Shears chuckled behind her at the scene, but she sensed his anger on what he viewed. For the pistol dug deeper into her back and his hand clutched the back of her neck to keep her still. His grasp tightened as his fingers gripped her skin. Skye sensed the bruises forming from his hold. She tried taking deep breaths to fight her way through her panic.
“Honey, I am back,” he snarled into the silent room.
Skye watched as the couple stilled at his words. The woman gasped and removed herself from Maxwell’s arms, backing away from him. Maxwell’s reaction confused Skye. He nonchalantly strolled across the room to lean against the fireplace. He wasn’t surprised by Shears's appearance, but Skye did catch his shock at her presence and watch as he tried to control his fear for her.
“You, you are dead,” the lady stuttered.
“As you can see my dear, I am very much alive. It didn’t take you long to find another to spread your thighs for.”
The woman paled, she understood what the tone of voice from Shears meant. He was a man who didn’t want to share his property. And she was his property for she sold her soul to him years ago. She knew this act of betrayal would cost her dearly.
“Welcome back from the dead Shears,” Zane drew Shears’s attention towards him.
“Was never dead to begin with.”
“You will be soon.”
Shears laughed, “I don’t know if you are aware or not, but I seem to have the upper hand.” He held up his gun, then repointed it at Skye’s back.
Maxwell looked at his fingertips, pretending boredom. “Mmm, so you say.”
Shears growled at Maxwell’s indifference, “I see that your favors have turned once again.”
“How so?” Maxwell inquired.
“Let’s see, first your heart desired Lady Ivy. Then when her charms laid with another, you bedded this bitch here. Then after I had a bit of fun with your lady, you decided to bed mine.”
Skye saw Maxwell tense at Shears’s words. She sent him a warning sign with her eyes, not to let Shears bait him. Maxwell appeared to relax under Skye’s signal.
“Let us discuss, why you are really here Shears and release the lady. She is of no use to you or me.”
“That is what you lead me to believe, but I know better. She spent the afternoon in your bed and let us not forget the little meeting you two shared earlier this evening.”
“You rogue, you laid your hands on me tonight, but you are bedding this Scottish heathen.”
“Shut up woman, you are no longer of any use. I will take care of you later,” Shears growled. “As I was saying Maxwell, I think I will hold on to Lady MacKinnon a while longer.”
“Well, let it be known, I warned you Shears.”
“I will bed her and allow you to watch this time Maxwell. But before I do, there is the matter of the missing jewels. I've heard MacKinnon's brother has returned them to the King. You two will get me those jewels and in return you can have the missing heir.”
“The heir is dead,” Skye interrupted.
Shears laughed, “No, my dear the heir lives. She is upstairs, hidden as we speak. After I have the jewels, I will let Maxwell have the child.”
“Then you can release Skye now.”
Shears’s evil laugh caused their guard to rise further. “No, you will choose Maxwell. The girl or MacKinnon. You cannot have both. Either way I will be the winner, for I will take either one. They both will serve their purpose, and that purpose is to serve me.
Maxwell advanced on Shears but stopped when he heard the pistol cocking. He played this scene himself only a few months past. His action was to cause fear, Shears’s action would be death. He stared as Skye’s eyes grew large in her pale face.
“Now, now Romeo, back away. I would hate to kill your latest love,” Shears said as he dragged the pistol across Skye’s cheek.
“Tell me what you want Shears,” Zane gritted the words between his teeth.
“I want you to visit your friends in the ballroom. Make nice with Logan MacKinnon and get me those jewels.”
“I will need Skye to return with me.”
“Nice try, but she will join the heir above stairs. After the two are secure I will follow you as you gain those jewels for me. When they are in my possession, I will take you to the two ladies where you will choose which one you want to keep.”
Shears turned to the hostess, “Now my dear you are of use, take us to the girl.”
