by Heather Hart
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Behind the Scenes
The performance was underway. Robert slipped in through the back door, which came in just behind the stage. There were stagehands and actors everywhere, so he slipped behind some stage scenery while he scoped the place out. It was impossible to move without being seen. If he were seen, he'd be challenged and most likely thrown out. The best thing to do was to wait for the next prop or scene change; then everyone would be moving about, and he could pass through with relative ease. While he waited, he spotted a door on the far right that led away from the stage to the public area. It was to the side, so he figured it wasn't the actual theater, more likely the ticket or refreshment area.
He did not have to wait too long, and he aimed for that door. Even though he got one or two curious glances from the stagehands, everyone was too busy to approach him. He was right; the door led to the small bar and the bathroom area. There was no one there, and he walked through to the front of the building and the ticket office. This was also unoccupied, and the ticket office closed. He walked around to the other side of the building and found the kitchens. The cooks there were hard at work and had no time to worry about him. He passed through and found the door used by the waiters to serve the food to the theatergoers. To open the door would cause a shaft of light to fall into the theater and all eyes would be on him. No. He must find another way.
There was another door. He opened it and it led to the actors changing room, conveniently placed between the kitchen and the stage so the actors could change immediately after serving the tables. Luck was with him, for the room was empty. Here was an opportunity! He grabbed a nondescript black wig and pasted on a matching mustache. He checked his reflection. Good enough. Someone would have to peer really hard to spot the man beneath the disguise.
He walked back through the kitchens and slipped into the rear of the theater, seating himself at a table partly obscured by the entrance. His arrival went unnoticed, and he scanned the tables, looking for Kassie and Alex. Finding Alex wasn't hard; he sat at the most prominent table, and Kassie sat quietly across from him, intently watching the show. Thank God! Nothing disastrous had happened!
The performance paused for an interlude, and the lights were raised in the theater. Robert hunkered down low. He didn't think Kassie would recognize him, but why take the chance? He guessed she was most likely looking out for him, so why risk her inadvertently giving his position away? She got up, said something to Alex, and walked out of the theater.
Robert got up to follow her discreetly, but felt a cold hand on his shoulder and something hard pressed into his back.
"Sit down, Robert. You're not the only one who likes to watch things from a distance."
He could not see the face, but he recognized the speaker at once. It was Shez. Where she had come from God alone knew, but there was no mistaking it was she who spoke. He retreated into his seat, and Shez took the seat opposite him, holding the gun low down on her lap so as not to alarm the theatergoers.
"It's an empty bluff," he said. "You won't shoot me in here, not with all these people about."
"I wouldn't test that hypothesis if I were you, Robert. I have made many sacrifices in my life. One last one won't make much of a difference."
He shot a glance over to Alex's table. His focus was on the wine in front of him. If he knew Shez was here, it was clear he had no idea she was there now with Robert.
"What do you plan to do, then?"
"The girl will be sold, of course. With her body, she'll fetch a great price. But even if she were worthless, it would please me to see her sold anyway. As it is, my one consolation will be to see her shipped off to the most worthless, sadistic brute that ever walked the planet. Her body will be broken in days, her spirit in hours. If I could, I would take time out of my busy schedule to watch it happen, but I have my duties to perform here, so, alas, cannot go."
"Your duties?"
"Yes. Haven't you figured it out? What a man's world you live in. I am the slave trader. Alex isn't my master, quite the reverse. He only thinks he is. But it's nothing more than an illusion. I call the shots. I pick the beauties."
Robert shook his head, trying to understand. "You're in charge?"
"Yes. I am the shadow no one sees or thinks of. I have no love of men, trust me, and I have a good eye where beauty is concerned. I know what pleases a man. And I know which women please me. If I had the time to indulge myself, believe me, I would have bought her for myself."
A vibration in his pocket signaled he had a new message from Kassie. But what could he do? He could hardly pull his phone out now.
"So, what now? You're going to snatch and sell Kassie. What about me?"
Shez glanced at her watch and over to the exit. "Well, for one, I'm going to keep you here while she powders her nose. She won't be coming back into the theater, not today."
Even as she spoke Alex rose from his seat and put on his coat, ready to leave. Shez reached into her pocket and typed a message of her own. Alex checked his phone then turned in their direction. A look of understanding crossed his face, but he made no attempt to join them. Instead, he continued out the exit, leaving Shez and Robert behind.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ocean Bound
Once again the mists washed over her. She was not herself, and she had no idea where she was. She remembered a bathroom, and a pair of unseen hands clasped around her face before she fell. Her last thought was that it smelled like chloroform. Her next memory was just as vague—rough hands pulling at her garments, stripping her. And then dressing her, careful hands caressing her skin. And here she was, wearing little more than a shift, waiting for something. It was like she'd slept for hours, but her eyes never closed. And then a door opened, and light flooded into the room, making her feel sick.
"Leave us."
