The Art of Retaliation (15 page)

Mara woke a few minutes later to find Maxine tapping her face with
trembling hands.

She smiled.

“Maxine you did it,” she said lifting her head.

“Never mind that, are you all right? I just heard a cry and then a
thud,” she said hugging her tightly.

She didn’t give Mara time to answer.

“You shouldn’t have done this, your leg it’s bleeding.”

She knelt down and felt the leg all the way.
 
Mara sat up on her elbows, waiting for
Maxine to finish prodding her leg.

“I’m sure I am okay, Maxine.
 
Look I can move it.”

Mara shuffled the leg and then motioned for Maxine to help her up.

“Do you think you can walk?’ Maxine asked looking around for any
sort of help.

“Yes.
 
I will be fine,”
Mara reassured.

Maxine swung Mara’s arm around her shoulder and put an arm around
her waist for support.

“We’ll try and make it to the farmhouse over there like we planned.”

Mara nodded and let Maxine lead the way.

The farmhouse was just over a mile away and when they reached it to
their relief it was inhabited and they did not have to struggle to make
themselves known.
 
Two young men
were digging in the small market garden at the front of the rather dilapidated
house.
 

The man glanced up as their bodies eclipsed the sun in front of
him.
 
He sighed and stood erect
brushing sandy blonde hair away from his damp forehead.
 
Mara watched the look on Maxine’s face
change from anxiety to appreciation as she took in the muscular body that stood
tall and proud before them.
 
Her
eyes travelled down from his face and slowly across his bare bronzed torso to
the well fitted denims that clung to his body.
 
Maxine smiled sweetly.

“Bonjour.
 
We wonder if
you can help us?
 
Can we use your
telephone,” she simpered in French.

The man muttered a few words in return and put down the spade he had
been using.
 
A few more words were
exchanged and then he took Mara’s free arm and swung it around his shoulders to
assist Maxine.
 
His brother was dark
in comparison and a little older.
 
He had been watching from a distance but now he was walking over.
 
He spoke to Maxine and his brother who
instantly let go of Mara.
 
He walked
towards her and Mara found herself taking a step back unsure of what he was
about to do, afraid of his tall plump muscular build.
 
He reached out and took hold of her arm
and threw her untidily over his shoulder.
 
Mara
 
was
too weak to afford any resistance and was only glad she didn’t have to walk
anymore.
 
He carried her into the
house and dumped her unceremoniously into a chair in the kitchen.

“Maxine, what did he say to you?” Mara demanded becoming afraid that
she could not understand what they were saying.

Maxine knelt down beside her and rubbed her hand to reassure her
agitated tone.

“They are going to help us.
 
I told them that you fell when we were out walking and we got lost.
 
I didn’t know what else to say we don’t
know who we can trust.
 
It was the
best I could come up with.
 
I am
going to call Christophe and ask him to come and pick us up.
 
I won’t be long.”

“Okay.”

“Jacques, the blonde one is going to take me to the phone.
 
Isn’t he
cute?”
she
giggled.

The glint in Maxine’s eyes returned as the blonde approached and
beckoned for her to follow him to the telephone.
 
She left Mara alone with his older
brother who she gathered to be called Armand from Maxine and Jacques
conversation. He sat down in the chair next to her and made no effort to
speak.
 
There was a hunger in his
eyes that made her wary.
 
She
shifted uneasily in her chair and gave the man a nervous smile.
 
She received no reaction.

Mara’s eyes drifted around the stone walled room, anxious not to let
them meet Armand’s stare.
 
The house
inside was pleasant unlike the front.
 
There was little furniture and what there was of it was antique.
 
The wooden chair that she sat on was
part of a collection of eight that were carefully arranged around a large oak
kitchen table.
 
It was the
centerpiece of the room competing only with the large fireplace housing a spit
and fire underneath it.

A dresser stood in one corner of the room with plates neatly
arranged and several copper pots hung from various angles from the oak beams
that covered the low ceiling.
 
A
pile of green beans lay at the opposite end of the table next to a pile of
mushrooms that had just been skinned and were ready for cooking.
 
She returned her eyes to Armand’s face
unable to look elsewhere.
 
