To Bedevil A Beauty (Southern Sanctuary - Book 5) (25 page)

Previn’s
left eyebrow rose in an arch for a brief moment before he moved to sit on the
edge of the bench that Joanne was lying on.  Bound as she was there was
little Joanne could do as Previn grabbed a hank of her hair, fisting it
tightly, causing her to wince in pain.  All the time Previn’s intense blue
eyes were fixed on Berry, watching her reaction.  “I know magic is
real.  I know what you are.”

Berry’s
mouth felt suddenly very dry as she watched Previn hover over Joanne, bright
malevolence in his gaze.  She forced herself to swallow.  “And just
what am I?”

“Why,
you’re a witch Berry. The genuine article.  And you’re going to come work
for me.”

Berry
shook her head in the negative. 

“Uh-huh,
before you deny anything.  Remember I’ve spent the past two years
listening to your husband’s stories, the wining horses, all those court cases
you won.”

“Hey,
I’m a good lawyer.”  Berry protested.  She’d hardly ever used her
magic to help her win in the court room. 

Previn
dismissed her protest with a wave of his hand.  “I listened to Robert’s
fantastical claims and the man never wavered. He thought you were some kind of
psychic, but I knew better.  My family are from Scotland you know, my
grandfather always talked about magic being real.
 
That you just had to open your eyes to see
it.  Well, I opened a search engine Berry Malone. Your mother’s maiden
name is Bright… and what an interesting life her ancestors led.
 
Escaping Salem just as the first witchcraft
trials commenced… timely yes?”

Berry
contemplated the man before her.
 
Previn
was no longer hurting Joanne but he was still touching her, stroking her hair
back now.  But it wasn’t a loving gesture, it was like that of a master,
subjugating a pet.  The man was manipulative, dangerous and extremely
unpredictable.  She could manage him better if she knew what he intended to
do to her… to Joanne.  Meeting his gaze she asked him point blank. 
“What are you going to do with us?”

“Not
going to deny being a witch any longer?  Smart.”  He gave her a
victorious grin. 

“What
are you going to do with us?”  Berry asked again, trying to compel him to
answer.

Previn
leaned her way, his cologne saturating the air, smothering even the smell of
the ocean.  “Whatever the hell I want.”

Berry’s
magic kicked in, instantly the hundreds of pathways open to Previn flickered through
her consciousness.  He was an amazingly driven, single-minded man, as
every path was heavily focused upon the enslavement of Berry – either by
torturing Joanne or more worrisome was the number in which he casually killed
Joanne in front of her to prove his determination to bend her to his
will. 

Berry
fought hard not to vomit, why did the bad guys agenda never make sense? 
If she was a witch with all these powers why wasn’t she busting loose of her
bindings, frying Previn senseless and hauling Joanne out of danger?  No,
the bad guys rarely applied logic to a situation.
 
They were too busy thinking about what was in
it for them.  And that’s what made them unpredictable and deadly.
 
Previn’s devotion to saving his own hide and
emerging triumphant, with her powers to aid him, meant that she couldn’t sway,
manipulate or distract him.  As far as Previn was concerned, he had no
doubts, no hesitation, no kinder side that she might be able to appeal to in
order to get him to release her and Joanne.

“So
we have a deal Berry?  You come work for me, and I don’t kill Joanne
here?”

What
could she say?  She knew that hurting… killing Joanne to get what he
wanted was as inconsequential to Previn as being polite when he ordered a
meal.  “Yes.”

Previn
smiled smugly, but it didn’t reach those cold calculating eyes of his. 
The smile slipping from his face abruptly as three heavy thumps sounded above
them.  Immediately Previn was alert, reaching back to haul a gun out of
the back of his trousers, pointing it towards the stairs. Nothing happened, no
further sounds, no movement outside the cabin windows.

Previn
frowned.  Reaching over with his spare hand he once more grabbed a handful
of Joanne’s hair, pulling her head back before he dashed it hard into the side
wood panelling with a sickening smack.  Joanne’s cry of pain cut off
abruptly as he dropped her back onto the bench.
 
Not even bothering to look down to see how much damage he’d caused,
Previn grinned at Berry.  “Something for you to think about while I get us
underway.”

Honestly,
if she hadn’t been tied to the table Berry would have launched herself bodily
at him.  “You bastard.”  She scowled as he exited the cabin.
 
At least he’d left the light on. 
“Jo-Jo?”  Goddess, she hoped she was alright, that sickening thud. 
“Jo-Jo, are you okay?”

Joanne
groaned and then rolled over so that Berry could see the nasty bruise on her
forehead.
 
A trickle of blood running
down her too pale face.  “I… I’m fine.  What are we going to do
Berry?”

“I
don’t know.”  Berry turned her head as the boat dipped suddenly.
 
