“I’m Jamie MacLeod,” he announced. “I want to see yer laird.”
Two of the men came forward and took him by the arms, dragging him away from the edge of the camp without a word. Good. His plan had worked. Now all he needed was to find Brianna. They took him through the camp to a large tent on the other side of the bonfire. There, two men guarded the entrance.
“Tell the laird we have a gift for him,” one of the men holding him said. “Tell him we have Jamie MacLeod.”
*
Brianna heard thecommotion outside the tent. Herhead snapped in the direction of the man’s voice. She bit down on the gag as she peered at the flap, trying to see through the canvas. But all she saw were the shadowy outlines of the men. Her hands were bound behind her once again.
Rory was not in the tent, though. She was left alone with Bruce and John. Bruce rose to his full height and stepped toward the tent flap. He shoved it open, poking his head out and saying something. His words were muffled.
And then she heard the words that made her die a little inside.
We have Jamie MacLeod.
Oh, God, no. They’d captured Jamie. And he had the keystone. Now they were all doomed. There was more talking outside the tent, but she couldn’t make out the words from the hushed men’s voices. Bruce backed into the tent, turning to face them, his eyes gleaming with triumph.
“We have him,” he said.
“That means we have the stone,” John replied. “Bring him.”
“No,” Bruce said. “We need to find Rory.”
“Forget Rory,” John said. He rose to his full height and advanced on his brother. “Bring in MacLeod. He has the stone, aye?” The last was directed to her. “Doesn’t he, lass?”
She said nothing. Merely glared back at him. When she didn’t respond, he backhanded her. Her head snapped to one side, and she tasted blood.
“Answer me,” he snapped.
“John, we haven’t time for this. We know he has the stone. We can finally get what we want.” Then to the men outside, “Bring him.”
Brianna blinked her surprise as she snapped her head toward Bruce. What did it mean—they could get what they wanted? Did he and John plan to double-cross Rory MacDonald? If that was the plan, they were stupid to think they could use the keystone for themselves.
Two men stumbled inside the tent. Between them was Jamie. Hiseyes instantly landed on hers and in his expression she read something strong and defiant. Had he surrendered himself to get to her? If he had, did he truly have the keystone on him?
She hoped he’d had the good sense to leave it behind with Callum or Malcolm.
“Search him,” Bruce ordered. He appeared to be the one in charge.
One of the men reached for his sporran. Jamie jerked his arm free and batted his hand away. “Dinnae touch me,” he said, his tone one of warning.
Bruce chuckled. “Ye have the stone, don’t ye?”
For a brief moment, she saw the guilt flash through his eyes. Oh, God. He’d brought the stone with him.
“Your silence tells me ye do,” Bruce continued. To the guards, he said, “Leave us.”
That didn’t bode well. Jamie stood his ground, his jaw clenched. The two men who’d brought him ducked out of the tent. When they were gone, Bruce turned his attention back to him.
“Hand it over.”
Brianna wanted to scream at him not to do it, but the look he gave her told her he intended to hand it over. It was clear in that moment he was willing to give up the stonefor her.If she hadn’t been so angry about that, she would be touched.
Surely, he had another plan up his sleeve. He didn’t intend to hand over the keystone—the very item that had brought her here, the one the MacDonalds wanted, the one that had cursed the clan for generations.
Shouts outside the tent caught their attention. Her heart thudded against her chest, her breath fluttering in and out as she looked at Jamie. His face remained impassive, but she thought she saw a hint of smug satisfaction there.
“Go see what’s going on,” Bruce ordered.