The hostess led them up the back staircase where they climbed three flights of stairs. Skye counted the stairs and the number of steps they took to the locked room. The light kept to a minimum in the hallways and stairways. She paid attention to the detail, Skye realized for her to get them to safety, she would need to know the layout of their path. When they stopped before a locked door, Lady Cassandra took out a chain hidden in her pocket and unlocked the entryway. Shears shoved Skye inside and re-locked the door before she had a chance to send Maxwell a signal.
When she looked around the small room, she spotted a figure huddled on the bed. A small light cast the bedroom in shadows. As she strode to the bed, she saw a young girl lying fast asleep. Skye hoped she was sleeping for the young girl’s breathing was shallow. She sat down on the bed, touching her warm forehead, and realized she held the start of a fever. The girl might be too weak to escape. If Skye could move her to a different room to hide her, then the girl stood a chance at being rescued. She nudged the girl on the shoulder to rouse her from her nap. When the girl opened her heavy lids, she appeared frightened. Skye realized she was too afraid to speak.
“Hello, I mean you no harm. I am a friend. My name is Skye, what is yours?”
“I am Elizabeth, my friends call me Lizzy.”
“Well I consider you my friend Lizzy. I will find a way to safety. Do you think you can walk?”
Elizabeth nodded her head weakly. Skye could tell the girl had spirit; a trait they would need during their escape.
“You rest, I will search how we can escape this room.”
“It is useless, I have been trying for weeks. There is no way out.”
“Let me see what I can do.”
Skye moved to the door and examined the lock. She pulled the decorative hair pin from her head and bent the pin into one long piece. Lowering herself to her knees, she picked the lock. She listened to the young girl fighting a cough behind her. She waited for the silent click and heard when the lock opened. Skye returned to Lizzy and urged her to drink a glass of water. When she glanced around the room for Lizzy’s slippers Skye realized the room was bare, the only items left were the bed and a blanket. She helped the girl to her feet and guided her to the door. Skye didn’t want to open the door until she saw to their safety, she didn’t want to draw any unwanted attention their way. She opened the door a crack, peering into the dark hallway. There was nobody standing guard. Shears must have trusted they couldn’t leave the room. Only opening the door for them to slide through, Skye pulled the door shut behind them.
She aided Lizzy along the hallway, sticking close to the walls. Skye tried the doors as they went, but the rooms remained locked. After they made it to the stairway, she decided they must work their way downstairs.
“Can you continue Lizzy?” she whispered.
At the young girl’s nod, Skye led them down the stairs. After two flights, Lizzy’s steps lagged. Skye realized she needed to find a room for the girl to hide, then go for help. As they searched another hallway, luck came their way. When she tried another door, it opened into a linen closet. She helped Lizzy to the back of the room and laid her in the corner on a stack of sheets. Skye pulled a sheet over the girl to hide her, promising her she would return. The girl drifted off to sleep, exhausted from their short excursion. Skye watched the vulnerable girl sleep, not wanting to abandon her. She held a sweet disposition; Skye noticed the similarities to Zane. Lizzy shared his dark black hair and her eyes carried the same smoky gray. She ran her hand along the girl’s hair in affection, whispering her promises to
return. She knew the girl slept, but it made her feel better to speak the words.
As she continued along the last flight of stairs, Skye heard the musicians playing a waltz. She hoped to dance one with Zane tonight. She dreamed romantic thoughts for tonight to play out, instead it turned into her worst nightmare. Skye stood on the edge of the ballroom floor, her gaze scouring for any sign of Maxwell and Shears. She spotted her brother dancing with Raina. When she saw Charles standing along the outer wall, she made her way to his side.
“I don’t have time to explain, please sweep me into this dance towards my brother.”
Charles didn’t hesitate at the urgency of her tone. As they tried to dance towards the couple, Skye filled him in on the details of Shears’s return and his demands. Mallory didn’t appear shocked by her words.
“How long have you known?”
“Since this afternoon, Thorn received word, and we concocted a plan. We were hoping your brother would keep you occupied while we took care of Shears.”
“Does my brother hold knowledge of your plan?”
