Deadly Secrets by M J Marlow (good short books .txt) 📖

and the people he had hurt when the officers arrived. He was more than ready to confess his crimes. He knew the Stanleys would get Elissa back safely. “I thought I could keep her safe,” he said softly as he was led off. “Get her back before they go through with their foul plot. They won’t touch her until the game is won and she is forced to marry one of them.” “You want to make amends, Alexei?” Percival asked his nephew bluntly. The younger man nodded. “Then you’re coming with us. We will use you as the diversionary force while the others go in and get your sister out. Is this agreeable to you?” “May I hurt them, Uncle?” Alexei growled as the cuffs were removed. “Because I want to hurt them very badly for what they are putting Elissa through.” “No one here is going to stop you,” Philip said before any of the others could. “Let’s hurry gentlemen. We have a marriage to prevent.” Elis was yanked out of the carriage and carried inside an estate out in the country miles away from everything and everyone else. Marston took her upstairs to the master suite and the other four were waiting for them. They untied her and she fought them as they stripped her and left her in just her chemise, loosened so it hung off of her shoulders. They freed her hair and left it hanging around her struggling body like a cloak. Then they sat her down on the bed and fastened her wrists back behind her around the post she was pressed up against to wait for whichever of them won their card game. A woman came and gave her something to drink. It made her feel very odd as her body began to ache for something she had never experienced before. “Bring in the bridegroom,” Marston laughed. The doors opened and Martin was shoved inside. He had been beaten bloody and could barely stand on his feet. His ‘friends’ tied him in to a chair and Marston yanked his head up and crouched down to look in his eyes. “See, Everley. There is your pretty bride-to-be,” Martin cursed as he saw her tied to the bedpost. “We have decided to warm her up for you.” “Let her go, Marston!” Martin snarled at him. “This is not right!” “I thought you understood about us, Everley,” Marston laughed and moved away. “We have our own definition for what is ‘right’.” He looked over at Elis who was trying to understand what was going on. “She’s far too fine a woman for just one of us. Once we have all had a chance with her, you can have her back.” “You bastard!” Martin hissed and pulled on the bonds holding him to the chair. “I will see you dead for this!” He was gagged and fell into a sullen silence as he tried to undo the knots holding him prisoner. He was not going to let them do this to his Elis! He would murder them all for daring to lay their hands on her. He looked over at Elis and saw the fear in her eyes. She should not have to go through this! He had warned Alexei this could happen and the bastard had ignored him. “Look at the way her eyes glow,” Dandridge sighed as he looked over at Elis. He ran his hand up under the chemise and her skin felt like it was on fire. “This card game is taking up time we could be using to bed the wench.” “So what do you want to do, Dandridge,” Marston asked, “cut cards? Toss a coin? Engage in fisticuffs?” “I’d certainly beat you all bloody,” Thaxton smiled as he shuffled the cards, “to get first crack at that angel.” He saw the confusion in her eyes. “Poor little mite. She doesn’t understand what’s happening to her.” “Is she ready for us?” Everton asked as he walked around the table and crouched down next to Elis. She looked up at him terrified at what was happening. His hand moved to lower the chemise and they all watched in awe as it fell to her waist. He blew on her breasts and she moaned as her entire body responded to this. “What a glorious creature we’ve selected, brothers. I can’t wait,” he cried his hands itching to touch, his tongue longing to taste what he saw before him. “Does it matter which of us takes her first? We’re all going to have a chance with her.” He cupped her chin in his hand and he ran his tongue along her lips. She gasped in shock and his tongue slid inside her mouth. She moaned as her body responded with a force that left her breathless. “Pick one of us, Elissa.” Elissa looked around the room at the eager faces and she was horrified to think that she actually wanted what they were going to do to her. The door behind them opened and she saw her brother standing there with a gun in his hand and a murderous look on his face. “Alexei!” she sobbed in relief. “Thank God…” “I did not befriend you,” Alexei snarled at the five men facing him, “so you could abuse my little sister.” He pointed the gun at Everton. “Untie her, Everton.” The man hesitated, so Alexei put a bullet in his shoulder. “Untie her!” Everton untied Elis and pulled the chemise up with a look of intense regret on his face. Elis looked away from him, sobbing as the reaction set in. “Come here to me, Ursa.” Elis started towards him but the drugs had left her weak and she was shaking. She could only cling to the bedpost and look at him for help. Alexei knew if he stepped further into the room, he would be done for. He pointed the gun at Thaxton and the man set the cards down and moved to help Elis. Instead, he