The Naughty Nine: Where Danger and Passion Collide

by Nina Bruhns

  “I wanted to let you know first before I talk to her. As you’re probably aware, she’s going to lose it, maybe. She’ll definitely raise shit, but it’ll only backfire on her. You know how it is. We’re doing our best to make sure that she’s kept safe and protected, and that’s exactly how I’ll make sure it’s viewed.”

  Eric noted the smugness in his tone. “Holy shit, Joe. I’m so glad you’re on my side.”

  “Eric, go get some sleep. You really do look like shit. I’ll get Petey to defer anything dicey to me for a few hours. I need you to be well rested so we can fight this with a level head and not with your temper.”

  Eric said nothing because it irritated the hell out of him that everyone had to remind him over and over to watch his step, as if he were a reckless loose cannon.

  “We’ll beat this.” Joe signaled to the door, and his grin faded to the concern that Eric was tired of seeing on everyone’s face. “I’ll see you’re not disturbed.”

  Eric just watched as his friend left, shutting the door behind him. He realized then that he had friends and they cared about him enough to go to bat for him, to do the damnedest creative things, and Joe would always have his back. That kind of trust and loyalty was something Eric would live and die for. But Joe was right: Eric needed sleep, and he was tired. If he could get his head to stop spinning and working overtime, creating problems and picturing all the what ifs and should haves, then he might be able to sleep for a bit. It was that constant droning in his head that had made him into who he was, though, and right now, as he groaned like an old man making his way to his bed, he collapsed, boots and all, and closed his eyes, but it was Abby’s kind, soft blue eyes—the color of some of the cleanest water down south—that followed him into his dreams.

  Saved: Chapter Sixteen

  Larry escorted Gail to the wardroom. He could feel the fury pulse through him as he ground out his steps in a hurried pace, and he hoped she was finding it difficult to keep up. He pushed open the door and shot a look at one light-haired officer lingering over coffee. The officer took one look at Larry and who was behind him, and, with a sharp incline of his head, he left, keeping an obvious distance from Gail.

  When Larry faced Gail, looking down on the short, stubby woman who was far from a prized beauty, she stuck her stubborn chin up and crossed her arms, staring right back at him.

  “I want to know right now why you would file a false accusation against the captain. What you did and how you went about it are absolutely reprehensible. Explain to me what happened, because you obviously misread something somewhere.”

  “No, sir, everything that happened is in the report.” She said it in such a calm manner that he was, for a moment, stunned.

  “Ah, yes, the report you filed and sent directly to the admiral. By the way, that was quite the end run. Who in the hell do you think you are pulling this? There are protocols, and you know quite clearly the chain of command. That report should have come to me. You were to come to me. How dare you forward the report directly to headquarters?” Clasping his hands behind his back, he studied her and the hardness that transformed her face. Her hazy brown eyes stilling, she looked straight at him until a frosty sheen had her blinking.

  “I felt it was necessary. Sorry to disappoint you, sir, but the charges are true, and everything that happened is in the report.” Her voice shook when she spoke.

  Larry stepped closer and put his face inches from hers. Intimidation wasn’t something he did, but this woman was taking his emotions and the balance of right and wrong and tossing them right out the window. Maybe he could scare her into confessing. He considered it. “You and I both know that report was bullshit! Just what the hell are you trying to pull?”

  She didn’t move a muscle; her control was amazing. Instead, she looked straight ahead at something over his shoulder, now refusing to meet his eyes. “My report stands, sir, and I will not be bullied or intimidated by you or any other officer on this ship into recanting my story. It’s the truth, and it really happened.” A smug righteousness, as if she’d managed to gain the upper hand, snuck into her voice.

  It was so sudden that Larry actually took a step back. Her chin began to tremble and tears popped into her eyes, streaming down both her cheeks. The woman was absolutely appalling, as if she truly believed it. An amazing actor could pull this off, but so could an accomplished liar, a sociopath. He was reaching, studying her, trying to figure her out. Then he glanced around at the long table with the line of black chairs on both sides for the officers. The fact was that he was very much alone with her, and he shouldn’t have been.

