Desired by Shadow (A Shadow Walkers Novel) (34 page)

“Nice place. Sorry to barge in on you.”

He interrupted her. “Robert called. Said you were coming and might need a place to stay for a few days. Everything alright?” He was looking at her as if afraid she’d crumble to pieces in his living room. She wanted to laugh at the panicked look in his eyes.

“If it’s not too much trouble, could I crash on your couch for a couple of days? Just until I find my own flat.” She ignored the raised eyebrows and questioning look. “Does the offer still stand to work with you?”

“Sure, you can stay here until you find something and hell yes, I could use the help.” He took her bag and put it next to the couch. “There are blankets and pillows in the closet. I’ll get you a key so you can come and go as you please…oh, my neighbor across the hall, Amy, comes to clean and do the shopping every week so if there’s anything you need put it on the list on the counter.” He paused. “Um…everything okay? Do you…want to…talk?”

“Monroe. I’m fine. I don’t want to talk about it and don’t worry. I won’t sit on your couch and cry. There are lots of people who need our help, let’s get to work, shall we?”

He looked so relieved it almost made her laugh.

“Sure. Great. Have a seat.” He motioned her to the sofa and handed her a beer. “Yell if you need anything. We’ll get started in the morning.”

She’d thanked him and made up the makeshift bed. Instead of tossing and turning, exhaustion consumed her as she fell into a deep dreamless sleep.

Tuesday, November 7
^th

Munching toast, Monroe shared his information. Maggie added details where she could. She’d slept well, waking before him and starting the coffee before hitting the shower and getting dressed. It was early but she needed to do something. Anything to keep her mind from rehashing the previous events. Work would occupy her and take her mind off him. Monroe laid out three locations he wanted to check out before rallying the troops.

“There’s a building near Glasgow. It’s the perfect location to hide people. If you don’t need anything else, we’ll get on the road and scout that one first.”

Grateful for immediate action to fill her brain, she drained the coffee. As she jogged down the stairs behind him, she only thought of Robert three times. It was a good start to the day. She’d ask lots of questions on the drive so she wouldn’t have time to dwell.

Neil couldn’t believe dragons existed and there was one living at Gwrych. Wait until Bruce heard Maggie had a beast protecting her. Hell, he’d flip when he found out she was alive. That monster, Fury lied. If he hadn’t been standing there in the courtyard with Robert and seen it with his own eyes, he’d never have believed it.

Slinking around behind the stables, he placed the call. Bruce was verra interested in the treasure and they plotted to kill each crewmember and steal their share. The treasure inside the castle would be harder but not impossible with the right distraction. To say he was furious Maggie was alive was an understatement. Neil heard breaking crockery and what sounded like a chair or table turning over before Bruce came back on the line.

“Good job, Neil. I want everyone on board for this. We’ll need two large crews. One to hit Robert’s men at their homes and another at the castle in Wales. Keep an eye on things and I’ll ring once his men are dead. We’ll hit them within the hour.”

Ending the call, Neil smiled. He’d be richly compensated. No need to bother Bruce about the share of treasure Robert had already given him. As the newest man, he got the smallest share but that paltry amount should bring him several million pounds easy. No, he’d tell Bruce he only got a handful of coins and jewels. Skulking around the stables, he went back inside the old soldier’s garrison now turned luxurious quarters for Robert’s men who wanted to stay at the castle. He had a diversion to plan.

Maggie was gone. Left him. Robert wanted to go inside, lock himself in the study and drown in a cask of rum. Draken deserved to be hit with a blast of energy for telling her before he could. Well, he would have…eventually. Once he’d taken care of everything.

He ticked off the accusations—lying, keeping secrets, not trusting her, and betrayal. Okay, he lied by omission and technically he kept a secret from her. But not trusting her. He trusted her with his life. She was someone he’d want at his back. The accusation of betrayal stung the most.

He’d called her mobile a dozen times. The first two times she answered but wouldn’t say a bloody word. How could he make it right if she wouldn’t speak to him? Realizing she was sending her calls to voice mail, he rang Monroe.

The guy wouldn’t even hand the phone to Maggie. He had the nerve to tell Robert to give her time, a few days. Time. That was rich. The one thing out of his control.

Hours passed in a blur. Feeling sorry for himself, he sat and drank. Damnation. He’d return all of the treasure if it would make this right. He tried calling Thorne but got bloody voice mail. At this moment, he hated technology. How could he fix things if the bastard wouldn’t answer?

And he had to resolve matters with Maggie. Gwrych was desolate, empty without her presence. How could he tell the bloody stubborn woman he loved her if she wouldn’t pick up the damn phone?

Deciding he needed to vary his swear words, he threw out a few choice phrases he’d picked up. Nope, didn’t feel a bit better.

Banging his head on the desk, he shouted to the fates. “Thanks a bloody lot. Not like I have a lot of time left here.”

Nice. Now he was talking to the ceiling.

The bottle of rum was empty. Squinting at the glass, a smile curved across his face. He wasn’t some green lad. He knew Maggie. What made her tick, what made her happy and what made her angry. A strategy was what he needed. Then he’d woo her back. And he’d take care of the curse all in one nice pretty package. He could fix this.

Gareth burst into the study, interrupting his planning. “Milord, I’m terribly sorry to interrupt, your mobile’s going directly to voice mail.

He glanced down and sure enough he’d set it on silent. What if Maggie had called? Rubbing his eyes, his shoulders tensed as he noted the look of alarm on Gareth’s face. “Whatever is the matter, man?”