“No, we thought the fewer people involved, the better our plan would succeed. We underestimated your determination to steer clear of Maxwell.”
“No, I think the man underestimated my love for him. Fool. All of you are fools.”
By then they waltzed next to the couple. After a twirl they switched partners and Logan danced Skye away from the Charles and Raina.
“Where have you been this time?”
“There is no time to explain, Shears is alive and holds Maxwell hostage. They are looking for you, he wants the jewels. Shears locked me in a room and I escaped.”
“I need to get you to a secure location.”
“No, we have to rescue Maxwell.”
“From what I can tell, Maxwell can rescue himself.”
“No, that is not him. He is undercover, playing a part. We must help him.”
“Give me one good reason to help that double agent.”
“The heir is alive.”
“Impossible.”
“No, tis true. Shears locked me away with her, I helped her to escape and have her hidden. I must return to her before they discover where I hid her.”
“Take me to her and I will get you both to safety.”
“I need you to help me lead Shears into a trap.”
Logan waltzed her over to the doors leading out to the balcony, he needed to keep her hidden from Shears. If Shears discovered she escaped, there would be no telling what the mad Captain would do. He was stuck, his sister wouldn’t budge. He must save Maxwell, or she would never forgive him. As he moved her to the darken edge of the balcony, Charles and Raina joined them as they followed them off the dance floor.
Skye directed Charles and Raina where they could locate the young girl. They were to rescue her and take her to Hillston House. She felt relieved knowing the girl would be safe from Shears’s revenge. Soon Thorn and Ivy joined them, and they filled them in on Shears’s plan. Thorn not wanting Ivy anywhere near Shears’s, had her father escort her home to await them. Logan and Thorn devised a plan to draw Shears away from the ball. Logan wanted Skye to return with Ivy, but Skye wouldn’t leave. As they discussed their plan, Skye saw Shears and Maxwell enter the ballroom. She pressed herself deeper in the shadows. Hiding in the dark, she kept herself as still as could be. She noticed when Shears spotted her brother on the balcony. He motioned for Maxwell to continue outside.
Skye also saw Lady Cassandra following at a discreet distance. She glanced nervously around her, hoping nobody noticed Shears pressing a gun into Maxwell’s back as they strolled across the dance floor. She was mistaken, for the gasps and screams as the crowd parted for the men weren’t going unnoticed. Lady Cassandra tried to calm her guests, but they would have no part of the drama unfolding. Shears in anger fired his gun at the ceiling. The guests backed away frightened, but that didn’t stop him, he continued with his prey. Skye held her breath as Shears pointed a gun at the man she loved, but Zane didn’t allow the threat to faze him. He stood relaxed under Shears’s control.
Maxwell relaxed as Shears dug the butt of the gun into his back. He wouldn’t show this man fear. The man thrived and only drew stronger on fear. Maxwell was concerned though, he feared for Skye’s life. No way in hell would he choose. He would have them both, for this time he would kill the man and take pleasure from it. Shears was a fool if he thought he would leave this ball alive. The place was swarming with undercover agents. They were ready for him this time. While it seemed Shears survived his injuries, Maxwell perceived it to be false. He walked with a limp and favored his right side. The only mistake Maxwell made tonight was not confiding in Skye and her brother. Maybe if he had, then she wouldn’t have followed him. He foolishly thought she would buy into his scheme. He was all kinds of a fool.
“Just the man I was searching for, Logan MacKinnon,” Shears snarled.
“What do you want Shears?” MacKinnon replied.
“I want my jewels in which you stole from me and in return I will give you back your sister.”
MacKinnon came at Shears, “You bastard, if you touch her, I will kill you.”
“Did you not hear? I already touched her,” Shears boasted.
MacKinnon reached Shears wrapping his hands around his throat. He started to choke him, but Shears moved the pistol to MacKinnon’s gut. He pressed the pistol deeper until MacKinnon let him go. Logan backed away, glaring at the Captain. Shears pulled another pistol out of his waistband and motioned for the men to stand in front of him.
