by Tracy Kay
Nicholas gathered her into his arms and held her while she cried, stroking her back and placing feather light kisses on her forehead. “I am going to help you, sweetheart. Everything is going to turn out fine.”
She studied his face, realizing for the first time how much she needed him and wanted him. “You promise?”
“I promise,” he confirmed.
She leaned into him and shyly kissed him on the lips. When he returned her kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him closer, deepening the kiss.
It felt good in his arms. She felt safe for the first time in a long time. Her heart yearned to be free to love him. She wanted him, she realized. She wanted him to touch her and kiss her. She felt no revulsion like she had with the other men. She enjoyed Nicholas’ caress, his lips on hers. She moved closer into him, tangling her hand up in his hair, wanting more, needing him. So, this was passion. She still had misgivings about his dominating nature, but at the moment, she didn’t care. All she wanted was more. She leaned her body in closer to his and relished the feel of his hands running up and down her back.
Reluctantly breaking off the passionate kiss, Nicholas leaned his forehead against hers to catch his breath. It would be so easy for him to take advantage of her, but he couldn’t do that. He wanted her. There was no question of that. It would be easy to continue the kiss and take what he wanted, but she didn’t need that and he was a better man than that. After a moment, he removed her arms from around his neck. “I love your kisses, honey; indeed, I do, but not like this, not when you are upset. There will be another time. You can depend upon it.” He kissed her forehead, stood and left the room with her staring after him in confusion.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Cassandra Bradford was in her office at Ravenleigh Shipping trying to work on the books. She hated doing the accounts. She would never be good at it, and she certainly didn’t have the flair that Maxine Stuart, her friend and business partner, had with the accounts. She was better at negotiating with the merchants for the best price and being the captain of her ship, the Jester. She sat back in her chair and stretched. She was very pleased with the outcome of her meeting with Charles Penwich earlier that day. Brandon had been right about Penwich. He was a savvy businessman and he had agreed to come by the warehouse later in the week to inspect the merchandise they had ready to sell. Their new relationship seemed promising, and with a little hard work and a little luck, Charles Penwich will become one of their main buyers. Cassandra tossed her head and blinked her eyes to clear her head. She had to focus all her attention on the accounts if she was ever going to get it done.
It was over an hour later when she heard the warehouse door slam. She threw down the pen, grateful for the distraction. It was probably Pierre Revendonne, her friend and the Jester’s first mate, checking on her. She was never at the office this late; however, she was behind on her work and with Farrington’s attention on the Cathcarts and Parkers, she felt secure. Pierre didn’t want her here alone at night and she supposed he was right. It wasn’t all that safe, but she could take care of herself.
She waited for Pierre to come through her door and drag her home, but when he didn’t arrive, she became worried. She got up, walked to the door, and peered out into the hallway. “Oh, bother it,” she uttered under her breath. She hadn’t left any lamps burning, and she could barely make out the other office across from hers, let alone down the small hall towards the warehouse. She cursed again, turned to pick up the lamp on her desk, left the office, and made her way towards the warehouse.
She realized her mistake instantly as the men surrounded her. She should never have taken the lamp. She didn’t dare drop it and go for her knives. She couldn’t risk a fire in the warehouse and lose all the merchandise they had stored. She could only stand there facing the four boys in their early teens with pistols aimed at her, but she didn’t have to show her fear. “What can I do for you fellows?” She inquired in an even voice with a cheerful smile on her lips which did not reach her indigo eyes.
“Farrington wants to see ye,” replied a short, stocky youth whose hand wobbled, making the pistol waver back and forth.
Cassandra wanted to grab it from his hand and whack it over his head. It was evident he had never held a weapon before, and taking a quick glance at his younger companions, they hadn’t either. Huh, Farrington was so desperate he was sending boys to do his dirty work. Attempting to make out the youth’s features in the dark, she decided to try and talk him out of this. “But I don’t wish to see Farrington. Why don’t you send him a message instead? Come into my office and I will write one,” she suggested.
