Independence & Consequences by M J Marlow (best color ebook reader .TXT) 📕

told this man and his confederates that. How was Olivia involved in all of this? She had no choice. She picked up the pen and started to write the list. A brief rebellious thought hit her and she almost switched things around, but she knew it would do no good. Sebastian would only go through with his threat to rape her. Isabel finished writing and handed the paper to him. “You have done well, Isabel,” he said as he looked over the list. It was the shipping dates for the materials he was having sent overseas. “You may return to your stateroom now.” He stepped away from her. She went to the connecting door and locked it on her side. Then she went to take a shower. She just couldn’t stop shivering at how close she had come to being raped. Why had he stopped? Was it because he preferred his women to have some experience? Or perhaps, Isabel thought the true reason, it was because he would suffer if he did anything to change her virgin status? She finished her shower and put on the warmest pajamas she could find. Liza returned to find her seated on the window seat, hugging her knees to her chest. She went to her bag and prepared a syringe. Isabel didn’t fight as she was given a shot. “I’ve given you a sedative, darling,” Liza told her as she set the syringe aside. She took Isabel in her arms and held her until the shivering eased. Then she cupped the child’s chin in her hand and raised the girl’s eyes to hers. “He didn’t…” “Rape me?” Isabel asked softly. She shook her head and saw Liza’s relief. “He stopped when he figured out I was a virgin.” Tears flowed down her cheeks unchecked and she bit her tongue. “I was so frightened, Liza! He…” “Hush now, child,” Liza said as she tightened her hold on the girl. “You’re safe now. He didn’t hurt you. And,” she added firmly, “he is not going to.” She saw Isabel’s eyelids start to droop and helped her up. “Come on, Isabel. Let’s get you to bed.” When she was assured that Isabel was asleep she went into the next stateroom. Sebastian was having a drink, and looking very annoyed. Liza walked up to him and slapped him across the face. “I had to sedate her, you bastard!” “I frightened the little one,” Sebastian shrugged. “I did not rape her.” “If you want a woman to warm your bed,” Liza told him coldly, “there are any number of women on this vessel you can choose from. Stay away from Isabel.” “Or what, woman?” Sebastian laughed at her. “You will have to hurt me?” He grabbed her and pulled her close. “Perhaps you offer yourself to me in her place?” He saw the shock on Liza’s face. “You would, wouldn’t you?” “Let go of me, you bastard!” Liza screamed. “I don’t think so, woman,” Sebastian smiled down at the struggling woman. “It is a perfect solution.” He saw the horror in her eyes. “A way to assure you that I will not be taking the child to my bed.” He shoved her towards the bed with a laugh. “Because you will be in it.” He picked her up and dumped her on the bed. “You are still a very lovely woman, Liza Stoner,” he purred as he removed his robe. “I am going to be very pleased with you,” he continued to say as he lowered the straps on her gown and pulled it down her struggling body. “If I am not, I will have your pretty Isabel. Do you understand?” Liza nodded helplessly. “It is agreed then,” he said as he began to stroke her body. “You will come to me each night after the girl is asleep. She will remain ignorant of this, woman,” he warned as he leaned forward, “or the next night, she will be brought in here to watch.” He kissed her then and felt her stiffen in anger. This only lasted as long as his continued strokes and caresses allowed. Soon, she was writhing under him for a much different reason, passion joining the anger in her eyes. When he was done with her, he allowed her to return to her stateroom. He had indeed been pleased, and he smiled as he went to get another drink. The good doctor was every bit as passionate as he had known she would be. It was just well hidden under that straight-laced exterior. * Winston was in his office at Glenwood Prep, looking over the reports from the different departments, when there was a knock on the door. He looked at the clock on the wall and frowned. He wasn’t expecting any visitors; especially not at 7:00 at night. He was surprised when he saw the person walking into his office. Ricardo Alvarez smiled and closed the door before coming towards the desk. He looked around the place, pretending to be impressed with a room that he knew as well as his own office and then turned to Winston. “I must know who took the child,” he said without preamble. He took a seat and looked at his old friend expectantly. “You must help me look into this, Wit.” “Gordon won’t stop until he has her back,” Winston told him, frowning. “And the woman who raised her is not making it any easier.” “You speak of our old friend Olivia Mayer,” Ricardo nodded. “I remember her well. She was always on the prowl for the next mark. I am surprised that she did not wind up married to one of us.” “Not for lack of trying,” Winston replied. He remembered the trouble Olivia had tried to cause between him and his first wife, Rebecca. He still regretted having to slap the woman down, but he had been happy with his choice. Rebecca had given him four wonderful children