The Naughty Nine: Where Danger and Passion Collide

by Nina Bruhns

  His heart was pounding hard in his chest as he stepped across the room to her. Then he heard the sharp clang of the door closing, and he glanced over, realizing Carruthers had left.

  “How are you this morning? Did you sleep well?” he asked.

  She was so tiny that the top of her head barely reached his shoulder, so she had to look way up at him, and that was when her crutch started to wobble. Eric slid his arm around her back at the same time as he pulled the crutch from her. He was nearly undone, feeling the swell of her belly and the baby inside her.

  She nodded, and this time she did glance away, but he could feel how he was affecting her as he helped her back to bed. Her heart was pounding, and she was trembling underneath his touch. He wondered for a moment if she feared him, and that thought brought an ache inside of him. He didn’t want her to fear him.

  “Abby, don’t be scared of me. I’d never hurt you.”

  She stopped moving and slowly brought her head up, looking at him as her face flushed. “But I’m not scared of you. I know you wouldn’t hurt me.”

  Eric was stunned until her meaning finally sank in, and then she touched his arm and held on to his wrist as he helped her onto the bed. That one simple touch was setting off all kinds of sparks, as if he’d just been plugged into a socket. No woman had ever affected him as Abby did. He was sure there had to be something wrong with him, because he didn’t welcome this feeling at all. He pulled his arm away after she was settled in bed, and he nearly jumped from the footsteps behind him.

  “So, how are you feeling this morning, Abby?” asked the doctor as he appeared beside the captain.

  “I’m good.”

  The doctor slid the blood pressure cuff around her arm. Eric stepped back and watched him pump it up. Abby didn’t look at Eric again. She watched the doctor and what he was doing.

  “Your blood pressure is still a little high. How did you sleep? Bad dreams, anything upset you?” He ripped off the cuff.

  “I’m fine. I actually slept really good. When I woke up, I was confused, is all. I couldn’t remember where I was.”

  The doctor draped the stethoscope around his neck.

  “I didn’t dream, though, which is odd. I don’t ever remember sleeping that deeply.”

  The doctor reached for her chart on the counter and scribbled something. “Abby, I actually gave you a mild sedative last night with the vitamins.”

  Eric watched her face pale, and she placed a protective hand numbly over the baby, nestled securely inside her womb. She gazed down at her baby and said nothing, but Eric could feel all kinds of confusion and worry pulsing off her in waves and knew she wouldn’t say one word to the doctor about what was bothering her.

  “Doc? Is it safe for her to be taking sleeping pills when she’s pregnant?” Eric asked.

  “Yes, yes, perfectly safe. It’s more important for the baby that Abby has a good night’s sleep. After yesterday and what she’s been through, she needs rest.”

  Abby tilted her head and looked up at Eric with softness, and something else passed else between them. She was grateful. She was reaching out to him as if he was her lifeline. Then she nodded.

  Larry motioned for her to lie down. “I need to check the baby. Can you lie flat on your back?”

  The hospital gown she wore slid up her slender, pale legs, and she slid to lie down. She blushed furiously and gripped the gown to try to pull it down. Eric reached for a blanket and covered her legs, while Larry supported her arm and helped her lie flat. She struggled for breath, and Eric could see the discomfort in her face, in her eyes.

  Larry pulled the blanket up then raised her gown, exposing her swollen belly. “I know it’s uncomfortable, Abby. I’ll be quick.” He pressed her belly with his fingers around the baby. “Any tenderness?”

  “No.”

  “Have you felt the baby moving this morning?”

  This time, she smiled, and it was subtle and easy, even with her swollen lip. “Yes. A little while ago, the baby stuck its foot in my back.”

  Larry pulled down her gown and helped her sit up. “That’s good.” He grabbed a couple of pillows at the foot of the bed and set them behind her back. “A few more days in bed, Abby, then I’ll let you get up and move around a bit. Until then, you stay put and only get up to go the bathroom. Got it?”

  “Yes, but do you think I could maybe have a shower and wash my hair?” she asked in such an unsure voice that Eric wondered whether she thought the doc would say no.

