Her heart stopped at the voice behind her. Nay, it couldn’t be...
Turning around, she saw Ryan MacAren standing between her and the faded wood wall. His dark brown eyes were furious. His light brown hair was swept back from his face and he looked none too pleased with her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked him.
He didn’t answer her either. “I swear woman, you never do as you’re told. You should have been on your way home by now, not here.”
She frowned at his angry, commanding tone. “What the devil are you talking about?”
“Get up.” He took her roughly by her arm and hauled her to her feet.
“Let go of me!” she snapped, trying to pull free.
He refused to.
Nora grimaced as he pulled her roughly through the crowd. She slapped at his hand and still he refused to loosen his grip.
“What has possessed you, Ryan? Have you gone mad?”
“Shut up, Nora. I’m in no mood for your lip. One day, you’re going to learn to keep your mouth closed and to listen.”
Suddenly, Ewan was there, in the middle of their path, his eyes dark and deadly. “Release her.”
Ryan pulled his sword out so fast that she gasped. He angled it at Ewan’s throat. “This is between me and her. Don’t make me kill you.”
Total silence rang out as every eye in the pub fixated on the two men and the people wondered what was going on.
Ewan looked from the tip of the sword to her. She saw the steely, cold look of determination and it made her blood run cold.
This was a man who really could kill someone. It was the face of the man who had started this trip with her.
And she had forgotten just how dangerous a man Ewan could be.
“Move!” Ryan ordered.
Ewan moved so fast that she couldn’t even follow his actions. One second Ryan had him pinned with the sword point and in the next, Ewan had knocked the blade aside with his arm and seized Ryan by his throat. Ewan picked him up from the floor by the collar of his shirt and left him to dangle from his fist.
Ryan fought Ewan’s hold, but it was useless. Ewan was so much larger that he held him in his fist like an angry dog with a puppy.
“Who are you?” Ewan growled.
Now that she was calmer and relieved that Ewan was there, Nora saw Viktor and Bavel standing behind Ewan.
“He’s the one who said he’d pay me,” Viktor said.
“Why?” Ewan asked. “And what do you want with my woman?”
“Your woman?” Ryan said, his face bright red from Ewan’s hold. “She’s not your woman, MacAllister. She’s mine. I’m Ryan MacAren and she’s promised to me.”
Nora saw the color fade from Ewan’s face. His eyes looked suddenly dazed, as if someone had struck him a staggering blow. His hurt gaze went from Ryan to her.
“Your betrothed?” he asked.
Nora couldn’t answer him. The words lodged themselves in her throat.
“Aye,” Ryan choked out. “Now let me go.”
Ewan was dumbstruck enough to do as he asked. He lowered the much smaller man to the floor, then faced him with a scowl. “You paid to have me abducted? Why?”
