“Do you need help out of this?” Fernando was trailing his fingers along the bodice of her dress.
County flinched and jerked away from him. Seconds later, she disappeared into the bathroom.
Fernando stood debating on whether to go after her, when his cell phone rang. “Yeah?” he snapped into the receiver.
“It’s me.”
“Moses? What’s up?” he only absently wondered why his brother was calling.
“Have you seen any of the girls from the club?”
“Not a one,” Fernando sighed.
“Well, your time’s up. You need to get out of there and quick.”
Looking away from the bathroom door, Fernando frowned. “I just got here. Ship hasn’t even set sail yet.”
“Which is a good thing. Your cover’s blown.”
“What? How the hell do you know that?”
“You’ll never believe me, so I’ll explain the particulars later. Right now, you need to up and get your ass outta there.”
Fernando raked a hand through his hair. “That’s not easy, man. Contessa’s here.”
“I know.”
“And you’ll explain later?” Fernando guessed, too on edge to question further. “She doesn’t trust me, Mo- thinks I’m in business with these fools. I’ll never get her to leave willingly.”
“Then you’ll have to make her.”
“How? Go knock her out?”
“Exactly.”
“Mo-”
“There’s chloroform and a rag in the nightstand drawer. Use it.”
“How-”
“Just do it, man! Save the questions for later. Get County and get to the starboard deck. Now!”
Fernando shut off the phone, located the chloroform and the rag and headed for the bathroom. At the door, he closed his eyes. “Lord, please don’t let her kill me for this,” he prayed, and then uttered a relieved sigh that she hadn’t locked the door.
~~~
Cufi Muhammad sat in his office. He was joined by several of his men and Jessie Stevens who supervised the women aboard the ship.
“Now tell me again and slowly Jessie. You’re sure of this?”
“I heard them talking.”
“And she said his name was-”
“Ramsey. Fernando Ramsey.”
Silence filled the office for a long while, and then came the sound of Cufi’s fist hitting the desk.
“Should I go after them?” Carlos McPhereson asked his boss.
Cufi lifted a hand and shook his head. “Wait until we set sail in the morning. We’ll get rid of them once we’re at sea.” He reached for the phone. After a few moments, he spoke into the receiver. “What the hell is your son doing on my ship, Marcus?”
***
Contessa woke with a languid stretch across the crisp forest green bed linens. She took a moment to open her eyes as they adjusted to her unfamiliar surroundings, she wrinkled her brow and tried her best to remember how she got there. Wherever there was, it wasn’t the last place she recalled being. Then, she realized that she was half naked beneath the sheets.
“I didn’t think you’d want to sleep in that dress.”
The rough voice sent her anger soaring. She turned to see Fernando leaning against one of the bedposts. He was fully dressed, a fact she took mild comfort in. Still, it did nothing to stop her from trying to bolt from the bed.
Anticipating her move, Fernando caught her easily. They tussled for a while, the sheet twisting around her body did nothing to help County achieve her goal of escaping. He was pinning her to the bed, his fingers interlaced between hers as he pressed them down. His big hard frame almost cut off her circulation, but still she struggled.
“Listen to me,” he urged, unmindful of her flailing legs as he rested between them.
County managed to free one hand and landed a vicious blow to his cheek. “Jackass! Son of a bitch-get off me. Get off I said!”
Pinning her free hand back to the tangled linens, he pressed his mouth to her ear. “You’re wrong, you’re wrong about me, you’re wrong,” he chanted, feeling her heaving breasts slow their exertions as she quieted.
“Where am I?” she breathed.
“A hotel in Kauai.”
“How?”
“Moses.”
Blinking and searching his eyes when he looked down at her, she couldn’t even think of what to ask next.
“Moses called when we got back to the cabin last night. He told me they were on to us. I’m not working for Cufi Muhammad.” He swore, feeling her stiffen beneath him once again. “I was trying to get evidence against my father. I knew he was involved in something shady, but I had no idea it was anything like this. I had to see it for myself,” he said and then quieted before moving off her.
Contessa was still for a minute, before rising slowly from the bed. She kept the sheet folded tightly around her. Fernando watched her move to an armchair with the coverings bunched around her body. He felt his chest tighten with uncertainty and fear of what she might say.
“I’m sorry, sorry I doubted you.” She spoke in a whisper, her brown eyes wide and staring blankly into the distance. “To think you really could’ve been involved in something like that.”
Fernando left the bed and knelt before her. “Don’t do that,” he ordered, catching portions of the sheet in his hands. “It’s not necessary. You had every right to think what you did. At least I know I played a convincing role,” he smiled encouragingly. “At least that’s what I thought,” he added, his smile fading a bit.
“How’d Moses know we were in danger?” County asked.
Fernando shook his head. “I have no idea, but I intend to find out,” he swore.
“What about the girls?” she whispered, her voice holding traces of anxiety. “They can’t stay there.”
“And they won’t,” Fernando kissed her bare shoulder. “Moses wouldn’t go into how he knew we were in danger, but he’s at work on this now and we’ll get every last girl off that damn boat. I swear.”