  “She can have a shower, right, Doc?” Eric asked.

  “Absolutely. I’ll get Carruthers to help her.” He glanced behind him. “Well, she was here when I came in.”

  “Please don’t bother her. I don’t need any help. I can shower myself. I just need to know how it turns on and—”

  “Larry, don’t bother with Gail. I’ll have Petey get one of the other female crewmen in here to help her,” Eric interrupted. Abby seemed relieved and gave him another look that had him wondering if something had happened between her and Gail.

  Eric grabbed the phone behind him, and when Petey answered, Eric asked him to arrange for a female crewmember to come down and help Abby shower and to get her whatever personal effects she needed.

  “That would be fine, Captain,” came the reply.

  “Are you done examining Abby, Doc?” Eric asked after he had closed the line.

  The doctor stuffed supplies and his equipment back in the drawers. “Yes, that’s all for now. I’ll be back a little later to check on you,” he said to Abby. “If you’ll excuse me, Captain.” Larry left, pulling the door closed, leaving Eric alone with Abby.

  Eric leaned against the counter beside the bed, crossing his arms and once again watching her, trying to figure out what it would take to break through that thick shell she had built up around herself. Under it all, he could see an innocence that a monster had done his best to destroy. But it was still there. Even though she appeared so fragile, there was something about her that was rock solid. She had the strength to walk through hell and keep right on going.

  He blinked when he realized he was staring at her and making her uncomfortable. “Sorry, Abby. Do you think you’re up to having a talk?”

  “A talk? About what, Captain?” She stumbled over her words and appeared wide-eyed, almost afraid.

  He grabbed a chair and pulled it over to face her. He sat so that he was at eye level with her. “I know you’ve been through hell, but we need to talk again about what happened.”

  Her face tightened, and she seemed distressed. She blinked hard, as if fighting off tears. “You don’t believe me?” she whispered.

  Eric wondered why she immediately jumped to that conclusion, but he also didn’t miss the distress in her voice, along with her deeply wounded spirit. He reached out and touched the back of her slender hand, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles until she relaxed. “Abby, I do believe you. Of course I do. I just need more details. Stop jumping to conclusions.”

  Several minutes passed before either said a word. Then she slowly looked up at him, as if she was deciding whether she could trust him. “All right,” she said. “Where do you want me to start?”

  “Abby, this time I’m going to walk you through it. Can you just go along with me?”

  Before she could say anything else, a knock sounded at the door.

  “Enter,” Eric said in his loud, commanding voice. He pulled away from her and stood up. The door opened briskly, admitting a young black female officer.

  “Petty Officer Mary-Jo Johnson, as requested, sir.” The words were strong and confident as she saluted the captain.

  Waving her hand down, the captain stood beside the bed, directing Mary-Jo’s attention to Abby. “Johnson, this is Abby. Did you receive instructions that you are to assist her to the shower?”

  “Yes sir, Captain.” Not easing her stance, she stood with her arms at her sides while holding a bundle under her left arm.

  “Abby, go have your shower. We’ll talk
when you’re done.”

  Mary-Jo set the bundle on the side counter. “Does she need help getting to the shower, sir?” Petty Officer Mary-Jo was somewhat cute, with a chubby round face, big dark eyes, and thick tight curls cropped short.

  “She has a crutch, but you need to help her.” The captain gestured to the bag Mary-Jo set on the counter.

  “Essentials, sir: soap, shampoo, clothes, everything she’ll need,” Mary-Jo replied while opening the bag for the captain to inspect.

  “Looks like you’re in good hands, Abby.”

  Mary-Jo smiled at Abby. “I had to guess your size, so if nothin’ fits, we’ll scrounge up somethin’ that will,” she said.

  Eric watched Abby as she gazed with longing at the simple bag, then over at Mary-Jo, unable to hide her humble appreciation. “Thank you” was all she said to the petty officer.

  Mary-Jo cleared her throat and motioned to the door of the bathroom with her hand. “Shall we?”

  Eric grabbed the crutch and helped Abby up, positioning the crutch under her arm.

