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

smile crossed his face as he realized that there were ways around such orders. In fact, the smile widened as a plan began to form, such acts could be just as enjoyable. He took her by the hand and led her into his stateroom. He smiled as he locked the connecting door. When he turned, she was eyeing him in fear. “You have no reason to fear me, child,” Sebastian told her. He went towards her and she ran for the connecting door. He pinned her against it and reached up to stroke her hair. “I merely wish to show you what you may expect when you have a man of your own.” “You’re vile!” Isabel cried as he pressed her into the wood. Her hand found the lock and she fell through. Sebastian was forced to catch himself, leaving Isabel time to slam the door in his startled face and lock it. She took a shower and went to swim, pushing herself in a vain attempt to forget what she had just endured. She was sunning herself when she heard Liza joining her. The woman’s face was bruised. The monster had beaten her! She looked at Liza and Liza bit her lip and looked away. Liza turned to the steward and ordered a drink. Isabel did not push her, if Liza wanted to say anything about their situation, then she would. Isabel got to her feet and kissed her on the cheek, then went back into the water. She watched as the first mate swum up to her as she was leaning on the edge, his concern plain. “Something happened to your aunt last night,” he said simply. “The doctor said that she had nearly overdosed.” “I don’t know,” Isabel lied to him, keeping her eyes hidden. “I woke up to find her out cold and unresponsive. Senor Guerrero took her to the doctor.” “You’re not telling me the truth, Ms. Chambers,” Henry Maxwell frowned. “Why would I lie?” Isabel asked him. He was getting too close to making her tell him everything she knew. “I have to go now, Mr. Maxwell. Liza needs me.” He watched her swim away and knew she wasn’t telling him something. It was plain in her stiff posture, her hidden eyes. He would have to remember to speak of this to the Captain. It was beginning to look like they had a hostage situation on their hands, not just an overbearing autocrat and his two guests. He looked up to see Isabel watching him closely. There was real worry in her eyes. The girl helped Liza to her feet and they left the pool area. Liza said something to Isabel and shoved her away. Isabel went after her and the woman slapped her. He was at her side at once as she stood there, holding her hand to her cheek. There were tears in her eyes as she looked up at him. “What can I do?” she cried as she threw herself against his chest. His arms came up automatically to hold her. “She’s determined to do this!” “To do what, Ms. Chambers?” Henry asked as his hand moved up to cup her cheek. “You can confide in me. I want to help.” Isabel saw the truth in his eyes. He really was interested in helping her. But how could she say anything to him. Sebastian was not lying when he said he would hurt anyone she or Liza let in on their true situation. She had no wish for this young man to be harmed because she could not keep a secret. And then all such thoughts fled from her mind as Henry lowered his head and kissed her. She stared up at him, stunned. “Isabel!” Henry felt the girl stiffen in his arms as Sebastian came towards them. He stepped away as the man glared at him coldly and watched as the man clamped his hand on Isabel’s arm. He led her off. He was about to follow when Guerrero’s men stepped into his path. He met their cold expressions bravely. He was not going to let some goons keep him from helping that girl and her aunt. “Senor Guerrero has instructed us to inform you,” one of them said as he stepped around behind him and pulled the young man’s arms behind his back. “That you are not to approach the Chambers girl ever again,” the other man said. He smiled and drove his fist into the young man’s abdomen. His knees buckled and they helped him stand. Then they let him go and walked off without another word. The girl was in trouble; this action confirmed it. The man was dangerous. What was he to Dr. Stoner and her niece, he wondered as he went to his cabin to get into uniform. A guardian?, a family friend?; or something much more? The thought of that woman or the girl in this man’s control angered him. He couldn’t let it continue. He didn’t care what they did to him. He was stunned, however, at what the man had decided. “You can’t be serious, Captain,” he said as he was told he would leave the vessel at the next port of call. “You’re firing me?” “Giving you an unscheduled leave,” MacGregor told him, frowning. “I just had a visit from Senor Guerrero. He told me he would not have you bothering his ward and ‘suggested’ that you leave the vessel at the earliest opportunity.” He shook his head. “He is determined to keep that child and her aunt on a short leash.” “I’ll contact the authorities as soon as I can, Captain,” Henry Maxwell decided. “Once I hear anything, I’ll find some way to send the information to you.” “Just be careful, nephew,” MacGregor told him. “I would hate anything to happen to you because I asked you to play knight gallant.” “I would have wanted to help her without your request, Uncle,” Henry