Read Online From Kiss to Queen by Janet Chapman - Free Book Online

Jane,” he whispered, tightening his grip as a cloth settled over her mouth, effectively stifling her scream. “I’m sorry,” he repeated, holding her firmly while her hands were bound in front of her.
    Mark then lifted her onto his shoulder while his friend subdued and bound her flailing feet, then carried her down the dock and onto the boat. “I am sincerely sorry we had to do this the hard way,” he told his struggling angel as he laid her on a narrow bed in the cabin, watching with regret as her expression changed from anger to fear.

Chapter Four

    S he was going to die.
    Jane wanted to close her eyes and weep. And she would, just as soon as her stomach stopped twisting in terror. Her Judas laid her down in the cabin on some poor excuse for a bed, only to pull back and tell her how sorry he was again.
    Sorry to be taking her out in the ocean to dump her off? She could see the regret in his eyes as he stood over her. He had to kill her, since she knew right where to find his plane, which probably
was
loaded to its tail with drugs.
    She was so stupid!
    When the boat dipped with the weight of his cohort-in-crime coming aboard, Mark muttered that nasty word again and left. As soon as he cleared the doorway, Jane went to work on her gag, dislodging it enough to sneeze.She brought her bound hands up to her mouth and started working on the knots of the cloth tying them together. She had to stop and wipe her nose on her sleeve several times, but when she heard the engines start, she panicked, nearly shredding her hands in an attempt to escape. Finally the cloth came free and she sat up and quickly freed her feet.
    Mark reentered the cabin carrying her pack and shotgun and another large paper sack. Jane rushed him with a shout of outrage, knocking him back against the steps, and tried to gouge out his eyes while repeatedly kicking him. He grabbed her shoulders and held her away, giving her a clear shot at his groin—his own angry shout ending abruptly when he doubled over on a pained grunt.
    Jane lunged for her shotgun.
    Mark lunged for her, but suddenly stopped at the business end of the shotgun barrel.
    â€œYou Judas! I’m not letting you kill me.”
    â€œWhat!” he shouted, his face going from red to purple. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œYou’re not dumping me in the ocean,” she hissed, poking his chest with the gun barrel for emphasis.
    â€œDump you in the—” He took a deep breath. “Jane.”
    â€œYou’re a criminal. You used me to get away, and now you’ve got to get rid of me.”
    His jaw snapped shut and his cheek started twitching.
    She stepped away and raised the gun to her shoulder when he reached out. “I . . . I trusted you,” she whispered, her eyes stinging as she blinked back tears.
    And then she sneezed again.
    Jane was jerked forward, there was a shotgun blast, andshe was flat on her back on the bed with a very angry giant glaring down at her. One of his large hands reached for her throat, and Jane closed her eyes, letting her tears escape.
    Only the hand settled under her chin and lifted her face. “Jane,” he said hoarsely, using his other hand to gently brush the hair from her face. “I’m not going to hurt you, angel. And you
can
trust me. I’m trying to keep you safe.”
    He slowly pulled away when she said nothing, then stood up and turned to the man standing on the cabin step holding a handgun. Mark said something to him in Shelkovan, and they both looked at the damage to the boat. Jane swiped at her eyes to also look, and saw a hole the size of a softball in the hull just above the water line. The man smiled crookedly at Mark, then picked up the shotgun and left. Mark turned and picked up Jane’s backpack and the paper bag just as the boat lurched away from the dock.
    Jane bolted for the steps.
    Mark dropped his load with a snarled curse and grabbed her around the