  “Until further notice, you will confine yourself to the supply room to complete a full inventory. You will not step foot into sickbay. Do I make myself clear?”

  “You can’t do that, sir. You’re just getting back at me! I know this is a boy’s club, and you all lie and stick together.”

  Larry felt his face heat and could feel the pulse of his blood pressure soaring. “You heard me, Carruthers. I gave you an order.” He let out a low sigh of frustration. “No more games. I want you to go report to the personnel office for reassignment pending the outcome of this investigation.”

  As her mouth fell open, he waited, expecting her refusal. He hoped she would, because right now, his common sense and sound reasoning had taken a hike, and he was left with a fury that demanded he act and would only be satisfied if he could physically drag her down, consequences be dammed.

  “I’ll be filing a grievance,” she threw back at him as she turned on her heel and stormed to the door.

  He shouted after her. “Go right ahead, Carruthers, but heed me: You will not get away with this. I’ll see to it you’re roasted alive.” Larry was breathing hard as he stepped into the doorway, watching as she stormed down the hallway, shouldering several crewmen out of the way. His sound reasoning crashed in on him when two of the sailors in the passageway stared at him as if they’d just been caught doing something they shouldn’t have.

  Larry rubbed his hand roughly over his face and then fixed them with a look that said they’d better find their way quickly back to their stations.

  “Sir,” one of them said as they hurried the other way.

  Larry was so distracted he almost stumbled when he came around the corner and saw Abby in the passageway with Gail. The guard was standing there, looking as though he wished he was anywhere but there.

  “What are you doing out of bed?” Larry said. Abby jumped, and her hand immediately went to her heart. Larry put his hands around Abby’s shoulders and guided her back through the open door.

  “I didn’t know she was supposed to stay in there. I was just told to keep the other crew out. I didn’t know what to do when she said she was just going for a walk,” the guard said defensively as he followed the doctor and Abby through the open door. Larry glanced over his shoulder to where Gail stood in her tan uniform, her face pink. A few other members of the crew were hurrying past, everyone peeking in to get a look at Abby. “You heard my orders,” Larry snapped. He could feel Abby cringe from the bite of his words, and Gail just shrugged and continued on down the passageway.

  Larry settled Abby back on the bed.

  “Really, Doc, I’m sorry. She just opened the door.…” The guard was behind him, and Larry could just imagine that the possibility of making the captain angry was what had him so upset.

  Cutting him off before he could finish rattling on, Larry said, “It’s okay. I know you weren’t told, but Miss Abby is to stay in bed, and she knows that.” He dismissed the guard with a simple gesture of his head.

  Larry didn’t turn around. He just grabbed his stethoscope and blood pressure cuff from the secured drawer. “What were you thinking? You had no business getting out of bed. You were just in early labor, Abby, and did I not make it clear for you to take it easy? Are you trying to have this baby early?” He was abrupt, which was unlike him.

  “What’s going on with Gail Carruthers? I mean what I saw earlier and now
out in the passageway…” She gestured with a hand to the door as if Gail was just on the other side.

  Larry cut her off as he approached the bed. “Abby, that’s just some on-board conflict that will soon be resolved. It’s nothing for you to worry about.”

  She automatically held out her arm to him as he wrapped the blood pressure cuff around it. He pumped up the cuff and listened through the stethoscope, watching her watching him. He had to shut his eyes and take her blood pressure again, he was so distracted, and then she yelped when he pumped the cuff too tight.

  He ripped off the cuff. “Abby, I’m so sorry.”

  She rubbed her upper arm where a red welt now appeared. “I know there’s something going on. I’m not stupid, you know. Look how distracted you are. Why won’t you tell me what’s going on?”

  He did his damnedest to get his head together as he folded up the cuff. “It doesn’t concern you, so please stop worrying. You’re looking good despite your little adventure. Have you had any more contractions? Is the baby active?”