told him firmly. “There is something very special about that girl.” Sebastian shoved Isabel into his stateroom where Liza was already waiting. He made her sit down. He nodded to Liza, and she gave Isabel a sedative. Sebastian enjoyed the anger in the girl’s eyes as he crouched down at her side and stroked her hair. He leaned in close and whispered into her ear. She stiffened and looked at him in disbelief. He got up, his hands spread out helplessly. “It must be thus,” he told her sadly. “I can not have men buzzing around you, child. It might create just the situation I was trying to avoid by bringing your aunt-mother to my bed.” He saw her falling asleep and turned to Liza. “I will put her to bed and return to you. Be ready.” He carried her into the next stateroom, and left her bound, in case she woke. Then he went back to his stateroom and smiled. Liza was waiting for him. She might not be welcoming him with a warm smile and open arms, he thought as he removed his clothing and joined her, but she was here. He took his time with her, enjoying the sound of her moaning as his hands and mouth moved over her body. One would think by the way she was responding to him that her husband never touched her. If she were his woman, he would not be able to keep his hands off of her. Once she was asleep, he went to the phone and made an overseas call. “I wish you to arrange something for me,” he told the person at the other end. “You will see to it that Dr. Charles Stoner divorces his wife,” he continued as he looked towards the bed. “I wish to make his wife mine.” * Dennis Chaney and his partner, and wife, Alexa Hardy, pulled up in front of the veterinary clinic in Bel Air, Maryland, and got out of the vehicle. The clinic was very high end. By the look of the cars in the parking lot, the clientele were all quite well off. They brought the Labrador puppy they had been given by one of their friends as a housewarming gift and took it in with them. They waited with the other pet owners and were called in about twenty minutes later. Dr. Sandra Avery was a tall, pleasant-faced woman with dark skin and deep green eyes. Her dark red hair was pulled back in a bun. She wore a lab coat over her plaid shirt and jeans, and black sneakers on her feet. Alexa found it hard to believe that this woman was related to Roger Hancock. “So what is Buddy in for?” Sandra smiled as her hands moved over the puppy’s body. “A very healthy male from all indications.” When they didn’t answer, the smile died. “You’re not here to talk about your puppy, if it even is your puppy.” “It was a gift from one of our friends,” Alexa told the woman, not liking the subterfuge Dennis had insisted on. “You’re right. We are here to talk to you about your cousin, Roger.” “What has that bastard done now?” Sandra asked, saw their shock, and shrugged. “There has never been any love lost between Roger and I. He sent me to the hospital several times when we were growing up. He made me date his loser friends who all seemed to share his deviant views towards women.” She saw their expressions. “You think he’s taken someone you know.” She was all commiseration then. “Oh God! I knew he was a bastard, but I never believed he would go that far.” “Her name is Isabel Chambers,” Dennis said as he brought out the picture of Isabel. He handed it over to her. “That’s not what he told me,” Sandra frowned, confused. She took a picture out of her pocket and showed it to them. “This is their wedding photo. Roger married a young woman named Antoinette Dubois three days ago.” She looked at the two pictures side by side. “There is a resemblance, but that’s all it is. Even Roger wouldn’t go so far as to abduct a young woman and force her to marry him.” “Do you have any idea where he is now, Dr. Avery?” Dennis asked as he handed the picture back to her. “He is on his honeymoon aboard a yacht a client of his leant him. It’s called the Persephone.” Sandra told them. “He and his bride are sailing down the coast to Florida.” She looked at them with true regret. “I wish I could help you, but I really don’t know anything more.” “Thank you for your time, Dr. Avery,” Alexa said, wondering why the cousin had not been told that the man was dead. She nodded towards the puppy. “He needs his six month shots. As long as we’re here…” “I’ll get the shots ready,” Sandra nodded. She stepped out of the office and had her assistant prepare the shots, then went into her office. “This is Sandra,” she said once the call was answered. “They were here asking about the girl. I gave them a look at the photo you sent me.” She smiled coldly. “I don’t think they bought it, so you’d better make sure this can’t come back to bite me in the butt.” She hung up and returned to give the shots to the puppy. Dennis and Alexa left with their pet. Only when they were on their way did they share their impressions of Roger’s cousin. Neither of them had anything favorable to say about the woman. It had been quite obvious that she was covering for the man. They drove to the hotel where another team member was waiting and set the puppy down. It curled up in a corner and went to sleep off the effects of the shots while its owners joined their teammate at the table. “She made a call to someone in Baltimore,” the man