His own
grey eyes had not moved from when she had last
looked and were intently fixed upon her.
 
She bent her head, unsure of where to look next and wished Maxine would
hurry up.
 
But to her relief it was
not long after when her friend entered the room again, all smiles.

“Christophe is on his way.
 
He knows where the Chateau is.
 
We are not far from the Loire
river
and the
village of
Chanterell
.
 
One of his
friend
’s
used to live here.
 
He can get to a
track he knows runs through the forest up over the field here away from the
main road.
 
It is over to the right,
back near the house.
 
I just hope he
can make it before
Stephane
realizes we are missing.”

Mara laughed feeling relief overwhelm her along with unexpected
sadness that she was leaving
Stephane
behind.
 
It was an odd confusing feeling and she
tried in vain to sweep it away to the back of her mind.
 
She hugged Maxine, tears filling her
eyes.

“Jacques said we
can
use a room upstairs to
rest.
 
It will take Christophe just
over an hour to get here.”

She helped Mara up and led her up the stairs to sit her down on the
bed.

“Why does Armand not speak?” Mara asked communicating her unease
with the man as Maxine lifted her injured leg on to the bed.

“He was involved in a farming accident and he lost his tongue.
 
Its
affected
him really badly.”

“I’m not surprised.
 
I
hope the time passes quick I don’t feel happy being here,” she told Maxine
putting her head back on the pillows.

It didn’t take her long to drift into sleep nor did it take Maxine
very long despite vowing to stay awake and keep guard.

An hour later Mara woke up.
 
Rain was pelting fiercely down the windows and the room had grown
dark.
 
She rubbed her eyes and sat
up slowly being too stiff to do it any other way.
 
It took her a few minutes to register
Maxine’s disappearance from the room.
 
Before she became alarmed she saw a shadow pass the door caught briefly
in the dim light and sensed a presence.

“Who’s there?” she called out timidly.

Out of the blue a shrill scream vibrated around the farmhouse
sending an icy finger down Mara’s spine.
 
It was Maxine’s scream.
 
Instinctively she lurched forward in response but found her progress
blocked by what felt like a brick wall.
 
She looked up to find that the brick wall was breathing and was actually
Armand.
 
He had been drinking
heavily and he stunk of stale liquor.
 
Still dazed from her sleep Mara didn’t question why he was there and
tried to go around him.
 
He took
hold of her arm and pulled her back.

“What are you doing?
 
Where is Maxine?
 
What have
you done to her?” she demanded trying to escape his grip.

Armand’s hold tightened.
 
He was looking at her with that hungry look in his eyes again.
 
She cried out as he gripped her waist
with his other arm and pulled her closer to kiss her sloppily.
 
Maxine’s screams were chorusing into
many and ringing in Mara’s ears.
 
Without further hesitation she brought her knee up sharply and pushed it
hard into Armand’s groin.
 
He
instantly let go and backed away the bed squealing as he nursed his injury.

Mara limped out of the door and began to make her way down the
stairs as fast as she was able in the direction of the screams.
 
China crashed to the ground in a frenzy
following the sounds of tender flesh being hit.
 
Her own injury was slowing her down and
she was sure she would never get there to help Maxine.

“Maxine,” she called out in frustration.

She eventually cleared the stairs and ran towards the kitchen door
that was open.
 
Jacques had Maxine
pinned against the wall one hand holding her arms above her and the other in
her blouse.
 
For once Maxine
appeared reluctant.
 

Mara picked up speed and was about to enter the room.
 
She was oblivious to the arm that shot
out from the side of the door to wrap around her waist.
 
The stranger’s arm swung her with force
and slammed her against the wall at the side of the door.
 
Mara opened her mouth to let out a cry
but
a
 
hand
clamped
 
firmly over her mouth making
it impossible
 
The other arm pressed
her into the wall preventing her escape.
 
Her futile struggles ceased when the owner of the mysterious figure came
into view.

Stephane
put a
finger to his lips indicating for her to be silent.
 
She nodded and he let go.
 
Leon stood next to him.

“Get her out of here and put her in the car.
 
Don’t leave her we don’t know where the
other one is,’ he ordered.
 
“Make
sure you keep her safe.”