“He don’t want no message,” the boy spoke with bravado.
Obviously, he was acting as their leader, Cassandra thought. She smiled again tentatively. “I don’t have the time for a visit with Farrington.” Waving her hand at the table to the right of her, she walked over and set down the lantern with them close at her heels. “Perhaps, I can visit him tomorrow,” she urged, as she turned back towards the leader.
“He said to bring ye tonight,” the boy insisted stubbornly.
After regarding the boy for a long moment, she realized she wasn’t going to dissuade him, but with her hands now free, she could fight him. She went for her knife and got hit in the head from behind. She swung around to her assailant and punched the boy in the stomach. As he doubled over, she nodded in satisfaction and the others attacked her all at once. Her knife appeared in her hand as if by magic and she became serious. She cut the boy’s arm that was around her waist before she was tripped by another and her knife went skidding across the floor out of her reach.
The leader quickly straddled her and slapped her in the face and yelled. “Stop fighting. I don’t want to hurt ye.”
Cassandra sighed. She had another knife on her within reach and she could easily kill this boy, but she didn’t have the heart to harm him or his comrades. “Fine, I will go with you,” she complied and he helped her up. She truly hated these visits with Farrington.
Less than an hour later, Cassandra found herself standing in front of Aaron Farrington’s desk with a pistol in her back being held by the young man who brought her here.
“I can handle it from here, Trevor,” Farrington dismissed the boy.
Before he could leave, Cassandra caught Trevor’s arm. “If you ever want to leave his employ, let me know.” The boy gave her a long look as if pondering her offer, then looked at Farrington before yanking his arm out of her grasp and leaving the room.
“Trying to steal from me again, Countess. Don’t try, that one is mine. He wouldn’t dare leave,” he scoffed.
“They can all leave you, Farrington, when they become desperate enough,” she reminded.
“I didn’t bring you here to discuss my hirelings. Sit,” he ordered, indicating the seat in front of his desk. “You could have avoided that,” he commented, gesturing at the bruise on her cheek.
Ignoring his false concern, she snarled as she sat on the edge of the chair. “What do you want?”
“I wanted to remind you that I still think of you,” he sneered. “You have become lax of late, allowing boys to capture you.”
“If you wish to think that,” she replied, wondering what he was getting at.
“I want you to know, Countess,” he bit out her title as if it were a curse. “I intend on destroying you and your friends.” He sneered smugly. “I know your little secret.”
“And what would that be?” She asked, fearing he did know.
“You know what secret and I will reveal it when the time is right. When it will destroy you and those you hold most dear.” He curled his lip in satisfaction, waiting for her response.
“I don’t know what you are talking about Farrington, but I do know that you are despicable and I am very tired of your threats. Therefore, I am going to give you one of my own. You stay away from the Cathcarts and the Parkers or you will deal with me for the final time,” she warned, getting tired of all this no
nsense with him.
“Ah threats.” He took a deep breath and pointed his finger at her. “How dare you threaten me, you bitch? You have no power and you will never be able to destroy me. I am the destroyer here.”
“I don’t intend on destroying you, Farrington. I intend on eliminating you.” She stood, put her hands on the table and leaned towards him, forcing him to lean back into his chair to look at her. “You are a little man who enjoys hurting those weaker than yourself. Well, I am not one of those people, not any more. I will never allow you to destroy my family or friends again. Heed my words, Farrington. Cross me and you will wish you had never met me.” She stood up straight and headed for the door, but stopped when she heard his voice.
“The next time I capture you, I will use you like the whore you are, like I did your little friend, Caitlin, so many years ago. You won’t be so haughty then.” He cackled evilly as she calmly walked out the door, silently seething with rage.
Cassandra awoke with a start when the hand covered her mouth. In a panic, she tried pushing him off with one hand, while searching for the knife she kept under her pillow. The man grabbed her hand before she could reach it. “Cassandra, it is I.”
