The Art of Retaliation Read Free

speed causing her heart to thud against her chest as though it
would burst out.  

 
    She opened her mouth to speak in an attempt to protest her innocence
again but no words came out.   Instead she stood dumbfounded watching the room spin around her like a
carousel.

 
    Stephane looked on
with concern, frowning as Mara felt her blood drain from her face.   She felt her body sway as though she was
about to lose gravity and was faintly aware of her name being called.   Maxine was coming to her aid but the
billionaire’s arm was already around her waist supporting her body.   She tried to push him away but he was
lifting his arm under her legs and scooping her up in to his arms.   He carried her fainting body to the sofa
as blackness crept in to her vision and forced her in to unconsciousness.

 
    She came round to find Stephane sitting
next to her, holding the side of her face gently in his hand.   Idly his thumb stroked her cheek as he
spoke her name to rouse her.   It was
a warm soft caress that she instantly began to warm to.   It contradicted his earlier harsh words
and left her feeling somewhat confused.

 
    Leon handed him a glass of water and the billionaire’s hand moved
underneath her head to lift it from the pillow while he put the glass to her
lips.

 
    “Here, drink some water.   Sip it slowly.”

 
    It was the tenth dizzy spell she had experienced during the last
week and this one had ended in her fainting.   Mara couldn’t help regretting not having
taken Dr Martin’s offer of tablets to help her
control it.

 
    “You need food and rest.   Are you all right to walk?’ he asked softly.

 
    Mara nodded and looked at trembling Maxine.

 
    “Please let Maxine go.   It’s just me you want.”

 
    He appeared impatient with his task.

 
    “No.   I can’t have her
running to the police.   Now we’ve
wasted enough time.”

 
    Stephane took hold
of Mara’s hand to raise her from the sofa.   His arm wound around her waist to support her fragile figure as he led
her to the door of the apartment.

 
    He took her straight to the lift that she had been told was out of
order and showed the concierge his thanks in monetary terms when they reached
the ground floor for the deception.

 
    There were three other men waiting outside for them standing
inconspicuously next to two black Mercedes.   One of them opened the car door for
Mara.

 
    “Only six men to kidnap two women, Monsieur Garreau .   Don’t you think it would have been safer
with more?’ Mara’s sarcasm was biting.

 
    The billionaire took a breath but said nothing.   Yet she couldn’t help feeling
satisfaction that her jibe had hit home.  

 
    Maxine was taken to the second car and Stephane sat on the back seat beside Mara.   She rested her throbbing head on the back of the seat turning away from
him conscious that he was watching her every move with concern after her
fainting spell.

 
    Their journey was about two hours long, and mostly spent in awkward
silence after his refusal to tell her where they were going and her frantic
attempts to read the road signs.   Eventually the movement of the car began to lull Mara into the sleep she
craved.   She fought desperately to
keep her drooping eyes open, wanting to know where they were going and be alert
to danger.   But it was a battle she
was to lose.

 

Chapter
Two

 
    Mara woke as their journey neared its end, trying to work out
exactly when she had fallen asleep.   She glanced at a car rug that was tucked around her body and then at Stephane in surprise.   He was looking out of the window away from her.

 
    She studied his brooding profile trying to figure him out.   One minute he was hard with her,
asserting she was a criminal and the next he was taking care of her.

 
    A second later Mara realized he was looking back at her through the
window returning the appraisal with hooded eyes.   Her cheeks warmed.   Embarrassed she let her