Page 58 of Indiscreet

There was silence at first, but then a deep male voice spoke from the other side. “Nothing to be alarmed about. We’re doing checks.” His tone was light, and under normal circumstances I’d have opened the door, but nothing about this trip was typical. With all the caution Dane and Elliott had taken by keeping me away from the rest of the people on board, it wouldn’t be right to not be careful. Then again, as one of the ‘kept’ women, would it be expected of me to follow instructions? While I pondered, the doorbell rang again, followed by a rapid knock.

“I’ll open the door, but could you please tell me who’s doing the checks?” I asked. No answer came right away, and I thought perhaps the man left, but then came his answer: “Housekeeping.”

The hairs on the back of my neck rose. Why would housekeeping need me to open the door? Wouldn’t they have their own key if there was some sort of scheduled checks? Whatever was happening, I wasn’t going to let this stranger in without Dane and Elliott being here.

“I’m sorry, but Dane—I mean, Mr. Westbrook and Mr. Carmichael are not in. They’ll let you in when they return.” My voice wavered slightly.

“Fine,” said the man, and I let go of the breath I’d been holding in.

Jittery, I sat down on a couch to try to calm my nerves, which had jumped during the exchange. On the one hand, several staff members had come to deliver things during the time I’d been there, and all of them had asked before coming inside when they dropped off room service, or so I assumed. However, I couldn’t remember if they entered with their own key or if Elliott or Dane answered for them. After a few minutes of debating, I concluded the man could as easily have a staff member give him a key should he need to return to the room to complete his checks. Hopefully, Dane or Elliott would return by then.

I tightened my robe. They both made me feel safe there. I waited a while then got up to see if they’d left a note.

What I discovered draped across one of the dinette chairs was the jeans and shirt I’d had on when I went to Dane’s a few days before. Days—it seemed longer. I removed them from the hanger. If Dane had left them for me, it must’ve meant we were about to dock in San Francisco, which meant I would finally get to leave. Would Dane find Angel? Would they be safe?

My heart constricted. I wanted to leave, but I also wanted Dane and Elliott safe.

Returning to the bedroom, I decided to dress in my regular clothing. The bell sounded again while I was brushing my teeth, but I decided not to rush off to answer. The quiet when I turned off the water assured me they must have done whatever check they needed. Still, I put the mask back on, just in case they returned. I walked back into the bedroom, and then I stopped short.

A man was standing there in a leather jacket and black jeans with his back to me. He hadn’t turned around, though my gasp was loud. Then he said, “About time you finished. You fucked up by making me go out and get someone to let me inside. I’ll punish you for that. Kneel.”

I didn’t understand why he needed to be inside in the first place. Did Dane and Elliott know he was here?

My legs wobbled as I tried to assume the kneeling position Elliott had shown me, but not before I saw what he’d been doing. The man had a suitcase I recognized as Dane’s out in front of him. The contents were scattered across the bedding.

My pulse sped up. “I was waiting for Dane and Elliott,” I said in as calm a tone as I could manage. I wasn’t sure if I should continue to speak, so I remained quiet and still on the floor while he continued his rifling. I froze. I was certain Dane wouldn’t like him doing it, but I couldn’t decide what to do. Then dark leather shoes entered my field of vision right before the pointed toe dug into my knee cap.

“Dane and Elliott? Not Mr. Westbrook and Mr. Carmichael?” he mocked, laughing at my mistake. “You don’t address them as sir either. It’s just like my uncle said: you all seem awfully familiar with each other and no one else here. I know everyone, and I don’t know you. That’s a problem we’ll fix right now.”

His hand suddenly closed on my head and tugged at my mask.

I gripped it and reared back as it came apart in his hands. My eyes inadvertently lifted to his face, and my mouth fell open. He still looked confused, like he didn’t recognize me, but now that I could see his face fully, I instantly recognized him. It was Marco, Liz’s boyfriend.

I went to lower my head again, but he grabbed my braid and yanked my head up toward him.

“You know me? Tell me how and I won’t hurt you.”

I wasn’t fool enough to believe him, nor was I willing to keep the charade up to remain alone with him. Dane and Elliott hadn’t ever left me alone for long. They had to be on their way back now. I thought about the knife that was still in my robe, but if he was already trying to hurt me, what would he do if I used a weapon? I decided to remain calm. “I thought I knew you, but I don’t. I’ll wait for Mr. Westbrook and Mr. Carmichael to return.”

“No, you won’t.” He yanked hard on my hair again and I stifled a whimper. “You’re lying. Tell me the truth now, cunt.”

He didn’t wait for an answer, but drew his hand back to hit me.

Protocol be damned—I wasn’t going to sit there and take a beating.

I punched his cock as hard as I could. He doubled over, but I didn’t wait to see if it was enough to keep him down. As quickly as I could, I pushed to my feet and rushed out of the suite. The direness of the situation pressed down on me with every footfall.

I was in the hallway running down the deck in clothing but no mask—so much for not standing out again. Surprisingly, the deck was clear, and I stopped behind a door to try to figure out what to do. My eyes widened at what I saw in the sunrise: land. We had docked.

Were Elliott and Dane getting things in order so I could safely leave?

With Marco after me, I couldn’t wait around any longer.

Turning a corner, I could see the exit sign ahead. If I could get off, I could tell someone to help me. I saw the sign for the stairs, but then I tumbled down and slammed hard on the deck, the wind completely knocked out of me.

Marco. He jumped up and yanked me to my feet by my arms then twisted them up my back as I cried out in pain.

“What’s going on?” a man’s voice yelled out. Marco didn’t let me go when the guard came fully into view. His eyes shifted between us then settled on Marco. “Who is she?”

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