  “No and yes,” she said. “Please… where is the captain? Is he all right?”

  Maybe if he sent the captain down to deal with her, she’d let it go, but when he glanced at the worry and determination that filled her amazing blue eyes, he could see the attachment she had to the captain.

  “The captain is fine. He’ll be here soon. I believe he’s getting some well-deserved shut eye. Abby, listen, I know you care. There are some problems, but…” He straightened and frowned at her, trying his best to give her a stern doctor look “You need to focus on you, young lady. Please don’t take on the problems of the ship. Conflicts happen. This is my responsibility and the captain’s to handle, and after last night, we need to get you safely through the end of the week without you going into labor again. That’s the most important thing.” Larry tried to focus and pulled out her chart, scribbling down her vitals.

  Abby cleared her throat. “I’m sorry for being so pushy. I didn’t mean to cause you any worry. Is Gail Carruthers in some way related to the unsettled conditions around here?”

  Larry hesitated a second, then another, before turning around and studying the tiny battered women they’d pulled from the sea a few days ago. She wasn’t backing down. She just kept coming at it from a different angle. “Shit,” he muttered under his breath. Sighing deeply, he dropped the pen and turned back to her with his hands on his hips. “You’re just not going to let this drop, are you?”

  She shook her head with determination.

  “Abby, you’re going to have to talk to the captain,” Larry began. They were interrupted by the captain’s voice in the corridor. “Thank you, God,” Larry muttered as Eric strode in, looking much more rested.

  “Captain,” Larry said as he approached Eric by the door and gestured his head toward Abby. “I found her out of bed in the passageway. She told the guard she wanted to take a walk, but Gail was there, too. I ordered Carruthers to personnel for reassignment. Abby knows something’s wrong. She keeps asking, and she’s figured out it has to do with Carruthers.” Larry shot Abby a glance over his shoulder, and he could tell she was doing her best to hear what he was saying, but she couldn’t from that distance.

  “You found her where? Out there?” Eric pointed firmly while maintaining a close, steady distance with the doctor. He glanced over the doctor’s shoulder at Abby, unmoving. “Okay, did they talk?”

  “I’m not sure what was said before I arrived, but she doesn’t know anything about…” He waved his hand as if to continue in place of the words.

  Nodding, Eric said, “I understand, Doc. Is she okay otherwise? Any more labor?”

  “No, she’s fine. She is concerned and is questioning the situation with Gail and the on-board conflict. She picked up on something.” Larry glanced down at his watch. “I’m going to go and get her dinner.”

  Eric let the doctor pass. He didn’t move, keeping his arms crossed as he tried to figure out what he was going to say. Was she mad at him? She’d be furious and would look at him like a monster, the same look she carried in her eyes for Seyed, and if she knew what Gail was accusing him of, well, he just couldn’t stand that.

  “Captain, I hope you got some rest?” she asked.

  He inclined his head and took a step toward her. Every time he was around her, she did something to him that made him want to be a better man, but he also wanted to protect her so that nothing bad could ever touch her again. He wanted to smooth away those worry lines that creased her brows, and he wanted to be the one who put that easy, carefree smile on her face and had it lighting up every time he walked in. “I did.”

  “Has Gail Carruthers done something to cause discord or trouble on this ship, to you or to the doctor?”

  Eric could not help smiling at the fire that was in those deep blue eyes, which saw far more than he had first realized. Bending down, he ruffled her blond mass of hair before ignoring the chair and sitting on the bed beside her. Her scent—my God, the way she smelled from plain old soap and water—was a perfume of her own, as if it was just for him. He wanted to sit beside her, to touch her, but he didn’t. He set his hands in his lap and then linked them together so he wouldn’t be tempted to reach out and take hers. “Abby, there’s nothing for you to worry about. I’ll handle it. I didn’t get to where I am, commanding my own ship, without encountering a few problems here and there.” Softening his tone, he leaned forward, meeting her steady gaze. “I’m touched by your concern, but it’s nothing, really.”

