AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I take several precious moments to get my breath back and ascertain which bits of me are broken. Mercifully, all my limbs seem to work, so I settle for that. Somehow, I manage to also ignore the pain in my hand and wrist, and the stinging across my thighs which caught the rest of the scalding tea.
I jump to my feet, and I run.
CHAPTER15
Jack
Magda circles low over Caraksay.“Where do you want me to set you down?” she yells over her shoulder.
“Castle forecourt,” I reply. “Can you wait for me there?”
“You’re going straight off again?”
“Yup. I hope so.”
I don’t even wait for her answer. The moment the runners make contact with the stone flags, I leap to the ground and sprint towards the ancient stone fortress which is the home of our don and the headquarters of the Caraksay Brotherhood, as the Savage inner circle is affectionately known.
Ethan and Aaron are halfway down the main stairs and deep in conversation as I charge past them through the great hall. I offer them a salute on the run but don’t stop. I sprint right past them and into the smaller passageway leading past the library to the huge kitchen at the far end. I hear voices from within as I get near, and I recognise the soft tone of the woman I’m here to see.
She has to listen. I’ll make her hear me out.
Faith Sampson and Mrs McRae are firm friends. Both look at me in surprise when I burst into their domain.
Mrs McRae is made of stern stuff. She scowls at me, obviously not appreciative of the commotion I’m causing. “Can I help ye, Mr Morgan?”
I shake my head. “It’s Faith I’ve come to see.”
Faith was peeling carrots when I made my sudden entry. She puts down the knife and regards me with interest. “What can I do for you, love?”
“I need you to talk to Beth,” I begin. “Get her to see sense.”
“Sense?” Faith smiles. “Well, I can certainly try. What, exactly, is this sense she seems to be missing?”
“Ruth,” I snap.
Faith’s eyebrows go up. She tilts her head, regards me quizzically. “Ruth?” she repeats. “Do I know a Ruth?”
My patience is slipping. I’m conscious of every second that passes while we play out this farce. “Ruth. Her sister.”
Faith’s expression shifts to one of blank astonishment. “Beth has no sister.”
I glare at her. It’s all I can manage not to actually grind my teeth. “Don’t you start this fucking nonsense, too. A woman is dying while you play these fucking games. And another might. You know what I’m talking about. You need to get your head out of your insecure, jealous arse and tell Beth you don’t mind.”
“Jack…?” Faith starts to get to her feet. “I really don’t know—”
“Faith doesn’t know about Ruth.” Aaron has entered the kitchen behind me. Ethan, too.
I whirl to face him. “She…?”
He shakes his head. “Beth thought it would put unfair pressure on Faith if she knew the situation. She decided not to discuss it with her. Faith genuinely has no idea what you’re talking about.”
Open-mouthed, I take in this twist. I’d assumed… I’d been so sure. It never occurred to me that…
Holy fuck!
“You owe Faith an apology, Jack. Feel free to grovel.” This from Ethan, who is always most insistent that the females in this household be treated with respect. That goes for staff and his more distant relatives as well as the immediate family.
He’s right. I can’t babble my regrets quickly enough.