“But what about Maxine?
 
I have to help her,” Mara whispered.

“I will help Maxine.”

Mara kicked
Stephane
causing him to
momentarily release his grip as Armand had done.
 
She bolted from the hall and straight
into the kitchen.
 

“Damn it.
 
Mara come
back,” she heard him call after her.

She didn’t stop to think about what she was doing, she didn’t have
time.
 
Jacques
was
 
tearing
at Maxine’s blouse and
shorts.
 
Mara ran towards him and
lowered her head and butted into his side with as much force as she could
gather and knocked them both over on to the floor.

“Run, Maxine,” she shouted as Jacques stood and began advancing her
way, aggrieved at her interruption.

Mara picked up a handful of the French beans from the table and
threw them at him, cursing
herself
for not having been
able to find something more substantial.
 
Out the corner of her eye she could see
Stephane
was now in the room and running towards them.
 
Jacques grinned at Mara unaware that
Stephane
was behind him.
 
He lunged forward knocking her off
balance and brought her crashing to the hard floor beneath him.

Jacques sprawled over her tugging the top from out of her
shorts.
 
Her fight against his hands
was short lived.
 
The billionaire
reached down and pulled Jacques to his feet throwing him against he
fireplace.
 
His handsome face was
dark and murderous with fury.
 
From
the struggle she could hear in the hall it was evident that Leon had his hands
full with a drunken Armand and
Stephane
was on his
own.
 
She moved towards him to help
but he shouted at her to stay back.

For once Mara did as she was told and kept out of it seeing an
advantage to the situation.
 
It was
seconds later when the billionaire stood back to survey his handiwork.
 
Jacques lay sprawled against the wall
semi-
concious
, a small trickle of blood dribbling from
his mouth.
 
With satisfaction
lightening his features
he
 
turned
to find Mara.
 
He didn’t notice the copper pan come
crashing down on the back of his head.
 
He slumped to the floor confused and
unconcious
.
 
Mara sank with him trying to catch his
strong frame with difficulty.

‘I’m sorry,
Stephane
but its the only
way.
 
Too many people are in danger
including you and I have to help you all,’ she whispered to him smoothing his
hair from his forehead.
 

She cradled him.
 
He was
as quiet as a babe sleeping in her arms his masculine power silenced, its
intimidation no longer a threat.
 
He
was vulnerable and childlike.
 
She
cupped his handsome face and stroked the attractive dark shadow across the
side. It looked as if she had dragged him away from another meeting by his
business suit and she had disrupted his evening.
 
He worked too much.
 
He needed to rest just like herself.

“Maxine quick get over here,” she urged in a raised whisper worried
that she may wake him from his slumber.

Maxine ran over holding her blouse together.
 
Before she could speak Mara raised her
hand to stop any discussion of what had just occurred.

“We haven’t got time.
 
Are you all right?” s

She didn’t wait for an answer.

“I have thought about this and I can’t go with you.
 
I will only slow you down and they will
find us.
 
Do you think you can find
the road on your
own.
 
It is getting dark out there.
 
Do you think you can find Christophe?”

“Yes, yes I think so he gave me a lot of instructions.”

Maxine looked down at Mara’s hand rhythmically soothing the outline
of
Stephane’s
face.
 
“But what about you?”

“I will be okay.
 
If you
can get to Christophe we have a chance.
 
Tell him to go to the police.
 
I can’t leave
Stephane
like this.”

She looked down at the sleeping billionaire with affection.

“Please be careful.
 
I
will bring help as soon as I can,” Maxine said looking at her with sympathy
placing a comforting hand on her arm.

“You be careful too.
 
Look put that jacket that’s lying over that chair.
 
It looks like Armand’s.”

She watched Maxine pick the coat up.

“I know its too big but it will keep you sheltered from the rain.”

Maxine did as she was told without question.

‘Take care, Mara.
 
I will
be as quick as I can.”

She hugged Mara and then she was gone.
 
She hurried to the door passing a
bewildered Armand and Michel and stepped out into the rain.

Leon ran into the room not long after, Armand finally defeated.

“What happened?” he asked bemused looking down at
Stephane
.

“Oh he fell over and hit his head.
 