got behind her and his hand slid under the chemise to caress her breast. Elis moaned and her body moved closer to his. She looked at her brother in shock. “You’ve already lost her, Milosevic,” Thaxton laughed coldly. “Look at how willing the little beauty is to be bedded.” “Bastard!” Alexei roared. Distracted by the sight of his sister practically panting with need, the others got in and disarmed him. “Alexei!” Elis screamed and tried to get to him. Thaxton held her back as the others tied Alexei into a chair they set next to the one holding Martin. “What are you going to do to him?” “Nothing much,” Everton said as he picked up the gun and shot Alexei in the shoulder. “He and your loving fiancé are going to be a witness to your bedding now.” He looked at the others as he tied Alexei’s wrists behind his back. “I’m out for a while. It’s between you three now.” Alexei cursed in Polish and he struck the man across the jaw with the gun. “Pick one of them, Elissa,” he ordered her as he pressed the muzzle of the gun against her brother’s head, “or your brother dies.” Elissa knew they would do it. These men were a law unto themselves. She looked at Marston, Dandridge, and Thaxton and shuddered. The thought of any of those men putting their hands on her was more than she could bear. She met her brother’s eyes and saw him willing her to be strong. So she glared at the three of them, standing there eager to defile her. “No.” “Well done, Ursa!’ Alexei laughed in delight. “Stand your ground, little sister. These bastards will not have you!” “Be quiet, Milosevic,” Marston laughed as he backhanded their prisoner, “you’ve lost. Your sister belongs to us now. Dandridge will be her first, but we all will get to play with her soon enough. Think of that as you bleed to death.” He pulled out a knife. “It doesn’t work like that, Marston,” Martin snarled as Alexei came up with a roar and sent Everton flying. Martin pulled free of his bonds and grabbed the gun and shot the knife out of Marston’s hand. The signal brought men rushing in from all directions. Martin caught Elis as she collapsed and carried her out to her uncle. He wrapped her in a cloak and carried her away, as she sobbed in relief at her near escape. Marston and the others were bound and taken away by the authorities. Martin went to Alexei and untied him. “That was one hell of a brave thing you did, Milosevic.” “It was nothing,” Alexei shook his head. “It was my fault she was in this danger to begin with. If she never speaks to me again, it will not be enough punishment for all the pain I have caused her.” “Do you really mean that? Elis asked softly. Alexei turned and she was standing there, shaking with weariness and pain and fear, but needing to hear his answer desperately. He fell to his knees and buried his face against her. She sank down and they held each other. “I’ll be staying with you, Alexei,” she said simply. “You will need someone to help you until your shoulder heals. Natasha and Elizabeth will be joining us only if that is what she wants.” She looked at him seriously. “But you,” she said as she turned to Martin, ripping off the ring he had forced her to wear and throwing it at him; “if you so much as look at me again I will bury you. Is this understood?” “Yes, my lady,” Martin nodded. He had done what he set out to do. She was safe now and it would be her family’s role to see she remained that way. He watched as she laid her hand on her brother’s arm. “Let’s go home, Ori.” Weeks passed as Elis and her brother got reacquainted. He had tried a few times to talk to her about Martin, but she would not listen. As far as she was concerned, he had gone too far and she would not forgive him for that. Natasha, having had time to think about the matter, had decided she wanted to be free of the intrigue and build a life for herself and her child where they were safe. Alexei and Elis could not blame her for that; and Patricia now had a willing woman and a great-niece to guide. So the pair settled into a life where she would play the piano for him as he practiced. Although he coaxed and pleaded, she refused to get on stage again. That was not her life; that was her brother’s life. They were in Vienna and she was out walking with Gunther and Fritz in a nearby park when Hans Zeller approached her. She did not know this man, but something about his voice bothered her. “Lady Elissa,” he bowed to her. “I am an acquaintance of your brother. My name is Hans Zeller.” “Zeller?” Elis was puzzled. But then a smile crossed her face and he was stunned that she was favoring him with it. “Not the same Hans Zeller who trained my boys for me?” She held out her hand and he took it smiling. “I must think you for that, sir. They saved my life.” “Literally or figuratively?” Hans asked her, entranced by the way joy made her pretty eyes sparkle. If only he were free to pursue her, he would love to see what passion did to those beautiful eyes. He was impressed. “Good boys!” he said and the dogs almost appeared to be smiling. He saw Alexei coming. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Elissa.” “Ursa,” Alexei came towards her, oblivious to all but her; which meant he was composing in his head. “I just had the most brilliant…” His smile died as he saw who was standing near his