you right now, I get chills all over!”

  “Really?” Josiah held his breath as the guided missile whistled from the arm. It soared to the targeted airship and landed a direct hit on the deck. Half of the ship was blown apart, and the rest of the ship went down in flames. Carol cheered at the enormity of the explosion.

  “Oh... my... god! Did you see that, Jo? There isn't a single weapon in the world that can do damage like that!” She pulled down Josiah's arm and loaded another missile. “One ship down, three to go! If all of them go down as easily as that, this shouldn't take long.”

  “I'm glad you're on my side, Carol Cassady,” Josiah said, chuckling. “Seriously, I would hate to be on your bad side.”

  “I'm glad I'm on my side too.” As soon as the missile was loaded, Carol gave him a light push, letting him know it was done. “Uh... that doesn't make sense, does it?

  “Not really, Carol, no.” The next enemy airship was already within range, so Josiah raised his arm and waited for the glasses to lock onto their mark. After the beep, he closed his eye and fired the next missile. “You know, this doesn't really get any less awkward.”

  Behind him, Carol was pouting. Even when the second ship exploded in a blaze, her pout didn't waver. “You really don't like the gun arm, do you?”

  “Well, I don't hate it,” Josiah said. “I'm not sure I ever wanted this much destructive power laid on my shoulders, though.” When he saw her reloading another missile, he stopped her. “Wait... I want to try something.”