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

lowered his head so that their lips were nearly touching. “I can’t.” “Get away from me!” Isabel screamed and the door to the dressing room burst open. David pulled Rafael off of her and took her in his arms. He glared at Rafael, who had the good sense of bowing his head and leaving. David held her until she stopped shaking. He released her just as Emilio and Guillermo came running in. They saw the distress on her face and glared at David. They only halted when Isabel told them what had really happened. “Where were you two?” David demanded of them. “He could have hurt her!” He looked down into Isabel’s eyes and saw her fear easing. “That settles it, Isabel. You and I are going to become an item. Wherever you go from this moment on, I will be right beside you.” He looked over at the two guards. “Along with Mutt and Jeff here.” “You don’t know what they are capable of, David,” Isabel protested. “You could get hurt!” “I’m willing to take that risk,” David told her fiercely, “if it keeps you safely away from that bastard.” “That bastard is my husband,” Isabel reminded him and saw him frown. “He would never willingly hurt me.” “We’re going to dinner now,” David decided. They left the theater; David checking to make certain the two men were with them. “There’s an Italian restaurant a block away.” He saw her look. “We’ve expended a lot of calories today and need to replace some of them.” They entered the restaurant and David insisted that they take the back booth. Emilio and Guillermo took the table directly in front of them. Then David launched into stories of his childhood, his early dancing career, and his hopes for the future. He turned the paper placemat over and asked Isabel for a pen. Then he wrote down all the moves for every one of their solo pieces. He had her look it over for a few minutes and then turned it over. “I’ve been told you have a photographic memory,” David smiled at her. “Prove it.” Isabel smiled and recited the moves for each solo word for word. “All right. You win.” “What do I win?” Isabel smiled at him, enjoying the way his hand was covering hers. “A walk along the moonlit river with the handsomest dancer in town.” “When does he get here?” Isabel laughed and looked around. She looked at him and her smile turned into a frown. “Oh. You meant you?” “You are a cheeky little monkey,” David laughed at her as he rose to his feet. He folded the placemat and handed it to her. “For future reference.” “Thank you for the kind offer, David,” Isabel smiled at him as she put the paper in her purse, “but I’m tired. Maybe some other night?” “Very well,” he nodded “Allow me to see you home then.” He went with her and the two men and opened the passenger door of his old station wagon for Isabel. Emilio and Guillermo climbed in back. They got to the penthouse and David insisted on seeing her to the door. He kissed her hand and then followed her father into the study. “She’s going to have trouble with that one, Senor Guerrero,” David concluded his report. “I think my suggestion is a valid one.” “It wouldn’t be because you are beginning to care about my daughter?” Sebastian asked the young man. He shrugged when David didn’t answer. “You have my permission to put on your little act, David,” he told the young man, “but if you confuse her, frighten her, or make her life the least bit uncomfortable, I will have to hurt you.” “I assure you that my intentions are quite honorable, Senor,” David replied with a brief nod. “I won’t do anything to Isabel she does not allow.” “See that you do not,” Sebastian told him. David nodded and left the penthouse with a smile on his face. Isabel blushed as his gaze lit on her a moment and he winked at her. Seeing this, Liza frowned. Her daughter was forming an attachment, it appeared. Liza only hoped that this one would not end in death. She laid her hand on Isabel’s and her daughter looked up at her. There was no fear in Isabel’s eyes, only a calm that had Liza smiling. Isabel was all right. This Evans boy was no threat to her. It might actually be good for the girl to have the two young men fighting over her. Isabel needed to know she was not locked into marriage with Rafael, unless it was what she wanted. * Three weeks of nearly endless rehearsal passed and Rafael saw Isabel getting closer and closer to the rooster. They were never apart, and never alone. Emilio and Guillermo guarded them as if they were the most precious people on the planet. He had met with his sister and her suggestions had turned his stomach. He would not be part of turning this glorious child into a zombie so they could embezzle her inheritance from her. He watched them come out late the fourth night and stroll down towards the Harbor, hand-in-hand. They were very happy to be together. For a moment, Rafael almost let it be. But then he caught the rooster putting his lips to Isabel’s and his blood pressure mounted. No one would have their hands on this angel but him! The night of performance came and Rafael prepared to make his move. He sat in the audience with Ricardo, the man he had grown up believing to be his uncle, Gordon Talbot, the Tollivers, and their associated companions. Even his father was seeing someone these days. The performance ended and Isabel and David stood hand in hand to take their curtain calls. “Was it really