Falling In Love Again (Heroic Rogues Series) Read Online Free PDF

stumbled against the table. Falling, he smacked his head on the corner and collapsed on the floor, motionless.
    Tears filled her eyes and she bit her knuckles to keep from crying. I killed him. I’m a murderer no better than these highwaymen! This wasn’t her plan. She had to get out of here. Now!
    When her back slammed against the door, she turned and pulled on the doorknob. As she rushed out of the room, she ran into a bulky man who grabbed her shoulders and glared. His attention moved to her bloody hands, to inside the cabin.
    His eyes widened. “Blimey, wench. Ye killed the Capt’n ’!”
    “No,” she sobbed, unable to look back and see the unmoving figure of the once interminable Hawk. The slick of his blood stained her hands. “ ’Twas an accident.”
    “Don’t look like no accident to me, lady.”
    She struggled to pull away from his harsh grip, but he held tight. “You don’t understand. I—I—was on my way to find someone to help him.”
    “ Ye’r lyin ’, wench.”
    His fist flew out and knocked her across the jaw. Blackness filled her vision and closed her mind as her body sank motionless to the floor.
    * * * *
    Every muscle in Marcus’ body ached when he breathed. It especially hurt to open his eyes. He hadn’t consumed so much alcohol before that it had caused such an ill effect on him. The sun peeked in through his window, making him squint. What time of the day was it? Looked to be somewhere near the noon hour. Why did he sleep so long? There was much to do.
    Then he remembered Isabelle, the kiss, and the moment she thrust the dagger between his ribs. It took much effort to lift his throbbing head to glance at his wound, so instead, he moved his hands to the bandage wrapped around him. Apparently, he wasn’t dead, especially if his body screamed in pain.
    Where was Isabelle? Did his men know she’d tried to kill him?
    He groaned and turned his head on the pillow. The table where they’d had dinner still stood with dishes on top—minus the food. One chair lay on the ground.
    Why had she wanted him dead? The way she’d melted in his arms let him know she enjoyed his kiss. What had she said before he blacked out? Something about not meaning to? The more he thought about her words, the more he was convinced she blamed him.
    The pulsation in his head intensified, and he lifted his hand to rub his temple. A goose egg size bump rose on his skull. Why couldn’t he remember everything that had happened? He did, however, recall she’d confessed her knowledge about her father’s death. If she knew he’d killed her father, why had she pretended to be someone else? Obviously, she wanted to gain his trust, which he foolishly gave.
    The door creaked open and he moved his attention to the visitor. Simon carried in a tray of food.
    “You’re awake now,” Simon cheered.
    Marcus nodded. “That, I am, although I wish I wasn’t.”
    “We thought you weren’t going to make it, Captain.” Simon placed the tray on the bed beside Marcus. “For days we waited patiently—”
    “Did you say days ?”
    “Indeed. You’ve been in and out of consciousness for three days.”
    Marcus swiped shaky fingers through his grimy strands, and the proof of his unwashed hair was a testament to Simon’s words.
    “This is the first time you’ve been awake enough to eat.”
    Simon helped him to an upright position as the crew member fluffed pillows behind Marcus’ back. “I tell you, we’ve never been so worried in our lives.”
    “I appreciate it.” Steam from the broth rose to his nose, making the mere soup smell like a king’s meal. His stomach grumbled. “Tell me, where is Miss Stanley?”
    Simon’s expression darkened into a scowl. “We wanted to string her from her toenails and hang her from a tree, leaving her for the bears and wolves to feast upon. If it weren’t for Gabe—”
    “You knew she stabbed me?”
    “Aye, Captain. Theo caught her right after she’d done the deed and locked her in