Love's Abyss (St. John Series) (22 page)

She opened the sack and quickly placed the articles of clothing on. She looked down at her attire. “I look like a tavern wench,” she mumbled as she gazed at the split in the skirt that went up to her thigh. The blouse wasn’t much better. It was very low-cut with a tight-fitting stay that sat on the outside, making her breasts spill over the top and appear larger than they really were. She pulled out a pair of high-heeled boots and slipped them on her tiny feet.

“Well, if this doesn’t distract the guards, nothing will,” she thought. “Now, I must wait until tomorrow night.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Looking out the tiny window of the cell, Max could see the parade of carriages heading towards the large church in the center of town. His eyes turned to the men working by the hill. They had been hammering for a day and a half now, building the gallows for their execution.

He watched for several hours, not having anything more pressing to do at the moment. His thoughts turned to Kris. He worried about his wife, hoping she was safe. With a somber expression, Max realized that unwillingly he would be breaking the promise he made to Kristina and their unborn baby. He had vowed to always be there for her, for their child. He closed his eyes at the thought of never getting to know his child. He hadn’t mentioned the baby to Alex as his mind was overflowing with other worries. The sound of church bells rang throughout the city as the sun set. Max turned his gaze back out the small window in the cell. His eyes spied the large black carriage leaving the church. It carried the newlyweds, Commodore and Mrs. McClain.

He turned to look at Alex. He was sitting on the floor in the corner. His knees bent. His muscular arms were crossed on top of his knees, and his forehead lying on his arms. He hadn’t said a word since they were brought here yesterday. He watched as Alex slowly raised his head at the sound of the church bells. The coldness in his eyes sent a chill down Max’s spine. He had never seen Alex so despondent. Turning his thoughts back to Kris, he hoped his wife was okay. He was concerned how she was handling the fact that they would hang tomorrow.

Little did he know that Kris was outside the prison. Adjusting the top Madison had left for her, Kris pulled it lower, allowing more cleavage to be shown and opened the split wider on her skirt. She repositioned the knife she had hidden in the top of the heeled boots. Opening the bottle of rum, she poured the elixir into it and replaced the cork. She turned her head upside down, ruffled her hair and flipped her head back up. She bit down on her lips so they would plump up and turn red, and pinched her checks to give them a rosy appearance. Taking a deep breath, she proceeded towards the guards.

“Halt,” commanded one of the guards. “State your business here.”

Kris sashayed up to the guard and stopped just before him. She licked her lips and allowed her eyes to travel up and down his body. “Just thought you might like some company,” she purred as she placed a finger on his cheek and traced it.

He grabbed her hand and pulled it away from his face. “Don’t you have somewhere else you need to be, wench?”

“No,” she said in a seductive Spanish accent. “Everyone else is at the party.” She puckered her lips in a full pout. “I am just so lonely.”

“Who is it?” she heard the other guard ask his counterpart.

“Oh, there are two of you? That makes it much more enjoyable.” She drifted by the first guard, allowing her hand to rub his shoulder as she passed.

She made her way up to the second guard standing beside the bench. She eyed him the same way as she did the first. Stopping before him, she allowed her long, tan leg to slip through the slit on the skirt. “Just someone looking for some satisfying company this evening.” She touched the exposed top of her breast.

“I . . . I . . . shouldn’t you be somewhere else?” questioned the second guard excitedly.

“That is what he asked me,” she pouted. “Everyone else is at the party, and I am just so disheartened,” she purred again allowing her finger to trace the top of her blouse. “I have no one to celebrate with.” She held up the bottle of rum and gently swayed the bottle back and forth.

She could see the excitement in the second guard’s eyes. ‘
Gotcha
,’ she thought as she edged closer up to him and pushed him back onto the bench. He stumbled and sat down. She then placed her booted foot on the bench beside him, allowing her entire leg to be exposed.

“We’re on duty!” the first guard exclaimed.