as good as the audience thought?” Isabel asked as she and David went into the dressing room. “You were exquisite,” David smiled down at her. “You made me look good.” “How can you say that, David?” Isabel frowned. “You coached me the entire way.” She took the bottle of water and took it with her behind the screen. She sipped at it as she changed and put on a calf-length dress of midnight blue and silver. When she stepped out, she had to catch the screen. “I’m a little dizzy.” “Let me get dressed and I’ll escort you to the reception.” He moved into his dressing room, making certain that her watchdogs were in place. Isabel heard the door close and she sat down to wait. Her head was pounding now and her vision was blurry. She looked up to see Rafael coming into the room through the window. She ran for the door and he grabbed her, clamping his hand over her mouth. He dragged her along as he locked the door. Then he shoved her down on the couch and pinned her there. He kissed her roughly as she struggled to free herself from his hold. “I am going to make your choice easy, Isabel,” Rafael told her. “You will come with me now, openly and willingly, or I will have your rooster’s head.” He looked down into her angry eyes. “I know any number of ways to murder him and make it appear accidental, my sweet.” He ran his hand along her cheek, smiling coldly. “It would be such a shame for him to die before he has a chance for a career.” “You bastard,” Isabel hissed as he slid an engagement ring onto her finger above the wedding band she already wore. “You really think the heavy-handed approach is going to work with me?” “It had better, darling,” Rafael hissed as he wrenched her arm up behind her back, pinning her against his chest, “or the ballet world lose a promising young star.” He pushed the gown off of her shoulders and let it fall to her waist. “If it helps,” he said as his hand moved under her bra to stroke her breast, “close your eyes and think of your rooster.” There was a knock on the door and he pulled her to her feet and righted her garment. “Now put a happy smile on that pretty face. It is time to play for his life.” He unlocked the door and stepped back to admit Sebastian. “You overstep your bonds, Alvarez,” Sebastian told the young man. He watched Rafael step away from Isabel. “It is my right,” Rafael replied coldly. “Isabel is my wife and I will have her at my side, where she belongs.” “What if I don’t want to be there, Rafael?” Isabel snapped at him. She looked over at her stepfather. “Tell me I have a choice in this matter.” “I hate to tell you this, hija,” Sebastian frowned. He went to get them each a bottle of water and still remained quiet. “It is time you knew how things work for us.” He sank down on the couch next to her. “You married into the most powerful house in our Council; a house where divorce has never been allowed.” “You’re telling me I have to stay married to Rafael?” Isabel got to her feet, shaking her head in refusal. “I would rather be a nun!” “That is not an option,” Sebastian told her bluntly. “The only way you would be free is if it were proven you were unable to carry a child.” His eyes narrowed as he looked at her seriously. “Do you wish me to arrange the tests?” “It would prove only that I am fertile,” Isabel told him, frowning. “There is no medical reason I can not have children.” “Then it is done,” He took Isabel’s hand in his and led her out of the dressing room. “Come along, hija. Your adoring public awaits.” Isabel entered the hotel and went to the reception on her father’s arm. Simon approached, a huge bouquet of roses in his arms. He bowed to her dramatically and held the roses out to her. He beamed as she took them and then kissed his cheek. She turned and curtsied to her mother, handing Liza the roses as an acknowledgement of her mother’s part in her talent. Liza began to cry and Sebastian took her aside until she could control herself. “To the most glorious Clara it has ever been my honor to direct,” Simon beamed. He turned as David came into the room and shook the man by the hand. “And to our Prince! Well done, David!” He turned to the guests. “Enjoy your evening, my friends.” David took a step towards Isabel and found his way blocked by Sebastian. He looked up at the man and frowned. His frown darkened as Rafael put his arm around Isabel’s waist. Isabel did not object as he raised her hand to his lips, but she did not meet his eyes. Sebastian picked up a glass and struck it with a fork. The room silenced, as he raised his glass towards his daughter. “A toast,” he said, hating the need to do this. “To my daughter, Isabel, and her reunion with her husband, Dr. Rafael Alvarez.” Rafael lifted Isabel’s head and kissed her gently. David could see there was no love there, at least on Isabel’s part. She accepted his touch, his claim, as if she had no choice but to do so. It was like watching a merger of houses from the Middle Ages, not a union of souls and hearts as it should be. Why was she doing this to herself? He stepped towards the ‘happy’ couple and his own sister prevented him. He shook her hand off of his arm and held his hand out to Isabel. “A dance, Isabel?” Isabel could feel Rafael stiffen beside her and that was enough incentive. She took David’s hand and they moved out on to the dance floor. A tango began to play and she smiled. The sight