Looking out the window she surmised Previn
was undoing the mooring lines as the boat dipped once more, signalling he was
back on board.
 
“He’s mad.”  Heavens,
once he got them out to sea proper… it didn’t bear thinking about.  She
wouldn’t be able to deliver on whatever elaborate magic wishes he had and when
that happened the psycho would probably end up killing them both.  
“All this talk of magic.”

Joanne
managed a weak laugh.  “The man is obviously insane to think you are some
kind of genie to grant his every wish.  As if magic works like
that!”  Joanne moaned loudly as the cruiser engines roared to life
aggravating her throbbing head.

Berry
blinked back tears of frustration.  She hated that she’d failed
Joanne.  She hated even more that she hadn’t had the courage to tell
Ramsey how she felt about him.  So what if the man wasn’t in love with
her.
 
There was no law that said they had
to make things official.
 
They might have
been able to make a go of a non-council approved relationship for years before
Ramsey grew tired of her, after all, the sex had been spectacular.  

Berry
winced as the throb of the engine changed and the cruiser slowly began to make
its way out passed the other moored boats and into the channel heading out to
sea.  Walls of rocks passing by on either side of the boat now. 
Grrr, what could she do?  She needed to do something… anything to stop
this. Draw attention to them somehow.  But the marina looked
deserted. 

Suddenly,
from above came a high pitched scream, the boat jerked to the left, followed by
the sound of gun shots, one… two.  There might have been more but Berry
couldn’t hear them over the horrible rending sound the cruiser made as it hit
the rock retaining wall.  The impact sent Berry flying through the air,
coming to land awkwardly on the floor.  At least Joanne had been able to
stay on her padded bench. 

Rolling,
Berry groaned, the rope tying her to the table was wrapped around her
legs.  She didn’t know what was going on outside, over the shriek of the
still running engine she couldn’t hear anything as she tried to twist and turn
to see up and out the windows.  She could only assume that Previn had run
them aground on the retaining wall.  Had he had help?  Those gun
shots… were they being rescued?

Perhaps
all she had to do was lie here calmly and wait… except… she frowned as cold
water suddenly drenched the back of dress and hair.  Oh Goddess, the boat
was flooding and she was trapped on the floor, tied up like a Christmas turkey.
No, no, no, she refused to let it end like this… drowning was not on her agenda
for this evening.  Think, Berry, think… she winced as icy cold water
filled her ears… Oh Goddess, she so didn’t want to drown… think.

Chapter
Twenty-Three

Ramsey
had expected Mac and Cam McKenzie to lodge protests when he ordered them to
stand guard at the main marina complex.  Mac even opened his mouth to say
something, then he looked down, spying the three cats twining themselves around
Ramsey’s legs and abruptly shut his mouth. 

Only
in Haven Bay would three cats be deemed appropriate back-up.

Ramsey
gestured for the McKenzie brothers to crouch down out of sight as he started
down C dock, headed towards the only boat in the marina that was displaying any
activity.  He moved from shadow to shadow, his gun clutched in one hand in
readiness.  He had no idea how to flow… how to move and still be unseen,
but he wanted it so badly that he was determined to tap into his magic no
matter the cost.  Above all else he would rescue Berry tonight, no matter
the personal risk.  If he couldn’t finish this, he had faith the McKenzie
brothers would know what to do… who to call.

The
cats helped, corralling him.
 
Keeping him
from tripping over extraneous dock and boat equipment.  Two boats from
their destination, Limbo leapt to block any further progress.  Ramsey
immediately froze, reaching for the stillness inside.  Several moments
passed before the ginger cat next to him gave his leg a soft nudge.  The
four of them padding forward carefully, making no sound.  The cruiser was
big.  He couldn’t see inside the cabin, the windows were positioned too
high, but he had to trust Berry and Joanne Granger were safe for the
moment. 

How
in the hell was he going to board the cruiser without making himself a target? 
Shit, if he entered via the rear of the boat anyone standing on the upper pilot
deck would have a clear shot at him.  The question was, where was Previn
Carlyle?  Ramsey was seriously contemplating rushing the boat when Limbo
gave his leg a hard shove, what the… it seemed the cat had an idea.  Oh
God, was he really going to trust a cat?  Trust Berry’s life to a
feline? 

The
plan it seems was relatively simple, while the ginger and patched cats took up
ready positions towards the rear of the boat, it looked like he and Limbo were
going to clamber up and on to the front of the cruiser.  Fuck, he
holstered his weapon in readiness for the awkward climb.  Limbo gave him
one last hard look.
 
In the light streaming
from the cabin windows Ramsey interpreted it as ‘
don’t stuff this up,
Stupid’
.

Ramsey
nodded, watching Limbo as he tensed.  When the feline’s head flicked up
Ramsey launched himself forward, knowing at the same time the ginger and
patched white cats were leaping on to the back of the boat.  Damn, this was
awkward as he scrabbled over the metal railing, hauling himself up as quietly
as possible on to the bow of the boat.
 
