everything about this night. Especially Seth Reynolds, she thought caustically.
Removing the clip holding her chignon in place, she shook her hair out, letting it spill loosely over her shoulders. The night had been long and stressful and she was exhausted. Her mind was filled with too many thoughts, none of them holding any real importance. Willing them away, she closed her eyes, letting the rocking movements of the ferry relax her. She could have probably fallen asleep had the cold December air been rushing over her, enveloping her as the ferry churned steadily through the Hudson River. Eyes closed, she relished the winter air and the gentle swaying until the sound of footsteps broke her idle mood. A couple were starting down the metal stairs that connected the levels of the ferry, their voices arriving before they reached the bottom. The woman’s voice was high-pitched, cracking with emotion and there was no mistaking it. Madison had heard it not even an hour ago. Of all the luck for Stacy to be on the same ferry as she was. Someone must really have it out for her. Madison didn’t recognize the man’s voice but as Seth had informed her, it was none of her business. She had to agree with him on that at least.
The last thing she wanted to do was run into Vance’s model of a girlfriend. Turning from the water, she moved around the outer wall of the ferry, planning to take the long way around. She heard the heavy double doors open just as she rounded the corner only to come up short. A mountain of wooden crates blocked her only way of escape.
Damn it! This night just keeps getting better and better. Well, she wasn’t about to go back the way she came so she would just have to wait for Stacy and her friend to move on or for the ferry to reach the harbor. Pressing herself against the wall, the frozen metal penetrated her coat, chilling her. After a minute or two, she peered around the corner at the two people standing less than twenty feet from her. Standing near the railing, they were too deep in conversation to notice her, giving her an opportunity to study both them. The lower lights were dim but she could see the anger painted on Stacy’s face. Her bottom lip still carried Vance’s ‘love-tap,’ the bruise standing out starkly against her porcelain skin. The man standing next to her was tall with an athletic build, dressed completely in black. His features were fine, almost beautiful, with dark-brown eyes and a full, soft mouth. He was smiling at Stacy, a small dimple in his right cheek.
“I don’t know, Jason, he’s so angry. And secretive. He’s planning something, and I’m pretty sure it has to do with his chemical research.” Stacy’s lilting voice shook with emotion as she looked out over the water.
“Really? What makes you think that?” Jason asked, his voice smooth and calm.
From her hidden position, Madison saw his stance change sharply and harden as Stacy continued to talk. He moved in closer to her, his face stern and determined.
“I don’t know yet but I’m going to find out. If he thinks he’s going to knock me around and just expect me to put up with it, he’s got another thing coming.”
“I know just what you mean,” he said darkly.
Stacy started, looking at him curiously. You do?”
Quick as a rattlesnake, Jason reached out and grabbed her by one thin arm, pulling her to him.
“What are you doing? Let go of me!” Stacy exclaimed, her voice sharp with alarm.
The dark-haired man smiled wryly. “Sorry, babe, but I have my orders.”
“Orders? What are you talking about?” The alarm moved from her voice to her face, replacing the anger.
“Vance says you’ve outgrown your usefulness.”
Madison watched, frozen, not sure what was happening and not sure what to do. Should she jump out and help?
Absolute fear clawed at Stacy’s face, turning her blue eyes to the size of saucers. “Let go!” she demanded, trying to wrench her arm away.
With his free hand, Jason
Removing the clip holding her chignon in place, she shook her hair out, letting it spill loosely over her shoulders. The night had been long and stressful and she was exhausted. Her mind was filled with too many thoughts, none of them holding any real importance. Willing them away, she closed her eyes, letting the rocking movements of the ferry relax her. She could have probably fallen asleep had the cold December air been rushing over her, enveloping her as the ferry churned steadily through the Hudson River. Eyes closed, she relished the winter air and the gentle swaying until the sound of footsteps broke her idle mood. A couple were starting down the metal stairs that connected the levels of the ferry, their voices arriving before they reached the bottom. The woman’s voice was high-pitched, cracking with emotion and there was no mistaking it. Madison had heard it not even an hour ago. Of all the luck for Stacy to be on the same ferry as she was. Someone must really have it out for her. Madison didn’t recognize the man’s voice but as Seth had informed her, it was none of her business. She had to agree with him on that at least.
The last thing she wanted to do was run into Vance’s model of a girlfriend. Turning from the water, she moved around the outer wall of the ferry, planning to take the long way around. She heard the heavy double doors open just as she rounded the corner only to come up short. A mountain of wooden crates blocked her only way of escape.
Damn it! This night just keeps getting better and better. Well, she wasn’t about to go back the way she came so she would just have to wait for Stacy and her friend to move on or for the ferry to reach the harbor. Pressing herself against the wall, the frozen metal penetrated her coat, chilling her. After a minute or two, she peered around the corner at the two people standing less than twenty feet from her. Standing near the railing, they were too deep in conversation to notice her, giving her an opportunity to study both them. The lower lights were dim but she could see the anger painted on Stacy’s face. Her bottom lip still carried Vance’s ‘love-tap,’ the bruise standing out starkly against her porcelain skin. The man standing next to her was tall with an athletic build, dressed completely in black. His features were fine, almost beautiful, with dark-brown eyes and a full, soft mouth. He was smiling at Stacy, a small dimple in his right cheek.
“I don’t know, Jason, he’s so angry. And secretive. He’s planning something, and I’m pretty sure it has to do with his chemical research.” Stacy’s lilting voice shook with emotion as she looked out over the water.
“Really? What makes you think that?” Jason asked, his voice smooth and calm.
From her hidden position, Madison saw his stance change sharply and harden as Stacy continued to talk. He moved in closer to her, his face stern and determined.
“I don’t know yet but I’m going to find out. If he thinks he’s going to knock me around and just expect me to put up with it, he’s got another thing coming.”
“I know just what you mean,” he said darkly.
Stacy started, looking at him curiously. You do?”
Quick as a rattlesnake, Jason reached out and grabbed her by one thin arm, pulling her to him.
“What are you doing? Let go of me!” Stacy exclaimed, her voice sharp with alarm.
The dark-haired man smiled wryly. “Sorry, babe, but I have my orders.”
“Orders? What are you talking about?” The alarm moved from her voice to her face, replacing the anger.
“Vance says you’ve outgrown your usefulness.”
Madison watched, frozen, not sure what was happening and not sure what to do. Should she jump out and help?
Absolute fear clawed at Stacy’s face, turning her blue eyes to the size of saucers. “Let go!” she demanded, trying to wrench her arm away.
With his free hand, Jason
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