"Operation Tartan Glory was a temporary setback."He leans closer, setting his hands on his thighs.I can smell his expensive cologne."But now I've had time to prepare.Ahmno underestimating anyone this time."
He reaches out to trail a finger along my jawline.
I jerk my head away, which only makes him laugh."Don't touch me, you filthy pig."
"Yer a feisty one.I like that."Dougal stands up, straightening his immaculate suit."Yer Highland stuntman will be here soon.I've got quite the show planned for him."
My heart races as I scan the room for anything I might use as a weapon if I can manage to get my hands free.The manor's sitting room is opulent but sparsely furnished with heavy antique furniture and a few decorative items that look expensive but lie too far out of my reach.
"Once Kirk gets here," I tell Dougal, "you'll regret kidnapping me."
"Your threats arouse me, Gretchen.Maybe I'll fuck ye to death and leave the bloodied corpse on the couch for Balfour to see."
I'm about to issue my scathing response to Dougal when a deafening boom rocks the manor.
That must be Kirk.
The explosion seems to shake the very foundation of Cairntorran.Dust drifts down from the ancient ceiling, and I hear shouts coming from elsewhere in the manor.Dougal's expression transforms instantly.The smug smile vanishes, replaced by cold fury as he whips out a sleek pistol from inside his jacket.
"What the bloody fucking hell?"he snarls, and all pretense of charm vanishes.He grabs my arm, yanking me to my feet despite my bound ankles."Move, ye stupid bitch!"
I stumble forward and nearly fall face-first onto the expensive rug.Dougal's grip is bruising as he drags me toward the door.My heart pounds, and I feel a touch woozy---from relief, I think.Kirk is here, but is this part of his plan?Or has something gone terribly wrong?
"Your boyfriend's more audacious than I thought," Dougal mutters, pressing the barrel of his gun into my ribs.He grips my bound wrists and hauls me onto my feet, then starts hustling toward the door of the sitting room, which remains closed."Dinnae fash.I have a secret exit your beloved knows nothing about."
Bam!The sitting-room door flies open.
And Keltie Ralston surges into the room wearing full tactical gear and shouting orders at my captor."Drop the weapon and step away from the lass!"
Dougal freezes for a split second before tightening his grip on me, digging the gun harder into my ribs."Who the fuck are you?"
I've met Keltie Ralston once before, and Kirk mentioned she's ex-SAS, deadly as they come.Her presence here means Kirk did not come alone.
Damn, I love that man.
"Last warning," Keltie says, her voice steady.She has her weapon trained squarely on Dougal's head without even a hint of hesitation in her stance."Release her now, MacWraith."
Dougal laughs in an almost maniacal manner."Ye thinkahmafraid of you?Do ye have any idea who I am?"
"Aye, MacWraith, everyone knows what a nastycacanyou are."Keltie takes a step closer, her gaze never wavering from Dougal."A dead man walking, that's what ye are."
Dougal tenses up, and his eyes repeatedly shift left and right.He isn't used to being challenged, especially not by a woman.The cretin's grip on me becomes painful.
"Where is Balfour?"he demands, his voice losing some of its smug confidence."This is between him and me."
Keltie aims her merciless stare at the bastard."Oh, he's here, trust me.But you should be more concerned about me right now."
Another explosion rocks the manor, this one closer than the first.The chandelier above us sways precariously, and I hear shouts and gunfire from somewhere deeper in the building.
"Your men are a bit occupied," Keltie continues, taking another calculated step forward."It's just us now, MacWraith.Do yourself a favor and surrender."
"To a woman?Never," he huffs.
I can tell the asshole is getting nervous thanks to the slight tremor in his hand on my arm.
He presses the gun harder against my ribs, making me wince."This changes nothing.I still have the leverage."
Keltie doesn't even blink."You've miscalculated, MacWraith.Ye think yer the predator here, but yer just prey who doesn't realize it yet."
