“We’re done discussin’this,” Findlay said, his voice hardening. “Ye’re goin’ to give us money. Now. Or we’re goin’ to tell yer fancy laird some things about ye that’ll make him throw ye out.”
“Oh ye!Ye never stop, do ye? I’m nae givin’ ye a single coin,” Piper said firmly. “Nae now. Nae ever.”
“Ye owe us yer life!”Findlay roared. “And ye’re goin’ to give us what we’re owed, or I swear to God?—”
“Or what?”Piper challenged, her fear evaporating in the face of her fury. “What are ye goin’ to do? Beat me? Ye cannae touch me here. Sell me again? I’m already under the protection of Laird McMahon. There’s nothin’ ye can do to me anymore. Ye have nay power over me!”
“We’ll see about that.”Findlay’s face twisted with rage. “Ye always were an ungrateful little bitch. Maybe a good beatin’ will remind ye of yer place.”
He took a step toward her,his hand raised, and Piper flinched—couldn’t help it. The old fear was too ingrained, the memory of his fists too fresh despite the years.
But before Findlaycould take another step, a voice rang out across the courtyard. Cold. Deadly. Absolute.
“I wouldnae dothat if I were ye.”
Elijah had beenon alert from the moment one of his guards had informed him that a middle-aged man and woman had arrived at the gates demanding entry. Saying they wanted to see Piper.
He’d known immediatelythat they were her parents. What they wanted.
And he’d known,with absolute certainty, that he needed to be there when Piper faced them.
So,he’d positioned himself near the entrance to the keep, close enough to intervene if needed, but far enough away that Piper could handle it herself if she chose to.
He’d watchedher face go pale with shock. Watched her straighten her spine and face them anyway. Watched her find the courage she probably didn’t even know she possessed.
Pride had swelledin his chest as she’d told them to leave. As she’d stood her ground against the people who’d terrorized her for years. But when her father had raised his hand—when Piper had flinched, that instinctive recoil of someone who knew what was coming—Elijah’s control had shattered.
“I wouldnae dothat if I were ye,” he repeated, his voice deadly quiet as he closed the distance between them.
Every eye turned to him,but Elijah only had eyes for the man who’d dared to threaten what was his.
Findlay’s hand dropped,and he turned to face Elijah with a sneer that quickly faltered when he saw who was approaching. “And who might ye be?”
Elijah didn’t answer immediately.Instead, he moved with the speed that came from years of training, grabbing Findlay by the throat and slamming him against the courtyard wall hard enough to knock the breath from his lungs.
“I amLaird Elijah Quinn of Clan McMahon,” Elijah said softly, his face inches from Findlay’s. His voice was conversational, almost pleasant, which made it all the more terrifying. “And ye just made a very serious mistake.”
“Let… let go…”Findlay wheezed, his face turning red.
“In a moment. First, we’re goin’to establish some rules.” Elijah’s grip tightened slightly. “Rule number one: Ye daenae touch what’s mine. Ever. Are we clear?”
Findlay tried to nod,his eyes bulging.
“Rule number two:Ye daenae speak to what’s mine with anythin’ but the utmost respect. That includes tone, word choice, and general attitude.” Elijah tilted his head. “Are we still clear?”
Another desperate nod.
“Good.Now, rule number three, and this is the most important one, so listen carefully.” Elijah leaned in closer. “If ye ever come near Piper Armstrong again, if ye so much as think about contactin’ her, I will personally ensure that ye spend the rest of yer miserable lives in me dungeons. And I promise ye, they’re nae pleasant. Do. We. Understand. Each. Other?”
“Aye!”Findlay gasped out. “Aye, we understand!”
“Excellent.”Elijah released him, and Findlay slumped against the wall, coughing and rubbing his throat.
Paisley,who’d been standing frozen in shock, finally found her voice. “Ye cannae do this; this is assault! We’re her parents! This is a family matter!”
Elijah turnedhis attention to her, and whatever she saw in his eyes made her take an instinctive step backward.
“A family matter?”Elijah’s voice was dangerously soft. “Is that what ye call sellin’ yer own daughter to pay yer gamblin’ debts? A family matter?”