  “Thanks again for your help,” Abby said again, first to Eric, then Mary-Jo.

  “It’s no problem, really, ma’am,” Mary-Jo replied.

  “Notify me when she’s done. Contact my ensign if you need anything.” Eric strode to the door and yanked it open.

  “Yes, sir, Captain.”

  He stopped and turned to the young petty officer who was now supporting Abby’s arm, helping her to the bathroom. She was kind, efficient—he liked her. As he closed the door behind him, he realized he was starting to soften, and he wondered if this was all because of Abby.

  Saved: Chapter Ten

  Abby was running a brush through her still damp hair, sitting on her bed, wearing a pair of tan dungarees and a large white t-shirt that hung loosely over her belly. On her feet, she wore a pair of black thongs. Eric studied her for a moment from the door, and her eyes became immediately alert to him. When she glanced over his shoulder to where Joe was standing, she sat a little straighter, her hand paused with the brush.

  Eric let the door close behind them. “How was the shower?”

  Her blue eyes held an edge of nervousness, and she shyly glanced Joe’s way again. “It was great. Thank you. I feel so much better.”

  Eric stopped in front of her. “Abby, I’d like you to meet Lieutenant Commander Joe Reed. He’s my first officer, otherwise referred to as the XO. He’s the man who runs the ship. He knows everything that goes on everywhere.”

  She looked over at Joe, who respectfully stood a few feet away. Joe did his best to ease her stress. Any fool could see how uneasy she was, but then Eric realized she’d never seen Joe before.

  “I brought my XO along to document any details you may remember,” he explained.

  Abby stiffened and lowered the brush in her lap. She started squeezing the handle until her fingers turned white. She wasn’t looking at anyone. She’d reverted to that subservient role of keeping her eyes cast downward. Eric exchanged a knowing look with Joe, who seemed to know and to be aware of her unease.

  “If you would rather not have me here, I do understand, Abby,” Joe began.

  She appeared to swallow as she slowly lifted her chin, glancing at Eric first and then hesitantly at Joe. “No, it’s fine, Lieutenant,” she said. This time, when she glanced back at Eric, he could tell that she trusted him but was also begging him not to hurt her. This was absolutely terrifying, because at one time that would have been all he wanted in a woman. However, having a woman in this situation was absolutely maddening, because everything about her, him, and the shadow surrounding her made everything about this impossible. Eric sat in a chair beside the bed, making sure to keep a respectable distance this time.

  Abby took a deep breath. “Where do you want me to start?”

  “I want you to go back to when you first saw the other guy who was with you and Seyed on the boat and picture him. Close your eyes,” Eric said in his deep voice.

  She hesitated before closing her eyes, but then winced and pressed her hand to her lower back.

  Eric reached for a couple of pillows. “Here, settle back on these. Try and relax.”

  She had such a pretty smile, and it reminded him so much of a child’s. But she wasn’t a child, because children were innocent, or they were supposed to be, anyway.

  “Close your eyes again, and I want you to picture him and describe this guy in every detail. Start with what he looked like,” Eric said.

  “He had dark hair curling a bit just past his ears.” She had her eyes closed, and he could tell she was thinking as she gestured with her hand. “He didn’t have a beard, but he had facial hair, as though he hadn’t shaved for a few days.” She started to open her eyes.

  “No, Abby, keep your eyes closed. Don’t open them until I tell you. What color were his eyes? Did he have any scars, marks on his face, anything that would stand out? How old do you think he was, young? Was he fat or thin?”

  “He had dark eyes, his face was slender, and he was older. Not old, but maybe in his thirties, I think. He had this bump on his nose—it really stood out. I remember he was also dressed differently. He had a dark jacket on, slacks, and that was all I could tell. It was dark.”

  “When you first got on the boat, before you were taken down below, was there anyone around? What did you see? Was it a marina? How many boats were there?”

  She opened her eyes and gave him a look of confusion. “It happened so fast. I didn’t see anything, or anyone.”

  “Come on, Abby. Close your eyes.”

  Reluctantly, she did.

  “Tell me where you are as you’re walking to the boat. Tell me what you see.”