He went out cold,” she smiled.

Leon’s brown eyes darkened as
Stephane
uttered a low groan and tried to sit up.
 
Mara ushered his head back into her lap and stroked his forehead to
soothe him.

“Who hit me?”

Mara looked away to hide the guilt on her face.
 
The aim of Leon’s accusing eyes gave
Stephane
his answer.
 
He sat up rubbing the back of his head and let out a loud laugh.

“It was you wasn’t it?”

Mara’s eyes dropped to the floor.

“No, no I didn’t you fell after…”

“Yes it was you admit it.
 
After watching that rugby tackle I can believe anything of you,” he
spoke with pride.

Mara steadily met his gaze and was surprised to see admiration on
his face.

“I suppose you both thought you could get away when I was
unconscious, but though better of it?”

He knelt up to face her nursing the back of his head, unable to move
his eyes from the torn top that was revealing part of her breast.
 
She followed his eyes and gave an
annoyed tut before putting the material back in place.

“Where is
Maxine.
 
Is she all right?” he asked searching
her presence out in the room.

Mara grinned.

“Oh yes, she’s on her way home.”

Stephane
laughed
again and quickly looked around the room once more.
 
When he didn’t find her the smile turned
into a scowl.

“Leon, go on foot and get the others.
 
Maybe they have picked her up.
 
If not start looking for her.
 
She must be near.
 
Maxine won’t get far in this weather and
in the dark,” he snapped.

Mara pretended to be concerned with her swollen leg that she had stretched
out in front of her and hoped Maxine would make it.

“What the hell have you been doing now, Mara?
 
In the wars again?” he mocked in a crisp
English voice, bending to examine her leg.

She flinched with pain.

“Be careful.”

“
Shh
just take it easy.
 
How did you get that bruise on your
face?
 
Did one of them hit you?’ he
asked quietly cupping the injured side of her face to get a clearer look.

“No I managed to get over that wall you were so confident I couldn’t
get over and fell on this side.
 
I
was dizzy again.
 
I fell unconscious
for a few moments and Maxine dragged me here I suppose you think I’m stupid?”

His face was serious.

“No I think you are very brave.
 
I’m sorry about all of this, sorry you didn’t make it.”

Mara’s eyes widened.

“It doesn’t have to be this way,
Stephane
.
 
Just let me go.”

The billionaire shook his head and reluctantly removed his hand from
her face.

“You know I can’t.
 
You
said it yourself.”

Mara sat back on her elbows defeated.
 
He helped her up grimacing with the pain
to his head.
 
He rubbed it again.

“That was quite a blow.”

“No more than you deserve,” she retorted.

He put her in the car.
 
Mara consoled herself at least they hadn’t found Maxine yet.
 
She gazed out of the window at the
weather and thunder crackled overhead making her jump.

“You don’t like storms very much do you, Mara?”
Stephane
said sitting next to her.
 
“I find
them exciting to watch but from safety behind a window.”

Mara shuffled in her seat and unaware pressed herself into the car
door to retreat from him or rather what she knew he was going to say.
 
She didn’t want to hear it.

“How do you think Maxine will like it out there all alone.
 
It wasn’t a well though out plan,
Mara.
 
Maxine could be in
danger.
 
What if she isn’t found she
will be out there on her own all night? He continued.

There was too much emphasis on the words,
all
alone
.
 
But Maxine wasn’t
going to be on her own.
 
Christophe
would find her, that’s if she could find the road past that forest.
 
What if she didn’t find it?
 
What if something or someone happened to
her?
  
There were too many what
ifs.

 
No she mustn’t let him
do this to her.
 
Maxine could look
after herself.
  
No she
couldn’t, she couldn’t even turn up to an appointment on time.
 
Mara looked at him, her face a mixture
of anger and horror.
 
She suppressed
the need to
speak
 
and
tell him where Maxine was so that she would be safe and
turned her head to the window.
 

Thankfully,
Stephane
said no more
conceding defeat at his plan to make her feel guilty and give up Maxine’s
whereabouts.
 
It would have been
easy to tell him but if they were to have any chance of getting out of this
mess, she had to keep quiet.
 
Mara
bit her lip and prayed.