She looked over her shoulder, allowing her chin to drop down, so she could view him through her long lashes. “No one will have to know,” she whispered seductively. “Which makes it more pleasurable.” She leaned over the second guard allowing him a partial view of her breasts. “Exciting,” she whispered as she blew into his ear.

“No one will have to know,” the second guard said, his enthusiasm noticeable.

She opened the bottle of rum she was carrying and pretended to take a drink. She then placed the bottle against her breasts. “Would you like a taste,” she purred.

His mouth opened slightly and his eyes grew wide with anticipation. “Oh, yes,” he replied as he reached for the bottle.

She slapped his hand away. “Ah, ah,” she scolded. “Allow me.” She placed the bottle to the man’s lips. “Drink. Taste it. Feel the fullness of the bottle.” She accentuated the word bottle. She pulled it away from his mouth before he took a drink. “Tilt you head back and open your mouth.”

He nodded his head eagerly and did as asked. She slowly poured the liquid into his mouth. “Taste its wetness,” she said. She stopped pouring the liquid and placed her face inches from the second guard’s. His breath was repulsive and turned her stomach but she forced herself to keep going.

“Do you like it?” she said breathlessly. “Do you want to
taste
some more?”

She could see the answer in his eyes as he placed his hands on her waist.

She straddled the man, all the while trying to hide her disgust as she felt his erection on her leg. “Drink some more,” she purred as she rubbed her hips against him. She could feel his erection grow larger.

He eagerly drank more of the liquid offered to him. “I’m . . . I’m . . . I feel strange,” he whispered to her.

‘
Good
,’ she thought as she watched him slump over. She turned her head to find the first guard. His back was turned and he was mumbling to himself.

“Disgraceful,” she heard him say. “Acting like that on duty.”

She stood up and walked to the first man and ran her finger over his collar.

“I don’t want any of your gifts, you immoral woman,” he said.

“But I’m
so
lonely, and apparently your friend cannot handle what I have to offer.”

He turned to find his friend slumped over on the bench. “What have you done to him?”

“Nothing. We were just drinking and he slid over,” she said in an innocent voice.

He marched over to the second guard and nudged him with his boot. “Get up, you oaf!” He nudged him again. “Carrington, get up!” The first guard started to turn around to her. She took the bottle and hit him in the back of the head, sending him falling on top of the second guard.

“Glad that’s over,” she said. She quickly took off the guard’s sashes and tied them up. She removed the keys from the first guard’s pocket and unlocked the door.

As she entered the prison, the smell turned her stomach. Placing her hand over her mouth and nose, she proceeded down the corridor. She rounded the corner and was taken by surprise at the sight of another guard.

“What are you doing here?” he said, startled. “This area is off limits!”

She walked slowly, allowing her hips to sway back and forth. “The guards out front sent me,” she said as she approached him. Stopping in front of him, she traced his collar and sighed, “As a birthday present.”

“It’s not my birthday,” he replied.

“No?” she said in her seductive Spanish accent. “Pity, I have such a wonderful present for you.” She loosened the laces of her stay, all the while drawing closer.

He backed up. “Here?” he questioned.

“Why not?” she baited. “Take me. Put my back against the wall. Allow yourself to be pleasured as you feel my legs wrap around you.”

He stopped, inches from the top of the steps. “Yeah, that sounds good,” he agreed.

“I thought you might like that,” she said as she placed her hand on his chest. “But I cannot. You see . . . I’m married!” she said as she pushed him down the steps.

Max turned at the sound of something falling down the steps, and Alex raised his head. Both looked on with confusion as the guard tumbled down the steps. Max backed cautiously up at the sound of shoes clicking on the stairs, but raced to the bars when he saw Kris.

She smiled at her husband as she leaned against the wall at the bottom of the steps, allowing the key to twirl around her finger. “Heard you might like to leave?”

“Kris,” Max said with shock to his voice.

She stepped over the guard’s body and unlocked the cell door. Max flung the door open and embraced his wife. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

“You should know me better than that,” Kris replied. She tore herself from her husband’s arms. “We must hurry, before someone finds out what’s going on.”

