I’d prepared for this, expected it. Even so, his words hit me like a hammer slamming into my chest. There’s a searing, spreading ache that feels like my heart was just carved out of me.
“I understand your decision,” I say, proud that my voice is steady. “I will follow it to the letter. But after I serve those four years, Iamcoming back for Catriona.”
The Chieftain’s eyes, jade green like my Cat’s, narrow in fury. “Go pack your bags, you’re leaving today. Do not attempt to contact my daughter before ye go or Iwillshoot ye.”
I nod, heading toward the door.
“She’ll be married by the time ye return,Stewart.”
Turning to face him, I smile coldly. “We’ll see.”
Present day…
Adding some charcoal to the fire, I guard Cat’s sleep. She’s curled up on her side, knees to her chest so I know her back is still hurting.
It would have been so easy, sending her a message through one of my friends in the clan. Hell, any one of her cousins would have gleefully delivered my explanation to her. The fecking Chieftain, though, he knew I would honor my word. Mywordcost me three years of time with Cat. It nearly cost her life.
No one can hold a grudge like this lass. I’ll wear her down. For now, I’ll try to get some sleep.
A soft scraping sound wakes me and I’m on my feet with my gun out in seconds.
“Ach! Calm yourself!” Cat’s staring at me, eyes wide.
Blowing out a breath, I look around the room. She’s put an ancient kettle on the hook over the brazier. “I found some carob pods on the tree in the courtyard,” she says. “I thought I could make us something coffee-like before we move on. We dinnae have any cream or sugar, obviously, soI’ll be taking mine black, like ye always did. I’m babbling a bit here. Awkward.”
She looks better this morning, and her gaze is softer. Though I canna believe she’s been up and moving around and it dinnae wake me.
As if she knows what I’m thinking, she smirks, just a bit. “Ye were exhausted, aye? I do know how to move about undetected. Bad back or not, I’m no fragile flower. I’m a MacTavish.”
That name, MacTavish.
The clan closes ranks around its people. I dinnae what Michael was told, but Cat’s twin is notoriously protective of her. Kenna, her cousin, could see the energy simmering between us, I’d catch her sharp eye watching us more than once. She would have supported us getting together, I suspect.
The MacTavishes might have unimaginable power and money, but none of them are a match for my determination. I’m going to woo Cat, woo her so fecking hard that she’ll be forced out of her stubbornness and pride. This woman is mine.
Today’s progress is infuriatingly slow. That feck Hugo must sense we’re getting close to civilization and out of his territory because the helicopter flyovers are increasing and we have tohide every time we hear one closing in.
“This son of a bitch really hates not getting his own way,” Cat says crossly, watching the movement of the chopper searching the area in a grid pattern.
“Dubois knows once we get closer to Marrakesh, I can call for extraction. Too much cell activity for his team to triangulate anything.” I’m watching through my binoculars for any drone activity. “I’m more concerned about his drones. The wee bastards are harder to spot.” The treetops look clear. “Let’s move on.”
Cat’s softer today, allowing me to help her over rougher outcroppings and not instantly letting go of my hand the way she’s done before. As we get closer to civilization, the little towns group closer together.
Stopping in a group of trees, I point out a street market. “I’m gonna go pick up ahijaband some clothes for ye. From here, it’s gonna be harder for his men to track ye if your face is covered.”
“That would be grand,” she sighs in relief. “Clean clothes! Ye could buy me aburqaand I’d happily wear it.”
After checking the ammo clip, I hand her my Mossburg. My lips twitch when she checks again.
“Ye always double check,” she grins, “just like ye double tap.”
“Never go stingy with the bullets,” I agree. We stand there in the shelter of the palm trees, sunlight dappling off her beautiful face and I physically ache with the need to kiss her.
Later.
The trip to the street market is successful, clothes, sunglasses, and I head into a shop where the little lady running it is scandalized when I buy lady’s underwear. Everyone is out, enjoying the local pandemonium and there’s even a few tourists sprinkled in the crowd, wolfing down tea and pastries and buying scarves and trinkets.
Doubling back takes time, but I change my course repeatedly, looking for the tail I could feel is there, even if I canna see him.