Relatively at ease by that news, County nodded. Again, the soft-lit room was bathed in silence while they both took stock of all that had happened within the past months.
“I guess I should be getting back,” County said finally.
“To Chicago,” Fernando guessed.
“It’s where I belong.”
You belong with me, he corrected silently. “I don’t want you to leave,” he chose to tell her aloud.
Contessa’s eyes filled with all the emotions she’d tried desperately to mask. She scooted forward and smoothed the back of her hand across his whiskered cheek. “Fernando, I just don’t know if we’re ready.”
“Don’t,” he blurted, grimacing over the fact that he’d heard more of the statement than he’d wanted to. “Don’t tell me that. Don’t say it’s over.”
“But I don’t know where we go from here,” she tried to swallow the sob rising in her throat.
Fernando cupped her face in his hands. “Do you love me?” he asked.
“I really believe I do,” honesty glowed in her warm gaze. “But if that were true how could I have doubted you so fast? Believed you’d be involved with something like this- if I really loved you?”
Fernando bowed his head, the muscle in his jaw working frantically as he fought to keep his frustration hidden. “Trust comes with love,” he sounded as though he were telling himself. “But you have to know someone in order to trust. Even then it takes a long time to build. Maybe it hasn’t been long enough for all that to happen.”
Contessa blinked, looking down at her hands blurred by her tears. “Maybe it hasn’t been,” she agreed quietly.
“I don’t want to let you go,” his voice was firm as he pressed his forehead to her chest.
County sniffled. “I don’t want to go,” she kissed the top of his head. “But we moved so fast and so many things were in the way to cloud our vision. Maybe we need to take a step back- to be sure we’re going in the right direction.”
County smiled, unable to prevent the devilish twinkle from sparkling in her eyes. “Well, that wouldn’t be any fun, would it?”
“Hell no,” he bent low to kiss her knee where it peeked out from beneath the sheet. “I never want to lose you,” he spoke against her skin and then fixed her with his striking eyes. “I’ve never known a woman to match me word for word, play for play- who can satisfy me physically so much that I find myself wondering what we’d be like together after twenty years.”
County’s lips parted and she sat a little straighter.
“I don’t want to lose any of that,” he went on, “so if it’s time you need, then that’s fine with me because time is all I want with you.”
His words- so sweet, so dear and so heartfelt, rendered her speechless. Sniffing softly, she leaned down to place a tender kiss to his mouth. He reciprocated by pulling her close to cradle her in his arms. Drowsiness weighed her eyelids once more. Contessa fell asleep praying that Fernando’s embrace would belong to her always.
***
“Any word from the guys?” Moses Ramsey asked as he and his captain exited the elevator.
Carlos McPhereson shook his head, while extracting the razor-slim cellular from his pocket. “They’re sitting tight ‘til the authorities get there. They’ll call once the boat is secure,” he said.
Moses nodded, his dark gaze focused straight ahead as they headed down the hotel corridor.
Suddenly, Carlos’s steps slowed and he fixed his boss with a probing look.
“What?” Moses asked, stopping a few feet ahead of Carlos.
“Man, do you think we got enough time? Enough to put that son of a bitch Cufi under the jail?”
Moses bowed his head and sighed. “I pray we do, ‘Los. But even still, we gotta risk it.”
Carlos began to rub his massive hands together while grimacing at Moses’ summation. “I hate like hell goin’ full throttle out there and wasting years of work,” he confided.
An apologetic smile softened Moses’ dark, handsome face. “I hate it too, kid. But we’ve already unzipped our fly here. Not turnin’ back now, I’m afraid.”
“You and I both know that it can be risky getting evidence found on the open seas to stick,” Carlos mentioned.
Moses offered no response. Carlos was right. They’d both hoped their longtime surveillance of The Wind Rage would’ve produced hard evidence: land-based property, paperwork- something concrete that Cufi Muhammad and his partners couldn’t weasel out of. Unfortunately, neither Carlos nor the rest of the men in place had ever been farther than the ship.
“Listen man,” Moses stepped closer to clap a hand to Carlos’ shoulder. “I couldn’t have asked for a better job to be done on this. You should be proud. We’re gonna get these fools and you’re gonna get your life back.”
Carlos’ green eyes twinkled with a devilish light. “Hell man, are you kidding? You know hunting down crazed maniacs is my life.”
Moses’ grin wasn’t humor-filled. “No, that would be my life.”
Carlos’ laughter died on his tongue as he took in the underlying meaning of his friend’s statement.
“How is she?”
“She’s fine,” Carlos responded without hesitation, knowing who she was without hearing a name. “But you can go see that for yourself.”
Moses smoothed one hand across his bald head. “You know why I can’t do that,” he grumbled.
“Because you’re not ready to tell her the truth.”
“No. Because she’s still better off away from me.”
“Mo-”
“Los? That’s the end of it, alright?” Moses asked, though he actually required no response.
Carlos let the subject drop and followed Moses on down the silent hall towards Fernando Ramsey’s suite.