  She watched him, and he could see she was thinking, but for the life of him he didn’t know of what. Then she offered a subtle tilt of her head. “Understood,” she said.

  The door jerked open and Larry stepped in, carrying a blue plastic tray with several covered dishes. He gave only a passing glance at Eric sitting so close to Abby. “Here’s your dinner, Abby.”

  Eric slid off the bed, and Larry slid the tray on the bedside table, the utensils clanking as he slid the table in front of Abby.

  “I’ll make sure she eats,” Eric said.

  “Well, I have things to check, so I’ll leave you and be back later to check on you. Lieutenant Lynn will be in in about an hour to check your vitals again.”

  After the door closed, Eric started pacing while she lifted the metal warmers off the plates.

  “Are you hungry? I could share,” she said.

  He just shook his head “No, I’ll eat later.” He watched her while she picked up the glass of apple juice and pried off the plastic lid. Sometimes she looked so childlike that he wanted to hide her in a closet so nothing would ever again hurt her.

  Abby dug into the roast chicken and vegetables on the plate, cutting a bite and putting it in her mouth. She didn’t eat fast but took her time, tasting each bite and enjoying it in a way he hadn’t seen before.

  “This is really good.” She pointed with her fork to the plate. “I had no idea how much I missed simple food.”

  “Glad to hear, because I wanted to talk to you about something.”

  She laid her fork down on the side of her plate and picked up her napkin, wiping her mouth. “Oh?”

  “No, keep eating.” He motioned with his hand.

  She picked up her fork, cut another piece of chicken, and put the tiny morsel in her mouth, flicking her tongue over her lower lip. Eric found himself staring at the spot, and for a moment he wanted to put his own tongue there.

  “You will be staying on this ship. We can’t risk moving you right now,” he said. She nodded, such trust in her eyes. “I also wanted to talk to you about your nightmare last night.”

  She gripped her fork quite hard and then set it down, lowering her gaze to her plate.

  “Abby, one of my concerns is your fear that Seyed will get you back, and I’m worried that brought on your nightmare. I want you to know that you’re safe here. He can’t get you.”

  “I dreamed of when I was taken. I could smell the sandalwood burning. I could feel the rope burns. I wore a
blindfold, and it was knotted so tightly that it pulled into the back of my head. I couldn’t get it off. I wasn’t the only one; there were others. I couldn’t see, and the sound of metal doors closing shot me through with a fear I have never felt before. There were rough hands that grabbed me, dragged, stuck me in a room, barefoot and chained up like an animal. There were other girl’s whimpering, crying. I remember when the door opened, the chill I felt wasn’t from cold but an icy dread. I didn’t know the hell I was in or what would happen to me, if they would hurt me, kill me. It was a fear of the unknown. Then this man grabbed me by the hair and pulled me up, and I remember him saying—I thought at first his accent was English, but then I realized, no, it was Australian, and I could smell the tobacco on his breath as he pressed his lips to my cheek and ran his tongue over my ear. And he said what a pretty price I would fetch and how much they liked the towheads.” When she glanced up, her eyes were red rimmed and filled with sadness. She refused to shed one tear, though. “I didn’t know then what would happen to me. I got away, but what about the other girls? There were so many.”

  Eric swallowed, but the lump that jammed his throat felt so much like dry gravel that he couldn’t speak.

  “I am so ashamed of what happened,” she said.

  He started to jump in, to try to make her believe she had nothing to be ashamed of, but she held up her hand. It was trembling, and he could see the strength in her as she fought to steady it.

  “I know I did nothing wrong. But you’re not a woman. To have someone own you, tell you when to eat, when to sleep, what to wear, when to speak, to be beaten and taken violently, to be chained like an animal…” She touched her belly, and Eric wondered then if she’d want to get rid of the baby, if it would be an ugly reminder of what she’d survived.

  “If I could make it all not have happened to you, I would.” He wasn’t sure if he should sit beside her, but the way she watched him was as if there was a cord pulling him down beside her, so he sat with her on the bed and slid the table over.