Independence & Consequences by M J Marlow (top 10 novels .txt) 📖

in her mouth, to hide her true features from those who would be sent the film. She was wearing Isabel’s clothing, however, and her skin color was a nearly exact match for the girl this woman was supposed to be. He picked up the wig that was as close a twin to Isabel’s hair and put it on the woman. Jake nodded and the man began the act. “Your uncle is not cooperating, girl!” the man hissed as Kelly began the records. The man laid his hand on the girl’s leg. “We’re going to have to convince him.” He tightened his hold on her leg and the girl winced in pain. She began to shake her head in obvious fear as the man’s hands moved up her body. “If he doesn’t deliver that file by tomorrow midnight,” the man laughed as he ripped her blouse open and used a knife to cut her bra open, “he will find you a bit worse for this experience.” He pressed the tip of his knife into the skin above her breast and she was not faking the screams as he began to carve his initials into her. “You see that, Gordon Talbot,” the man laughed as he backed away and all that could be seen was the girl with the bloody initials carved into her skin. “I have given your pretty niece something to remember me by! You have your deadline. You fail to meet it and we will return her to you fit only for a sanitarium!” Jake turned off the camera and nodded. He pulled two envelopes out of his pocket and handed one to the man. He nodded and left. As Lang untied the woman, he heard the squeal of tires and then a thud. The street was filled with sounds of alarm as people came running. He finished untying the girl and helped her sit up. Nell removed the wig and warm brown hair tinged with copper glowed in the light of the nearby lamp. She looked up at Jake as he removed the fake skin to reveal her unmarked flesh. “I would have had to kill him if he had marked you for real, my pet,” Jake smiled down at the woman. He kissed her and she moved closer to him. “A very convincing performance. I was quite moved.” He moved away from her with great reluctance. “We can not be here when the authorities arrive,” he told the pouting woman. “We will continue this at a later time, yes?” “Count on it, husband,” Nell smiled warmly as she removed the clothing and handed it over to him. He set it aside and took her into his arms. “I take it we have the time?” “Hancock failed,” Jake told her and saw the shock on her face. “We’ll have to put our part in this on hold for awhile.” He smiled warmly as he ran his hand along her arm. “I’m certain we can find something to occupy our time until then.” * The next evening, Alejandra joined one of her men downstairs and they went to the private marina in Annapolis. Rafael was waiting beside her Jaguar, a look of censure on his face. He tapped his watch and she realized that he was angry because she was late for their weekly dinner with Papa. She relaxed slightly and looked up at her handsome older brother. It was a good thing he was so handsome, Alejandra thought, because he was completely oblivious. He would never know what he was not going to have. Enrique would never entrust the organization to him. “You’re up to something, hermana,” he said as they went into the restaurant and sat down by the windows. “Anything to do with Isabel’s near abduction?” “How could I know anything about that, hermano?” Alejandra asked innocently. She could see that he was not convinced and it saddened her. Was she going to have to deal with her own brother? She picked up the menu and hid behind it. “What looks good to you?” “Ana!” Rafael hissed as he lowered the menu so he could look at her. “If you know more about what nearly happened to her, you must tell…” “I have no idea what you are talking about,” Alejandra pouted. “How could you even think I would be a part of any plan to harm that sweet girl?” She saw their father coming to join them. “Papa!” she called out and waved him over. “We are over here.” Rafael watched her for a moment more and let it go. If Alejandra had done something, it would be revealed. He only hoped that Isabel never had to learn firsthand what a heartless little bitch his sister was becoming. He sat back and listened with only half an ear as his father and sister talked. If either of them noted his silence, he would have been surprised. It had been obvious to him for some time that his father doted on Alejandra. Rafael seemed to be a source of disappointment. Rafael didn’t mind; he wanted nothing to do with his father. He only regretted that his sister did not see through their father. “We need to find you a woman, hijo,” his father’s voice broke through Rafael’ reverie. “There is a Council meeting tomorrow night. We have decided that you will all attend.” He saw his son’s stubborn look. “You will join us, hijo.” When Rafael hesitated, his eyes narrowed. “I know you are not on duty. I took the liberty of checking your duty roster.” “I have already found myself a woman, Father,” Rafael shot back coldly. “You can ask Alejandra about her. Her name is Isabel.” He dropped his napkin on the plate and rose to his feet. “If she proves to be Dr. Stoner’s daughter, I plan to pursue her.” “You would ally yourself to the daughter of a madwoman?” Enrique exclaimed. “It is not a