~~~
County left the bathroom feeling no better than she had before she’d gone in. She’d hoped a splash of cool water upon her face would leave her feeling refreshed and less edgy. It hadn’t. There was only one thing that would do that: knowing Cufi Muhammad and his ship of perversions was a thing of the past.
Across the room, Fernando sat in the armchair near the window. He watched County for several moments once she’d left the bathroom. Unfortunately, her expression offered no clues to her mood.
“Hungry?” he called, seeing her jump when his voice reached her ears.
Wringing her hands, County shook her head and ventured slowly from the bathroom door. “I don’t think I could keep anything down,” she tightened the belt around the comfy terry robe she wore.
“Sit with me?” Fernando asked, praying she’d not turn away from his closeness. He hid his smile, when she showed no hesitation in closing the distance between them.
County cuddled against Fernando, resting her head against his shoulder. She relished the feel of contentment that radiated through his powerful form and seeped into her weary body. The events of that night seemed as though they’d happened a lifetime ago and she shuddered at the gross inaccuracy of the statement.
“Hey?” Fernando whispered, rubbing his hands across her back. “It’s alright, it’s over,” he hugged her close as her trembling intensified.
“Is- is it?” County chattered out, “I have the most awful feeling that they’ll get away. It’s like the Ramseys can do anything- get away with anything.”
Fernando ignored the painful stab her words sent through his heart. He couldn’t help but agree with her.
“When will you go back to Chicago?” he decided to broach the subject and get it over with.
County’s shivering ceased a bit. “Soon. I think it’s best.”
The painful stabbing in Fernando’s heart grew stronger. “When can I see you?” he asked.
“It’s hard to say,” she forced a light tone into her voice. “There’s so much I need to catch up-”
“When can I be with you?”
County breathed a relieved sigh when a heavy knock landed on the room door. The loaded question went unanswered.
Fernando pressed a kiss to County’s head and went to answer the door. He nodded and stepped aside to allow his brother and Carlos McPhereson to enter the room. Moses went right over to County and planted a soft kiss to her forehead before he introduced her to Carlos.
“Are the girls safe?” County asked, searching Moses’ intense, narrowed stare.
“We’re expecting a call about that any minute,” he assured her.
“How good are the chances that they’ll pay for what they’ve done?” she curled her fingers around the lapels of the denim jacket he wore.
Moses flashed a quick look toward Carlos before smiling down at County. “That will happen- you have my word.”
The sound of a cell phone pierced the air a second later.
County turned away while Moses handled the call. She, Fernando and Carlos were just indulging in a bit of idle chatter when Moses’ roar silenced them.
“Idiots!” he raged. “Are they sure?... Dammit how the hell long did it take them to get there?”
Carlos, Fernando and County stare wide-eyed as Moses ended the call.
“The ship was empty.”
The simple statement helped to maintain the silence for several more seconds. Eventually, the reality of the words hit home.
“How?” Carlos asked.
Moses shrugged, shoving the phone into his pocket. “When they stormed the ship, it was empty. No passengers, no crew, nothing.”
“But weren’t they watching the ship until the police arrived?” County asked.
Nodding, Moses leaned against the message desk. “My guys saw no one leave. They haven’t got a clue.”
“Son of a bitch!” Fernando raged, pounding a massive fist against the wall he stood closest to.
Moses nodded toward Carlos and the two made silent decisions to leave then.
“We’ll c
all once we get back to the ship, let you know what we find.” Moses told his brother.
County saw the men out of the suite, and then closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the door. A crashing sound caused her to whirl around moments later. Her eyes widened once more at the sight of an overturned table courtesy of Fernando.
“You’ve got to calm down,” she urged, taking slow cautious steps toward him. “This won’t solve a damn thing, you know?”
Fernando slanted her a frosty glance and raised his hand. “All I know is you’re right to want to get as far away as possible from me and my damn screwed up family.”
“Fern-”
“No Contessa,” he shook his head as he turned his back toward her. “Hell, you pretty much predicted this crap would happen.”
County smoothed her hands across the sleeves of the ankle-length terry robe. “I was just talking,” she murmured.
“You were still right. The Ramseys get away with anything.”
“Fernando, I wasn’t including you in that. Hell, I shouldn’t have even said it. Cufi Muhammad had those girls, not your family.”
“You forget my father, County,” Fernando whispered, fixing her with his steady translucent stare. “Marc Ramsey- the one who provides that fool with all his feisty Americans.”
County shook her head while moving closer. “This wasn’t your fault. What your father did wasn’t your fault. I won’t let you blame yourself for this especially when you’ve been so determined to get to the bottom of it.” She stopped right before Fernando and caught the collar of his shirt in her hands. “If you hadn’t delved so deep, this never would’ve been discovered.
Fernando didn’t seem impressed. “You discovered it,” he reminded her.
County’s smile was pure wickedness. “Well…” she drawled. “That’s because I’m Contessa Warren.”
“And I don’t want to let you go,” he said, his stern expression softening some.
“And I don’t want you to.”
Fernando’s gaze faltered. “Maybe you should.”
“But I don’t,” she moved closer. “You should know by now Ramsey, that I always get what I want.”
The Ramseys Boxed Set Page 65
