Page 20 of Her Wicked Hero

“Well, I guess we’ll just have to hope my arm doesn’t get tired by the time you get the stuff you need, huh?”

“Why are you doing this? Let me have the baby,” Marcia beseeched.

“I think after you get the shit you need, the little mommy will be able to take care of her own kid, don’t you? I think she’s done being too scared to come out of the corner.”

The woman was looking back and forth between Raymond and Marcia. She was sobbing.

“Come on, Lesley, you better go get the bottle and diaper. Better hurry.”

Marcia turned and ran. She was back in seconds. “I’ve got it. Please let the baby go.”

Raymond lowered his arm just a little. She knew he did it on purpose just to torture her and the baby’s mother. “Please Raymond. I’ll do whatever you want. Please don’t hurt the baby.”

“Lesley, I just want you to do what I say when I say it. Got it?”

“Anything Raymond.” Tears flooded her eyes and spilled over. “Please, I’m begging you.”

“God, there is nothing prettier than a crying woman.” He pulled the baby back over the edge of the boat and shoved the child toward the mother. They collapsed into one another’s arms.

“Don’t stand there, Lesley, give them the diaper and milk, that’s what started all of this. It was your fault it got to this point.”

“I’m sorry, Raymond. You’re right, it’s all my fault,” Marcia said as she walked forward. After half a step, she realized what she’d said and meant.

My God, get it together girl. Don’t believe his craziness is your fault. You’re being manipulated by a madman.

When she looked up into his eyes, she saw his pleasure at her behavior and realized she needed to keep it up, now it wasn’t just her life on the line.

Marcia crouched down and attempted to hand the diaper and bottle to the mother, but she wasn’t having any of it.

Raymond roared toward them, “Take it, you dumb bitch. Get your kid to stop it’s wailing.” The mother and baby just started crying louder.

“Raymond, please, I’m begging you. Let me take them under the awning. You’ll be able to see us all the time. I’ll be able to quiet them down, I promise.”

“No!” he shouted into her face, spit flying. “Make them shut up out here.”

Marcia turned her head and looked at the mother and baby and saw the futility of Raymond’s demand. She changed her position, so she was on her knees, her butt on her heels. She looked down at the deck floor.

“I’m trying to do what you want, Raymond, I really am,” she said in a soft voice.

He pinched her chin and yanked her head up, so she met his eyes. “I can’t stand their pathetic caterwauling. Make it stop. Make it stop.” Marcia’s breath stopped when she saw the pistol in his hand.

“You told me you liked it when I cried.”

“Your tears make me hard. Their tears are like nails on a chalkboard. If they don’t stop soon, I’ll kill them.”

“I don’t want you to have to kill them, Raymond. I don’t want that for you,” she coaxed. His fingers relaxed slightly. He looked indecisive. “Let me try to calm them down. The baby’s hungry, and once I can calm the baby down, the mother will calm down.”

“No funny business.”

“I promise. I want everybody to come out safe and sound. You know you’re holding all the cards.”

She watched his sly smile of satisfaction at those words.

Thank God, the submissive crap had worked.

He waved his pistol. “Go, fix this.”

On her hands and knees, Marcia crawled over to the mother and child. As soon as she got to them, she wrapped her arms around them.