Ducking down into the slight dip in the centre where ropes were usually
kept when the cruiser was in motion.

He
held his breath, reaching for the still inside himself once more.  Seconds
ticked by, no response, then after a minute or so there came the sound of
Carlyle’s voice, dripping with disgust. “Cats!  Get out here you fuckers.”

It
didn’t seem as if Carlyle knew he had been boarded. Good.  Now what? 
Ramsey hugged the shadows in the bow, letting his body adjust to the gentle
sway of the boat, doing his best not to react as a rope sailed out of the
darkness and hit him in the chest.  Damn, Carlyle was untying the
cruiser.
 
It was too late already to take
the man out on the dock.
 
Shit, what an
opportunity to miss.  Ramsey bit back a frustrated curse listening to the
sounds of Carlyle clamouring up the ladder to the pilot level. 

He
winced as the engine roared to life and the drifting boat suddenly came under
the pilot’s control.  Great, they were headed out to sea.
 
Limbo beside him didn’t look exactly thrilled
by the idea as they both contemplated the climb up from the bow of the boat to
the upper pilot deck.  It could be done, he would just need a
distraction. 

He
turned and looked at the cat crouched beside him.
 
“I’m going to need a favour buddy.”

Limbo
flicked his tail in Ramsey’s face in response. 

“I’m
gonna take that as a yes.”  He picked up the large black cat as the
cruiser cleared the moored boats in the marina completely and started to move
through the control channel, with retaining rock walls on either side, headed
out towards the open sea.

“Okay.” 
He whispered in Limbo’s ear.  “Try and do as much damage as you can. 
I’ll be right behind you.”  With that he heaved Limbo up and over the
glass Perspex of the pilot station.  Ramsey swung himself up to follow,
ignoring the yelling and the attack cat screeches as he swung his legs around
the side of the pilot station and kicked out.  Managing to catch Carlyle
on the shoulder.
 
Reacting to the blow,
rather than aiming, Carlyle squeezed off several bullets wildly in
reflex.  Fuck, Ramsey ducked and punched the conman as hard as he could in
the gut.  A blur of black fur streaked passed his face and a few more
lines of blood joined the ones already torn into Carlyle’s cheek and
forehead. 

Ramsey
grabbed for Carlyle’s gun, the two of them scrabbling for control.  Their
feet sliding out from beneath them abruptly as the cruiser slammed into one of
the retaining walls.  Shit, tight space, desperate man.  It made for
a bad combination.  Ramsey wrenched Carlyle’s body around and bought his
leg up to kick Carlyle hard in the head… once, then again. 

Carlyle
was a creepy fuck, despite his shredded face the man was grinning and
incredibly tenacious as he managed to bring his gun up once more.  “She
belongs to me now!
 
She’s mine!”

Ramsey
didn’t fucking think so.
 
No more mister
nice guy. Ramsey kicked him hard this time, right in the mouth. Carlyle yelled
as teeth and blood went flying.

Then
Ramsey yelled as the boat suddenly tilted on to its side, he found himself
sliding across the floor, Carlyle heading towards him.  They grappled
again.

Carlyle
was making grunting sounds, spraying blood and mucus into the air.
 
Even with all that damage though he still
managed to sound one audible word. “Mine.”

Ramsey
reared his head back, bringing his forehead smashing down on Carlyle’s
head.  Carlyle instantly went limp.  “No she’s mine, asshole.” 
Ramsey shoved him away, taking deep ragged breaths.  He climbed awkwardly
to his feet, staring down at Previn Carlyle’s unconscious body.
 
The man wouldn’t be getting up any time
soon.  He reached over and turned the key, instantly silencing the unhappy
engine, then he looked around for Limbo, the cat wasn’t in sight.

Berry! 
He almost broke his neck scrambling down from the pilot’s level.  With the
cruiser on an angle it made it hard going.  On the main deck he paused for
a moment, noting approaching lights along the top of the retaining wall.
 
Good, his human back-up were on their
way.  Now to make sure Berry was safe. 

He
raced down the steps into the main cabin to find three water logged pissed off
looking cats shivering on a high counter away from the rapidly rising water
that hit Ramsey just above the knee as he slogged across the cabin. 

“Berry!”

She
turned from where she was standing, bent over Joanne.
 
Her face deathly pale, her lips quivering and
practically blue.  She was visibly shuddering in cold, soaked from head to
toe, hair dripping, her black dress with the sparkling beads plastered skin
tight, her hands trembling so badly she was in danger of dropping the kitchen
knife she had in her hands.  “Ramsey.”  Her instant look of relief
was replaced with terror.  “You have to help me.  Joanne’s hurt and I
can’t get her ropes untied… the water.”