before she had died. “I had the distinct impression that she still harbors a grudge.” He fixed himself a drink and held the bottle out to Ricardo. The man nodded and another glass was filled. Once Winston sat down again, he looked at his friend. “My contacts tell me your brother is behind the rumors of your involvement with criminal activity, Ricardo.” “As do mine,” Ricardo nodded sadly. “It is a pity one can not choose one’s hermanos, because I would have much preferred you in such a role.” “Hermanos,” Winston toasted his friend and nodded. “Hermanos,” Ricardo nodded and smiled. “Is that toast exclusive,” Gordon Talbot’s voice came through the opening door, “or can anyone join?” “You are late, amigo,” Ricardo frowned as the man came into the room and went directly to the liquor cabinet. “Have you learned anything new?” “I have people going over the old records,” Gordon told him as he went to get himself a drink, “but so far there is nothing pointing to who took Isabel and her cousin from the nursery.” His cell phone rang and he answered it. “Talbot here.” He nodded as the report came in. “Are you certain of that?” He hung up and turned to his friends. “Whoever took her this time left absolutely no trace in the penthouse.” He would not let himself be defeated. “I am checking out Roger Hancock. This must be connected to the earlier attack.” “The man was unduly interested in your niece, Gordon,” Winston frowned, remembering what Gordon had told him about the opera, “but kidnapping? Why would he risk it?” “My dog was sedated,” Gordon told the others. “The drug in his system can only be prescribed by a veterinarian.” He bit his lip as he remembered something he had read in Hancock’s file. “I took the liberty of having a team run a file on the man. One of the items showed that he has a cousin who is a veterinarian in Bel Air.” “I will leave you to this lead of yours, then. I have other avenues to follow. Thank you for the drinks, Winston,” Ricardo said as he rose to his feet. “I will speak to you again later. Gordon,” he said to the other man, who was still looking at him, incensed, “we will find this child; of that, I am certain.” “And I’m supposed to accept that,” Gordon muttered to himself as Ricardo turned and left. “Damn it, Wit! He’s involving himself in this investigation. How can he think I’m going to let this go?” “He knows you won’t,” Winston replied. “Hancock did not work alone on the attack, Gordon. Whoever his confederates are, they still have Isabel.” “I should have insisted she come with me,” Gordon said as he sank down into a chair. “This would never have happened if she had been where I could keep an eye on her.” “You don’t know that, Gordon,” Winston shook his head. “Hancock would have found a way to get to her, even if he had to go through you.” He frowned as he thought of what Ricardo had said about the man. “The man is dead,” he remarked as he picked up the paper and saw the report for himself. “Ricardo didn’t make that up.” “He wouldn’t lie,” Gordon relented. In all the years he had known these two men, he knew them quite well. Ricardo might be a sharp negotiator, but he did not lie. He didn’t need to lie to get what he wanted. He finished his drink and go to his feet. “I have an uneasy feeling that we are not going to find them anywhere near Cumberland.” “Now you’re thinking,” Winston smiled. Gordon the bulldog was back! He wouldn’t stop until he had the person who had helped Hancock in cuffs. “I have asked a friend of mine to look into the cousin. They’ll let us know if she was just being used.” Gordon nodded thanks and Winston rose and went to his side. “Don’t worry, Gordon. We’ll get to the bottom of this. Isabel will be coming home soon.” * Isabel woke up and found Liza curled up in a ball on the bed. There were dried tears on her face. Isabel shook her and could not wake her. She tried to get her to wake up and Liza was not stirring. She pulled her robe on and ran to the doors connecting their stateroom with Sebastian’s. She pounded on it and he came to open the door. He saw her frantic expression, then saw Liza on the bed. He picked the woman up and carried her away, leaving Isabel locked in the stateroom. The doctor was startled when he came rushing in with the woman in his arms. He examined her quickly and was reassured when he felt a pulse. “She’s taken a sedative,” he told the man, who was glaring down at the woman as if she had committed a personal sin against him. “She should be fine.” “You will keep her here until she wakes,” Sebastian told the doctor. “Call my stateroom when she does. I will send my guards to retrieve her.” He turned on his heel and left. He stormed into Isabel’s stateroom and saw how frightened she was. “Liza took a sedative a little too late last night. She will wake up and be quite fine.” “You did something to her,” Isabel said coldly. “There is no other reason for her to have tried to hurt herself.” “She sacrificed herself to take your place in my bed,” Sebastian said as he grabbed her. “You should thank her when she returns.” He shoved her down on the bed and she looked back at him coldly. “Get dressed. You are going to spend the day at my side.” He watched as she got up and did as he requested. He still found he idea of this glorious child in his bed very appealing, but it was not worth the price he would pay. A slow