“Cat!” Cassandra cried with relief, throwing her free arm around his neck and hugging him close to her so she could bury her face in his neck. He sat down on the bed, released her hand, and enfolded her quaking, naked body into his arms.
After a moment he pulled away, searching her tear streaked face and taking note of the bruise beneath the tears. “Hey, what is this all about?” He asked as he wiped away her tears. Cassandra could only shake her head before she let out a sob. With concern, Brandon drew her back into his arms and held her close. It was not like Cassandra to cry, certainly not at the sight of him and not because he had slipped into her room. He often appeared unannounced in her room at night as she did in his. Something was terribly wrong and that bruise on her cheek had something to do with it. He refused to allow the knot of anger and fear that was simmering in his gut to grow. She needed him calm and in control. With a deep breath, he released his feelings and focused on Cassandra.
“Ssh, sweet, I am here.” He reassured her and rocked her back and forth. When her weeping began to subside, he pulled off his boots, slipped off his clothes, laid her down with him, and drew the sheet over both of them. When the tears stopped and she was only clutching him, he asked, “Tell me what happened, little one.”
“Farrington,” was all she said.
“Tell me, Cassandra,” he demanded, giving her a squeeze.
Cassandra pulled away from him to meet his glowing, green eyes filled with concern. She sighed and brushed her blond hair away from her face before answering. “I was working late and my guard was down. I thought with Farrington’s focus on you and your family, he was giving me a reprieve. I was wrong. Some of his henchmen, they were mere children,” she shook her head in contempt before continuing. “They captured me and took me to him. He was dreadful. He threatened me and our family, so I threatened him to leave us alone, but he only threatened me more. He says he knows a secret of mine, but I can’t be sure if he knows or if he is guessing. Cat, if it is possible, that man is more demented than ever.” She shivered and rubbed her arms which had goose bumps along them.
“Ah, sweet.” Brandon hugged her tight, before leaning away to caress her bruised cheek softly with his fingertips. “I should have been there to protect you.” He was annoyed with himself, with her, and Farrington for making it difficult for him to protect her. He was going to find a way to end this, find a way to get rid of Farrington, and free them all to live normal lives, but for now, he would have to settle for these stolen moments and do his best to keep Cassandra and his family safe.
“You can’t protect me all the time, Cat.” She returned his caress, letting her fingers trail down his cheek and onto his chest.
“You shouldn’t have been alone at the warehouse,” Brandon reprimanded, kissing her lightly.
“I know. I was foolish. I wish he would get out of our lives,” she admitted tiredly, wrapping her arms around him to hold him close.
“I wish that too, luv.” He brushed her hair out of her eyes with one hand while massaging her back with the other.
“What if he knows, Cat?” She mumbled into his shoulder.
“Then we will deal with it. Besides, maybe it would be for the best, get it out in the open,” he replied, running his hand through her silky hair.
“Maybe,” she murmured, nuzzling his neck as he applied pressure to her lower back where he knew it would affect her the most. “Mmm. That is nice.”
Brandon carefully turned her over onto her stomach and massaged her muscles more completely. When she started giving little noises deep in her throat, Brandon began kissing and licking the places his hands explored, increasing her desire. When she was ready for him, Brandon lifted her hips and entered her slowly and deeply. Embracing Cassandra’s waist tightly to him with one arm, his free hand found her sensitized bud and brought her close to her release with slow, long strokes.
When Brandon heard her breath hitch, he commanded, “That is it, little one, let go for me.” With his order, she shattered beneath him. After two more slow strokes, he reached his own pleasure. Brandon gradually eased out of her, tenderly turned her over, rolled onto his back, tucked her next to his side, and drew her head to his chest. “Cassie, luv, be more careful,” he lovingly chastised, placing a kiss on her head.
“I will, Cat,” Cassandra yawned contentedly, draping her leg over his and promptly fell into a peaceful sleep.