Until that moment she'd failed to register that she had company. But a surge of bodies went past her, and she was alone. She thought of Robert. Was it he? She tried to focus and looked up to see the face of the new arrival but it was not Robert. He took her hands and raised her arms so they were parallel with her shoulders. Then he dropped them and began walking around her, studying her, touching her hair, feeling her muscles, appraising her. When he had gone full circle, he cupped her chin and tilted her face toward his. He smelled of expensive cologne, and the smell was overwhelming. She thought she would be sick.
"Come back in." The shapes that had left now returned and encircled her. "Have her prepared. A car is waiting outside to take her to Alex's yacht. You are to join my employer on board the Cranberry Wave at the following coordinates."
He handed one of the women a piece of paper, and then he left. While she swayed on her feet, the hands were on her again, pulling more garments over her shift. And then she felt like she was falling, and everything went dark once more.
***
Did she know he was a spy, or did she just think him a concerned lover? If the latter, she would have no idea of the skills at his disposal. He hoped it was the latter. He raised his hand to his head.
"May I?"
She nodded, and he removed the wig and mustache.
"Great improvisation I must say. I was very impressed."
"Shouldn't we follow them?"
"Why? You're not going to the same place. Why don't we just sit here for a moment and enjoy each other's company? Maybe see the second half of the show?"
"You're sick, you know that?"
"What's so special about her? You and I fucked and, as I recall, it was pretty good, as fucks go. Why her? I doubt she's any better than me between the sheets."
Fucking women scorned. "Chemistry. You were a good technician, but there was no love, no heart. Kassie is all heart."
"Huh. What do men know about love? It's all sex to them."
"Really? You should read poetry. You might gain a better understanding of the opposite sex."
Time was wasting, and he knew that with every second lost, finding
Kassie would become harder and harder.
"So, tell me, what delicious fate is in store for me? Do I have a buyer lined up? What was the asking price? I do hope it's all been worth it. What will you get for me? It'll be an absolute bargain. I can go for hours."
She laughed and turned her eyes down. "A buyer? No. You I shall give as a gift."
"To whom?"
Shez leaned forward, the gun held provocatively between her breasts. "To someone who has wanted to fuck you since the first time he laid eyes on you."
"Who?"
"Alex."
He laughed. "Not all Englishmen are gay."
"No, but this one is bi-sexual, and it's because of you that Kassie was sold today."
"I don't follow."
"She has quite the orgasm when she comes, doesn't she? And it was that particular characteristic that drew me to her. If Alex hadn't wanted to fuck you so badly, he wouldn't have agreed to the swing session. You were his heart's desire; Kassie was just an added bonus for him. But, oh, what a find for me. Screamers are so in vogue at the moment. And this particular buyer likes to hear his women scream. In every possible way."
The clock was still ticking. He was just figuring out his next move when the lights dimmed in preparation for the second half of the show. He saw his chance, and he took it. Shez was distracted for just a second, but it was the only second he needed. In a flash, he had the gun from her hand and had pulled her chair close. He pulled back her hair and held the muzzle under her chin. Lastly, he shot a look around the theater. The opening music had covered the noise, and no one seemed to have noticed the action at their table. He dropped his voice to a menacing whisper.
"Okay, well, now you're going to tell me where they've taken her, and we're going to walk out of here like a happy couple, okay?"
Shez gritted her teeth. "Fuck off. Shoot me if you have to. I'm not saying anything."
"Tsk tsk, don't be stupid, Shez. You're a very smart woman. Why don't you use that brain of yours for once? Come with me now, and you live to fight another day. Don't think I won't shoot a woman, because I totally will, especially one so free with my ass and my girlfriend."
He tugged her hair a little harder to show he meant business. She winced but nodded, and carefully the two stood up. He transferred the gun to her side and, holding her tightly, led her out of the theater. As soon as they were outside, he spun her round, so that anyone looking on might think they were about to kiss.
"So where is she?"
"They got in a car and are taking her to Alex's yacht."
"That's a lie. Alex's boat is still in the yard, and isn't scheduled to sail until the morning."
"It's true, I tell you. He called the boatman to tell him he was shipping out earlier than planned. They will be at sea shortly. My guess is you're already too late."
Her eyes were laughing.
"Never."
He dragged her to the entrance and hailed a passing taxi. Shez tried to pull away, but he held her fast.
"You're not thinking of taking me with you."
"You don't honestly think I would let you get away, do you? No, you're coming with me. I'm not letting you out of my sight."
"I'll scream for help."
"And I'll shoot you where you stand. Call it, Shez, I've got no fucking time to argue."
A cab pulled up, and he pushed her inside. Thankfully, she must have made up her mind to go along because she gave no resistance.
"Ebb and Flow Yacht Club. A hundred bucks if you break all the speeding laws and get us there fast."
The driver nodded, checked them both in his rear mirror, then put his foot to the floor. They said nothing in the back of the cab, and Robert kept his eyes fixed on the road as if expecting to see the kidnap car in front. The driver took him at his word and, aided by a lack of traffic, made it to the yacht company in record time. They jumped out of the car, and Robert was thankful they were shrouded by the night. The second they stepped onto the sidewalk, Shez began to laugh.