union I would approve, hijo.” “I think I have proven over and over,” Rafael hissed, and rose to his feet, “just how little I care for what you think, Father. I have things I need to see to,” he said as he stepped away from the table. “I’ll see you tomorrow night,” he added as he saw his father’s expression. “Maybe you can spend your time finding a man for your daughter.” “Your brother is being more difficult than usual,” Enrique said as he turned to Alejandra. He saw the cold look on her face. “Did you two have a disagreement before I arrived?” “Nothing more than usual,” Alejandra replied, turning to smile up at him. “Let us not speak of him. He is a spoilsport. Tell me, Papa,” she continued, feigning concern, “how did Hancock fail? Everything was planned to the last detail.” “We forgot to take steps against sudden change,” Enrique frowned. “Talbot was having the security guard check on her at least once every night.” His expression was dark as he thought of the girl. “If anything happens to that child now, Ricardo will have the head of every person responsible.” “Don’t worry, Papa,” Alejandra smiled up at him, feigning concern. “I am certain that we can find some other way to bring Isabel to us.” “From your lips to God’s ears, hija,” Enrique nodded. He lifted her hand to his lips. “You are such a good girl.” “I would do anything to see her brought into the family, Papa,” Alejandra smiled back at him, enjoying their little game. “She must repay you for the happy childhood your money gave her.” “Your brother has formed an attachment to her, hija,” Enrique frowned, wondering how this might change their plans for the girl. “You met her. Is she worthy of him?” “The better question, I think, would be,” Alejandra replied, “is he worthy of her?” Enrique smiled at her fondly. This little viper was his child! She was quickly becoming a real credit to his name. Unlike her brother, Alejandra had a real grasp of what was required for a person to succeed in their business. When he was ready to step aside, she would be a force to be reckoned with. He thought about Isabel a moment and almost felt sorry for the child. She was always going to be the pawn in such games. But it was what he had designed her for when he had stolen her from the hospital and turned her over to Olivia Chambers. Isabel would serve him in ways he would never allow his daughter to experience. He finished his wine and rose to his feet. “I hate to cut this short, mi angel,” Enrique said as he walked with Alejandra to her car, ‘but I have an old friend I need to speak to.” “Give her my regards, Papa,” Alejandra smiled coldly, knowing full well who her father was going to see. Enrique nodded and watched her drive off in a cloud of dust. He went to the limousine and was taken to one of the warehouses. There, he changed into simple clothing and put on a cap to hide his features. He took the keys of a battered old sedan from the foreman and drove out of town. He pulled into the parking lot of the Knight’s Inn in Laurel, Maryland half an hour later and parked in front of the room along the back row of buildings. He knocked on the door to the end room and a man opened it for him. Olivia was tied to a chair, her face already bruising from the ‘talk’ the man had been having with her. “You were meant to keep her away from her uncle and her father, woman,” Enrique said as he removed the cap and looked at her coldly. “Why did you betray me in this?” “I did not betray you,” Olivia cried, her eyes wide with fear. “It has worked to your advantage. She was there to see the file,” she told him. “If Talbot fails to deliver, she can tell you what was in it.” She saw his look of confusion, and wondered how he could not have known. “You did not know? Isabel has a photographic memory and total recall. If she read the file, she will recall it.” “But this depends on her having read the file,” Enrique frowned. He was glad now he had insisted that Sebastian question the girl. He decided to give Olivia a reprieve. She had given him some very useful information. “Very well, woman. I will allow you to continue to serve.” He nodded to the man. He nodded to his man and was handed a journal. He dropped it on the table in front of Olivia. “I believe this is yours?” “It is,” Olivia nodded. “What do you want?” “I need you to make some additions to your journal, woman,” Enrique told her bluntly as his men untied her and helped her to the desk. “It must appear that you were targeting my brother,” he continued coolly. “Planning to foist a false child on him and claim it was his daughter.” He saw her flinch. “I know it was not your idea, Olivia.” He smiled as Hancock was dragged into the room. “The man was quite vocal about his desire to make such a plot.” He handed her a pen. “This is what you shall write.” When she had done as he asked, he laughed and left the room with her and his men. His men made Roger ‘comfortable’ and the man glared at him. It really didn’t matter what the man had been plotting, he was going to be dead quite soon. His men had rigged the gas lines to blow. In half an hour he, and several other guests of this motel, would be dead. No one would find out anything from this man. He was smiling as he and his men drove back to the warehouse and he removed his disguise. He