“What didhesay?”
She tried to step back again as she felt the intensity of him.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” he said, his right hand grabbing at her arm.The touch seemed to burn her, through the cotton of her shirt and the leather of the glove.But as she tried to shrug the hand aside, it tightened around her arm like a vise, and she felt herself tremble.Heat moved from the arm through the rest of her, an unwelcome burning heat she didn’t understand.She didn’t think she could move.Something strange was happening to her, to her senses.They were overwhelmed by him.
In desperation she lowered her eyes to his hand.The clipping said he’d been branded.Was that why he wore a glove on that hand?
She knew immediately the thought was a mistake.She knew he read it.
He suddenly let her go, as if releasing a snake.“Would you like to see it?”He was taunting her now, and she saw a flash of anger in his eyes.
She shook her head.
“Ah, the lady has sensibilities,” he drawled in that hoarse whisper.“My hand’s not fit for such tender eyes?”His anger was obvious now.“I think you should see what Randall is responsible for.”He pulled off the glove.
Shea turned her face away, but his other hand went up to her chin.“Look,” he commanded, “so you won’t have to wonder.”
She wanted to close her eyes, but she knew he would force them open in some way, by the very strength of his will, if necessary.And she sensed his will was very strong indeed.She had no choice.She looked.
The scar was livid on his hand, theTemblazoned there forever.She sucked in her breath, suddenly overwhelmed by an emotion she didn’t understand.It wasn’t pity.No one could ever pity the man standing in front of her; he wouldn’t allow it.The emotion was something more like compassion, and resentment of what had been done to him, no matter what he had done.
She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be marked like that.She forced her gaze up and met his eyes.They were blazing now, and she wished for the emptiness again.She had never seen such violent emotions—raw fury and blinding pain.
Words would mean nothing.Less than nothing.They would be insulting.She knew that, so she remained silent.She didn’t think she could speak, even if there was something to say.She was too stunned by the enormity of her own reactions—to him, to the brand.
She couldn’t look at him, either, for he would see those reactions, and she couldn’t allow that.He would hate them, but he would use them in some way.He would use anything to get back at her father.She understood that too.
She was aware of his putting the glove back on, aware of the other two men looking on.She wanted to step toward the older one, but she realized it would do no good.Rafferty Tyler was obviously the leader; the others might have sympathy, but that was as far as it would go.
“What do you want with me?”she asked in a whisper.
“I want nothing from you,” he said, “except for you to do what you’re told until I’m finished here.”
“Finished with what?”
“Destroying Jack Randall,” he answered flatly.He turned away from her.“You’d better be getting back, Clint,” he said to the man who had been so silent.
“You sure about keeping her here?”
“I’m sure we can’t let her go now, unless you both want to end up in prison.And, believe me, you don’t want that.”
Clint hesitated, and Shea wanted to run over to him and beg him to take her away.But then he nodded.
Tyler’s mouth went up in a cynical smile.“She’ll be safe enough.I have no interest in any spawn of Jack Randall, even after ten years in prison.”
“I still don’t believe it,” Clint said.“I traced him back thirty years.No indication of a child.”
“But there was a wife?”
“For a short time.”
“See a resemblance to Randall?”
Clint turned to her, and Shea suddenly felt like a horse being very carefully inspected.“Could be.The eyes are similar.But the hair is lighter.”He shrugged.“Hell, I don’t know.”
Tyler also shrugged.“It really doesn’t make any difference.Now she’s seen you two, we can’t let her go.”
“I’ll try to get back in a couple of days,” Clint said, and Shea’s mouth went dry.She felt safer with Clint here.She felt safer with Ben, even.She might even feel safer with the Devil.