“Bean has been badly injured. Three men attacked him on the way into his cottage, after the treasure, they were. Lucky for him the missus wasn’t home. He’d have been killed except the authorities happened by and broke up the quarrel. Bean told them it was nothing to worry over and sent them away.”

“How bad is it?”

The steward grimaced. “Bad. The men knew about the treasure. As they planned to murder Bean, guess they didn’t worry about what was said. All of your crew is supposed to be hit tonight. The orders were to kill the crew and steal the gold.” Gareth paused, swallowing. “Bean heard them mention Solien. There’s a traitor amongst us.”

Standing and looking out the window over the courtyard, Robert swore in every language he knew. “Neil is the newest addition. The rest of the men…there’s no way any of them did this. He came to us from another ship with a story of losing his job and a family to feed. At the time he checked out so either he had some help infiltrating the crew or he turned minion after. No matter.” Robert paced the study, planning and discarding until he stopped and spun to face his most trusted man. “Call the crew and warn them. I’ll call Colin and Jasper for help. Every last one of those buggering bastard minions and Day Walkers we can locate die tonight.” Sweeping his arm across the desk, sending papers and crystal to the floor, rage filled him. The door swung open. What now? Like he needed any more problems.

“Milord, we’re under attack.”

“Gareth, make the calls.” Running out of the room, he checked to ensure he had daggers in his boots, he grabbed the shoulder holster off the table along with extra magazines and bolted for the courtyard. A fight was just the thing for keeping his mind off Maggie.

Thank the gods for voice dialing. “Call Colin.” Come on, come on, answer, blast it. A cranky voice picked up. “I’m in the middle of trying to feed the twins, ‘tis worse than facing ten Day Walkers with no powers. What?”

“My crew’s been targeted. I need you and Jasper to go to each house and check on them. The enemy will be out in full force.” He was almost to the great hall. Breathing heavy, he took the stairs two at a time, wishing again for his powers.

“Why are you out of breath?” Colin’s voice was laced with suspicion.

“Seems, some of the losers decided to come at me here at Gwrych. Don’t worry about it, just get to my men. I can’t be both places at once—” Fear gripped him. Maggie was out in the city. “Colin. Listen to me. Call Monroe and warn him. Maggie’s with him and I can’t go to her.”

There was a sharp intake of breath. “Bloody hell. You’re powerless. Why isn’t Maggie with you? The week’s almost—”

Robert cut him off. “Don’t say it, get it done. We can talk like little old ladies over a pot of tea when this is over.” Ending the call, he threw the great doors open.

Pandemonium reigned. Men filled the courtyard, fighting. How utterly insulting. Not a Day Walker among them. Solien had only sent minions to steal from him? He didn’t know whether to be furious or roar with laughter. One of the losers caught his attention. Well, at least the current minion leader, Bruce was here. He wanted that one for himself. Owed it to Maggie.

Jumping into the fray, dodging bullets, he took out two minions as his feet hit the bottom step. Cutting men down, making his way to the center of the melee where his target stood, Robert dimly registered the screams but kept going. Battle lust taking over, sending him onward. Shooting a man point blank in the chest, he came face to face with Bruce. Gratified to see the man pale and take a step back when he saw Robert. ‘Twas his undoing. No bullets for this one. Pulling a dagger from his boot, he sliced the guy’s trigger arm, hitting tendon as the gun fell from Bruce’s fingers and his hand refused to close on its own.

“Bruce, the merry minion leader. I’ve been wanting to meet you.”

The man’s eyes darted to the side seeking help. None would be forthcoming as his men were fighting for their lives. There were a small number of men at Gwrych but they were used to brawling, had grown up in the streets or on a ship. Both taught a man to stand up and fight at an early age.

Grasping his injured arm, Bruce backed up a few more steps. “You’ve stolen my property, pirate.” The words were bold but the voice, shaking, reedy, gave him away.

“People are not property. And Maggie is under my protection.” Gods, he was sweating. It felt warmer. Shrugging, Robert struck again. The blade cutting through the man’s denim-clad thigh like butter. He cried out. His pants leg soaked. Good he’d hit an artery. He wanted this worm of a man to suffer for what he did to Maggie. Wanted to be the one to end his life.

The smell of cooked meat assailed his senses. Punching Bruce in the face, he was gratified to hear the crunch of bone as his nose shattered, blood gushing down his face to soak his shirt. The piece of trash fell to his knees giving Robert time to process what was happening behind him.

Draken had joined the party and was shooting flames from between his massive teeth, roasting minions where they stood. As he watched, Draken snatched one man around his midsection, threw him into the air and as the great jaws snapped shut, he swore he heard the man still screaming.

Turning back to finish Bruce off, a bolt of lightning cracked next to his head missing him by mere inches. The smell of electricity filled the air. What the bloody hell? Had a Day Walker or three arrived late to the party? With all the smoke from burning flesh it was hard to see. A large, shaggy head appeared, followed by two more.

Fury had joined the melee.

Kneeling down, Robert raised his dagger to Bruce’s neck. “I want you to remember your men dying, barbequed and eaten alive while you bled out on the ground, unable to help them. Know this. I will raze every holding location, destroy every minion and let Draken eat every goblin in my Country. The Day Walkers will fall and everything you’ve done will be for naught. Ready yourself to face judgment. I don’t think kidnappers will be well received.”