She quickly freed the other crew members.

She opened the door to Alex’s cell. “Come on, Captain.” Alex stood and walked out the door. The coldness in his eyes sent a shiver down Kris’s spine. He had been emptied of warmth by the one he thought he could trust.

The escapees proceeded up the stairs and stopped once outside the prison. Max looked down at the two guards hog-tied to the bench. “You’ve been busy,” he said as he looked back at his wife.

She just shrugged her shoulders. “It was nothing.”

The sound of music broke the silence of the night. The sound of several gunshots and cheers echoed through the trees.

Alex lowered his eyes to slits. “Max,” he said. “You come with me. Slim, take Kris back to the ship.”

“What are you up to?” Max questioned.

Alex looked at Smitty. “Get
The
Abyss
to the usual rendezvous point.”

“Alex?” Max questioned again.

“We’re going to disrupt a wedding reception,” Alex replied coldly.

Max smiled, “Aye, aye, Capt’n”

“Wait you can’t,” Kris exclaimed. “The Commodore’s men will all be there. We must leave before they find out about our escape. Please!”

“Take her to the ship,” Max commanded as he looked at Slim.

“Max, wait!” she pleaded as she grabbed his arm

He leaned over and kissed his wife. “Take her.”

Slim nodded and gently grabbed Kris by her arm. “Come, Miss.”

She jerked her arm away. “Max, wait! There is something I need to tell you!”

“Later,” he replied as he followed Alex. “Slim, get her out of here. Carry her if you must, but keep her safe!”

She started after Max only to be grabbed by the tall man. “Miss, we must go. Dun’t make me haf ta carry ya,” he said.

She desperately looked at Max and then Slim. “Samuel,” she gasped. “I need to get to him.”

“He’s dead, Miss, remember?”

“We must get to
The
Abyss
! Quickly!” she insisted.

“This way then,” said another member of the crew as they sneaked through the bushes.

There were only two guards at the docks and James took care of them. The fugitives then proceeded aboard
The
Abyss
. Once on board, Kris raced to Alex’s quarters with Slim on her heels. “Samuel!” she yelled. “Samuel!”

“I told ya, Miss, he’s not wit us anymore,” Slim replied.

There was a rustling noise coming from the wardrobe. The door opened and Samuel fell out.

Kris raced to him. “You have to stop him,” she said to the boy.

“Samuel?” Slim said with disbelief. “You’s a ghost!”

“He’s not a ghost, you fool,” Kris snapped.

“What’s going on?” the boy asked.

“Alex took Max. They’re headed to the wedding reception. He’s going to kill them, in front of everyone!” Kris informed him.

“Who?” Samuel asked.

“The Commodore and Madison,” Kris said.

“She betrayed us,” Slim said. “She gits wat’s comin’ ta her.”

“No,” Kris said, turning to Slim. “It was all an elaborate plan . . . so we could escape.” She turned to Samuel. “You have to let him know you’re alive before he does something he’ll regret. Stop him.”

Samuel nodded. “But . . . I don’t know where he’s going.”

Kris grabbed Samuel’s hand and dragged him to the deck. There were several gasps and “He’s alive!” remarks. She pulled him to the railing and pointed at the faint image of lights hidden by trees. “There!” she said. “You have to stop them.”

“Wait jest a minute,” Smitty said. “I can’t allow him ta go. He might actually get himself killed.”

Samuel looked at the house in question, to Smitty, then to Kris. She was right. He had to go. He looked around
The
Abyss
at the crew. He had to do it for everyone, including Madison. He placed one hand on the railing and the other hand on a rope. “I have to,” he told Smitty as he untied the rope and jumped from the deck.

Smitty raced to the edge and watched the boy descended quickly to the walkway below. “After him!” Smitty yelled to Slim.

The tall Jamaican trailed after the boy.

Everyone watched as Samuel disappeared into the shadows of the buildings, Slim close behind him. About twenty minutes later, Slim returned alone.