“Good lord. Too damn much happens when I am away,” Maxine Stuart exclaimed after Raven had filled her in on Farrington’s recent antics and all the current news. Maxine Stuart, just shy of five feet with short, black hair and dark gray eyes, was sitting at a table in the back of the Snaggletooth Tavern, shaking her head with mild amazement at Raven and Conrad Morgan across from her. Maxine had arrived that afternoon from a long voyage to China that had taken her the better part of a year. She had missed her friends terribly and was glad to be home.
“When you take such long voyages, luv, expect to miss out on the fun.” Raven winked at her and took a drink of his ale.
Maxine grinned at Raven and gestured towards her first mate at the bar. “I had promised Chen Xing that we would go to his home. He hadn’t seen his family in years, and they were delighted to see him. He almost didn’t come back with me.” Maxine sighed. Chen Xing had been her teacher, first mate and friend for more than six years. She would have hated losing him, but she understood his need to be with his family. She certainly had missed Conrad and Raven, part of her adopted family. Years ago, when her grandmother had died and she had no family left, Raven had found her on the streets and had taken her to the Deliverance. Ever since, she considered the Deliverance’s crew her family. She couldn’t imagine her world without them. “Connie, Rave, I am very happy to be home.” She reached across the table and grasped both their hands in hers and gave them a squeeze.
“We are happy to have you home, puss.” Conrad gave her hand a returning squeeze before letting go.
“So.” Maxine swallowed back her emotions, released Raven’s hand, and changed the subject. “Farrington is harassing Cassie and Brandon, again.”
“He had Cassie brought to his house forcibly for a discussion.” At her look of concern, Conrad quickly added, “She wasn’t hurt, only upset.”
“Son of a bitch,” Maxine cursed. “Why can’t he leave her the hell alone, damn it?”
“Because he is a mean bastard,” Damon greeted as he, Cassandra, and Brandon joined them. “Max, it has been too long.” Damon opened his arms and Maxine flew into them.
After giving her a long hug and a kiss, Damon passed her to Brandon who gave her a bear hug, squeezing the breath out of her. “We missed you, sweet,” Brandon held her away from him, inspected her closely, and then, quickly ran his hands down her body.
Maxine laughed and slapp
ed his hands away. “I am fine, damn it, Cat. No injuries, no wounds.”
“With you Maxine, I never know,” Brandon replied dryly. Brandon was careful to always check Maxine when he hadn’t seen her for a long time because it never failed that she was injured and hiding it from him. She didn’t like anyone knowing when she was in pain or tired. To her it was embarrassing and a sign of weakness. “I would like to examine you.”
“As I said, I am fine, damn it.” Maxine brushed past him to greet one of her best friends, Cassandra Bradford. Taking Cassandra’s hands in hers, Maxine searched her friend’s face. “How are you, Cassie?”
“I am doing well, and it is obvious that you are also doing well. Stop being so serious.” Cassandra laughed and hugged her friend. “Sit, and tell us about your trip.” Cassandra sat in the chair next to Conrad and gave his arm a quick hug before reaching across him to snag Raven’s hand in a quick greeting, while Damon, Brandon and Maxine took their seats.
“It was long and uneventful,” Maxine smiled, settling into her seat before telling her friends about her voyage. “But I did get to see a lot of Hong Kong. Now that is an interesting city. Always something going on. Although Chen refused to allow me to go anywhere without him. He believed I would get myself into trouble,” she laughed. “And he was probably right with all the different customs they have. Mostly, we visited with his family. Chen has such a sweet mother. We saw the sites, shopped, and picked up a nice cargo of silks, teas, spices, very nice,” she shared in a rush. She took a sip of her ale as the barmaid served the others. “I have some gifts for everyone, but they are on board the Joker. I picked up some very unusual souvenirs. I think you will like them.”
“I am sure we will, luv,” Raven spoke offhandedly as he watched the barmaid leave.
“Raven,” Cassandra chastised.
“What?” Raven grinned at Cassandra unapologetically and winked. “I was only admiring,” he defended himself.