"What's your plan? You think you can just walk onto the yacht and ask them to hand her back to you? When they stop laughing, they will shoot you dead in your tracks."
"As a matter of fact, that is my plan." He pushed her forward. "After you."
"What?"
"Keep silent unless you want a bullet in that pretty back of yours. You know where the action will be on board, so take me there. And be quick about it. They're firing up the engines, ready to head out of port."
Shez led him along the gangplank and onto the deck. Once on board, she didn't lead him to the lower deck, as he thought she would, but she turned right, heading toward the bow. She stopped at the owner's suite and, from the commotion inside, he knew she hadn't led him astray.
One of the ship's crew approached them, but on seeing Shez he saluted and backed away.
"Look what an asset you are!" He pushed her again. "Now open the door. Let's get this over with."
As the door opened, his eyes were immediately drawn to Kassie. She was out of it, that much was obvious, but she was seated precariously and, apart from being drugged, appeared to be unharmed. Good. If he had found her in any other condition, every last fucker on board would die with a bullet in his brain.
Alex smiled as Shez walked inside, but his smile faltered when he saw Robert standing directly behind her with a gun at her back.
"I see things have not progressed quite the way we'd hoped. Would you like a drink, Robert? I am sure I can dig up your poison somewhere on board."
"Drop the act, Alex. It's over. I know everything. I've come to take Kassie back."
Alex snorted, like he'd just heard the funniest thing in the world. "I'm afraid it's not as simple as that, old man. A deal has been struck. The girl is no longer yours. Why not be reasonable, cut your losses, and take a share of the profits? I assure you, we got quite a pretty price for this filly. Whaddya say? You'll tire of her soon enough. Cut your losses and walk away ahead. It's the smart thing to do."
"And this is perhaps the dumb thing."
He pushed Shez aside, and punched Alex squarely in the nose. Alex reeled but he didn't fall, he just checked his nose for blood and to make sure it wasn't broken.
"Wow. I must say, Robert, you pack a mighty punch." He straightened up to full height and stretched his back. "What are you going to do? There are at least a half dozen men on board. Do you plan to kill them all? Because if you think you're going to walk off with her, then that's what you're going to have to do."
Robert waved the gun again. "Aren't you forgetting this?"
"Not much use to you with a semi-conscious woman in your arms. Or do you think you're that good you can balance it all, walk off the boat, and order pizza?"
"I'm certainly gonna give it a try."
They were interrupted by the untimely arrival of the crew hand they'd seen earlier on the deck. In the second Robert turned to see who it was, Shez lunged at him, and though she didn't quite take control of the gun, it fell on the floor between them. Dang!
Alex and Robert made a dive for it, and both men were grappling on the floor trying to secure it, but it slid between them and, like great wrestlers, each man fought hard to stop it falling into the other's hands.
Bang!
Robert felt the power of the gun, and scuttled to his feet, amazed there wasn't a great hole in his gut. Wrong body. Looking down to the ground, he could see Alex writhing in agony where the bullet had blasted into his belly. There was blood everywhere, and he reached up to Shez for assistance, but his lover backed away and stood coldly by the wall.
"You better stay there, if you know what's good for you." He turned the gun on the crewman and ushered him over beside her. Outside they could hear running feet, no doubt the rest of the crew responding to the gunfire. "And tell your goons to stand down, or you'll be dropped just as quickly as he was."
Shez raised her hand to halt the crew, who bustled just outside the door. Robert slipped his free hand into his pocket. Alex had been right ab
out one thing. He needed a better exit plan to get off the boat. He dialed 911.
"Police. I'd like to report a kidnapping. Oh, and you'd better send an ambulance. There's a man with a gunshot to his abdomen. Where? Oh. We're docked at the Ebb and Flow Yacht Company down in the harbor. I'm on the Euphoria. Yes. You'd better send a few squad cars. This is gonna be quite a haul."
He ended the call and took a seat beside Kassie, where she slumped on his arm. He still held the gun in front of him, but now all he had to do was hold tight and wait for the cavalry. And then all this would be over.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Perverse Phoenix
"Are the ropes too tight, my darling?"
Kassie stood suspended in their hotel room on a makeshift hoist thrown over the door. Her body glistened with the heat of the Caribbean, and she giggled, the rum from her cocktail making her a little woozy.
"No, baby, not at all."
She loved his consideration. She loved how he hadn't come near her for days after the kidnapping, giving her the chance to fully recover. She loved how every morning he'd gotten up and made her breakfast, and not said a word if she hadn't the strength or appetite to eat it. And she loved how when she suggested this trip, he hadn't batted an eyelid when she made her only stipulation.
"Absolutely no boats. It's a hotel on dry land or nothing at all!"
But the mood to play had come on her in a flash, and this was the best he could do at short notice. So tied up against the hotel door it was going to have to be. She wanted to buckle as his hand expertly caressed her recently shaved pussy. After all, what self-respecting beach girl had pubic hair teasing out of her g-string?
Then she groaned as he knelt and put his mouth on her. She hoped he didn't get a mouthful of sand.