“Now then, I want the jewels in my possession within the hour or your sweet sister will be mine. Now you gents are probably wondering which sister I am referring to. Well I shall make it easy for you, whoever brings me the rubies gets to keep their sister. The other will be mine to enjoy.”
“Never,” both men spoke at once.
Skye stepped from the dark shadows. She walked behind Shears quietly as he spoke vulgar comments to the men of his plans for her and Lizzy, as she stood at his back. As she listened to his words, they gave her the power to confront him. She was going to steal his power away. He would never hurt another soul again.
Maxwell watched her come out of the shadows. His shock at her appearance he kept hidden from his face. He didn’t want to give Shears any reason to turn around. Skye’s life was held in the balance of time. He knew if Shears realized she escaped he would kill her to prove the extent of his power.
She looked amazing, like his warrior goddess. She stood tall and powerful behind the evil man with her long red hair blowing in the wind. She slid her skirts above her knees, reaching her hand to her thigh he saw her pull out a dirk. Only his Scottish beauty would come to a ball ready for battle.
Before he realized what she planned, she stuck the dirk into Shears’s right side and twisted the small knife in and upward. However, Skye wasn’t finished with him yet. She pulled the knife out and held the weapon to his throat. She did it all so quick, Maxwell could tell Shears knew none of it was coming.
“Your destruction has finally come to an end. You will harm no one ever again,” she whispered behind him as she slid the knife across his throat, slicing open his skin.
But her attack wouldn’t dissuade the Captain. He turned swiftly catching Skye off balance. With her heavy skirts she stumbled backwards, falling. When she braced for her fall, her dirk slipped from her fingers, scattering across the floor. He advanced at her in a rage. She tried to rise but her dress held her legs in a tangle, so she tried to scoot across the floor. away from him. It was his cabin all over again. She braced herself for his fists to connect to her face like before, but instead she stared down the barrel of his gun. She raised her chin in defiance, daring him to pull the trigger.
“You Bitch, you evade me at every turn. But not this time.” He aimed the pistol at her as he took a shot.
The shot rang in the air. Ringing into emptiness. The bullet hit the air above them into the silent night as the three
gentlemen rushed at him. Each man in rage punched Shears from all angles, their frustrations from the terror he put them through over the last year fueled their attack. He was pummeled left and right, as he backed away from their punches, he himself lost his footing and fell over the balcony. The men watched as their nemesis crashed into the dirt below them. For this time, he stayed dead, there was no mistake about it. Shears laid twisted and blood trailed from his body like a river. Thorn ran below to confirm his death. He sent a signal above, covering Shears’s body with his coat jacket. Maxwell didn’t wait for the confirmation for he had already gathered Skye in his arms. He cradled her close as he spoke of his love for her, rocking her back and forth as the drama faded away. Logan regarded Maxwell comforting his sister. Thorn guided the agents on the removal of Shears’s body and the arrest of Lady Cassandra for harboring the fugitive.
As they made their return to Hillston House, Zane continued holding Skye. She had not spoken since she stabbed Shears. Maxwell thought her reaction was due to shock, her hands were ice cold as he held them. He looked up and caught the threat in her brother’s eyes, but he didn’t back away from her. He understood he had much to redeem himself for and would in time. The only thing that mattered now was Skye’s peace of mind.
As they alighted from the carriage, Zane had no option but to pass Skye into her brother’s arms. When his feet hit the ground, he reached for her, but her brother already entered the house and carried Skye to her bedroom. He moved to follow only to have Thorn hold him back. Once they entered the townhome they joined the rest of the family in the library. Thorn informed them of Shears’s death with everybody’s sighs of relief. Shears had put everybody in this room through some sort of torture this past year, now his reign of evil was finally put to rest with his death. They could finally live in peace.
Ivy joined Maxwell near the fireplace. Her friend gazed into the firelight lost in his thoughts. She placed a comforting hand on his arm where he squeezed his gratitude.
Rescued By the Scot Page 21