  “It’s so dark. I’m in the backseat, and Seyed grabs me, pulls me out. I walk behind them. I see buildings, and we’re at a marina. We walk on a boardwalk. There are many boats there, but I don’t see anyone. Wait—there was a whistle. I didn’t dare look up, but the other man in front of Seyed did this bird whistle back. I don’t know where it came from except it was over a ways from my left. Then I was on the boat and taken below. I fell asleep not long after, I was so tired.” She opened her eyes. “I’m sorry I can’t remember more.”

  He couldn’t help himself. He took her hand. “Are you kidding me? You were actually very helpful.”

  Joe moved forward and stood at the foot of the bed. “I’m going to get right on this.” He held up the notes and gave her a wink to break the mounting tension. “Thank you, Abby. You gave us more than you know.” Joe hesitated beside Eric and gave him a pointed glance, and Eric wondered for a minute whether his feelings were showing. “I’ll talk to you later,” said Joe, and then he left.

  “I didn’t think I told you anything more than I did yesterday.”

  Eric slid the chair back against the wall. “You did good, Abby.” He smiled down on her but kept his hands to himself. Each time he touched her was doing all kinds of wild things to his control. He couldn’t be the arrogant self-possessed man everyone knew on that ship, who barked orders, who demanded. With her, he needed to listen, and something about her made him care about everyone more.

  She shivered and wrapped her arms across her bosom.

  “Are you okay?” He slid his hand over her shoulder and down her arm. She didn’t pull away, and he wondered for a minute if she actually leaned into his touch or if he was just imagining it.

  “Yes, I’m fine. I just don’t like having to think about him. Eric, I mean, Captain, do you think I’ll have to see him again?”

  This time, Eric sat on the edge of the bed beside her and slid his arm across her shoulder. “Where would you ever get the idea you’d have to see him again? The man’s a criminal. He bought you--”

  “But this is his child,” she interrupted him. “Do you really believe he’ll just let me go? I’ve seen the monster he is. He’ll hunt to the ends of the earth for me, for this child, and then he’ll kill me.”

  “Abby, he will not get your child. You are goin
g back to the US, where you’ll be safe.”

  The look she gave him told him loud and clear she didn’t believe him. “Seyed and his people have quite a reach in the US, too, you know. I’ve seen and heard things I wish I never had. Please don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

  Eric was stunned by her cool. There was something inside of him that wanted to scoop her up and make those promises, then hide her somewhere where nothing bad could ever touch her again. But he didn’t, because he couldn’t, so instead he moved away. “I’ll come back and see you later,” he said. He didn’t wait for her to respond. He strode to the door, running his fingers through his hair, and turned the door handle. He glanced over his shoulder and met her gaze, and he started to promise her something, anything, but stopped, because that wouldn’t be fair, not to her. So he gave her a stiff smile, one he knew never reached his eyes, and left.

  Several hours later, Joe knocked on Eric’s cabin door. He closed the door behind him. “Captain, I filled Edwin in on our talk with Abby. She’s very nice, by the way. A real trooper for what she’s been through.” Joe didn’t wait for him to respond, which was good, because he was still feeling like crap because his promises to keep her safe meant squat as soon as she left this ship. She knew it, and he knew it.

  “Eric, are you listening?” Joe asked.

  “Yeah, sorry, so what did Edwin say?”

  “They suspect the guy that Abby described was most likely part of the ring responsible for some of the sabotage that happened on one of the British destroyers last month. Edwin confirmed that he also believes it was Seyed who arrived on Kish Island, and right now, they’re tracking his whereabouts. He said he couldn’t reveal anything else right now, but he did say they suspect that whatever was planned, there was most likely another boat out there, and the plan changed when Abby clubbed this guy over the head and then disappeared on the dinghy.”

  As Eric listened, a sick feeling stirred in his gut.

  Joe said, “The CIA may try to get a hold of Abby to talk to her.”

  Eric vaulted out of his chair, sending it flying, and leaned over the desk, bracing both hands in front of him and glaring icily at Joe. “No way in hell are they going to talk to her, get their hands on her, or come anywhere near her.”