Joanne
Granger’s eyes were open but clearly dazed as she lay on her back, bound
tightly still.
 
The water level hadn’t
quite reached the top of the bench yet and for the moment she was relatively
dry.  Ramsey tamped down hard on the need to grab Berry and never let her
go.  Instead he waded through the water, plucking the knife from Berry’s
trembling hand. He glanced down, it was way too dull to cut through the
ropes.  How had Berry gotten herself free?  He glanced back at the
bedraggled cats… ah, of course, his feline rescue team.

“Come
on.”  He scooped Joanne up into his arms.  “You grab the cats. 
We need to get out of here now.”  There’d be plenty of time to free Joanne
when they were on dry land.  He glanced over at Berry, why was she
hesitating?  Maybe she was in shock.  “Berry… the cats, come on.”

Berry
managed to nod and get her frozen feet to move.  She prayed for the
Goddess to give her strength as she scooped up two wet felines in her arms,
groaning softly, they were so heavy, doubly so since they were wet.  How
was she going to manage Limbo as well?

Ramsey
sloshed over to her, taking extra care with Joanne in his arms and the weird
angle the boat was tilted on.  Limbo eyed Berry’s full arms and then
turned his head and meowed at Ramsey. 

“I’ve
got you buddy.”  Ramsey turned his back and Limbo leapt nimbly on to
Ramsey’s broad shoulders, settling around his neck like a collar.

Even
through the haze of cold and her chattering teeth Berry instinctively
winced.
 
You couldn’t pay her enough
money to let Limbo near her face like that.  Even if he, Puffball and
Cicero had saved her ass by chewing through her ropes with their eerily bionic
teeth.  No wonder they had made fast work of her ugly cheap clothes and
frumpy discount shoes in the past. 

She
jumped slightly as Cicero made an unfamiliar sound in her arms, it sounded
like… no, it couldn’t be.  Would this night never cease to amaze her,
Cicero had just purred in her arms.  She finally got her sluggish limbs in
motion, heading towards the stairwell and the sound of loud voices and bright
lights.  Good, the cavalry had arrived.  She could get off this boat,
drop the cats, make sure Joanne was okay and above all else, avoid being alone
with Ramsey Hughes.  She had been insane to contemplate continuing a
relationship with him. The man didn’t love her.  And all too soon, a
relationship based on nothing but physical attraction on his part wouldn’t be
enough for her.  No, she couldn’t be that selfish, she needed to set him
free. If she loved him, she needed to let him go, let him find true
love.  He deserved nothing less in his life than to be loved, and to love
in return.

Finally,
it was official, she was sworn off men for life.  Not because of what
happened with Robert and her disastrous marriage but because after being with
Ramsey… loving him, no one else would ever measure up.  Goddess, she
really needed to avoid being alone with Hotshot Hughes, before she did or said
anything stupid.
 
Like begged him to stay
in her life.

*                        
*                     
*

 
“This is…ki… kid… kidnapping.”  Berry’s teeth
were chattering so badly she could barely get the words out.  She pulled
the police issue blanket tighter around her shoulders but it was too thin and
offered little warmth.

“You
should call the police.”  Ramsey offered, turning the heater up in his car
full blast as he drove away from the now bustling marina; full of police,
medical staff and curious onlookers (a good many of them with swords strapped
to their backs or belts).  “Oh wait, I am the police… problem solved.”

Berry
shot him a weak glare, oh… she felt like a block of ice, her head literally
aching from the cold, her bones feeling like brittle popsicles.  “I…
I…”   She clenched her teeth together tightly so she could get the
words out.  “…should stay with Joanne.”

“Joanne
is in the capable hands of your Great-Great-Aunts, who are more than happy to
have someone to fuss over.”

“But…
but her… h..h.. head injury?”

Ramsey
pressed his foot down harder on the accelerator.  “The paramedic gave her
the all clear.  Don’t worry, your Aunts will keep watch over her.”

Damn,
another avenue of escape thwarted.  “How are they g… going to explain to
her… about Previn and… and the… magic… he called me a witch?”

“While
we were waiting for the ambulance to arrive I tried to convince her that
Carlyle was looney tunes.  That the man had an unhealthy fixation with
magic and was clearly insane.”

“You
d… did?
 
Wh… wh… where was… I?”

“You
were busy rubbing down the cats.”

Now
there was a memory she’d always treasure.
 
At least the little bastards hadn’t scratched her, not that they’d been
particularly grateful either.
 
Bounding
off to her Great-Great-Aunts the moment the three of them arrived.  “What
did J… J… Jo say?”

“She
laughed at me.”

Berry
frowned, she pushed away a hank of wet hair with the back of her trembling hand. 
“She laughed?”

“Told
me if I didn’t believe in magic after living in this town… meeting you… then I
was the crazy one.”