What didshe see that he didn’t? What phantom from her past haunted her in this ordinary tavern?
“Gabriella,”he said, lowering his voice further, “if there’s danger, ye must tell me. Is there someone ye recognize here?”
Gabriella’s eyesdarted once more to the corner. Her face drained of what little color remained, and the mug slipped from her grasp, clattering against the table. Cider spilled across the scarred wood, but neither of them moved to stem the flow.
“That man,”she whispered, her voice barely audible above the noise. “The one with the red beard and scar across his cheek.”
Hector followed her gaze,assessing the man with a warrior’s eye. Tall, lean, with the weathered look of a man who spent much time outdoors. Nothing particularly threatening about his appearance, yet Gabriella’s fear was unmistakable.
“Who is he?”Hector demanded, his hand moving instinctively toward his dirk.
Gabriella leaned forward suddenly,her fingers clutching his arm with surprising strength. Her eyes, wide with terror, locked onto his as she whispered urgently, “He’s Lewis’s second-in-command. The man who helped him take me.”
15
Hector felt his blood turn to ice.
The manacross the tavern scanned the room with the practiced eye of a predator. His gaze swept past their table, then snapped back, narrowing on Gabriella’s face.
Hector sawthe exact moment recognition dawned in the man’s eyes. At first, he seemed confused, as if seeing a ghost, but then a cruel smile twisted his lips, transforming his ordinary features into something monstrous.
“He sees me,”Gabriella breathed, her voice barely audible over the noise.
Hector sawhow her hands began to shake uncontrollably as ice-cold sweats beaded on her brow. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, solid and warm. He had to make her feel safe around him.
“I willnae let him near ye,”he growled, the promise fierce in his voice.
The man’ssmile vanished as his eyes flicked to Hector. He assessed the Laird’s impressive frame, the unmistakable authority in his bearing, the hand resting on his weapon. Something like uncertainty crossed his features before hardening into resolve.
Without takinghis eyes off them, he backed toward the rear entrance, his movements casual to anyone who wasn’t watching closely. But Hectorwaswatching. He knew Gabriella was, too. From the way the man backed away, he was clearly going to find reinforcements.
“He’s leavin’,”Gabriella said urgently. “To tell Lewis he’s found me.”
Hector’s reaction was immediate.He surged to his feet, his chair scraping across the floor. Noah was already moving toward them, his warrior’s instincts having caught the sudden tension.
Hector caughthis eye and spoke in a low, urgent voice meant only for his ears, “The back door! Red beard!”
Noah turnedin the direction of the man, assessing the threat with a single glance. His hand moved to the hilt of his sword as he gave a sharp nod of understanding. He was already positioning himself to block any escape route, moving with the fluid efficiency of a seasoned warrior.
Hector strodetoward the rear entrance, his powerful frame cutting through the crowd like a blade.
“I saw him, Me Laird,”Noah said. “Let me handle this.”
“He’s mine,”Hector growled, the fury in his voice sending a shiver down Gabriella’s spine.
But as hetook a step toward the back door, he heard a whimper and turned back toward Gabriella. She sat frozen at their table, terror etched on her pale features, her hands trembling as curious eyes swiveled toward them. The patrons watched the unfolding drama with undisguised interest, whispers already beginning to spread from table to table.
His protective instinctswarred with his hunger for vengeance. Every fiber of his being demanded that he pursue the bastard who had tormented her, but she needed him here. Now.
“Go,”he commanded Noah in a low, deadly voice, never taking his eyes off Gabriella’s stricken face. “Dinnae let him escape. I’ll stay with the lass.”
With a sharp nod,Noa slipped toward the back entrance, moving with practiced stealth, while Hector returned to Gabriella’s side, positioning himself between her and the growing crowd of onlookers.
His jaw clenched,the muscle ticking beneath his skin as he fought his instinct to give chase. But when his gaze flicked to her, he knew he couldn’t leave her on her own.
“Come,”he said, offering his hand with a formality that seemed at odds with the urgency of the moment. “We’re leavin’.”
Gabriella placedher trembling fingers in his, grateful for the strength of his grip as he helped her to her feet. Her legs felt boneless with fear, threatening to give way beneath her. Hector’s hand moved to the small of her back, steadying her without seeming to do so.
