These questions stampeding through his head, making it impossible for him to believe that she was in that camp. Not until this dog, who’d follow her everywhere, confirmed it.
He could not imagine how Grace would survive such an environment. Those men were less than animals.
He saw blood-red flash across his eyes.
“Harris.”
No answer.
“Harris. Look at me, goddammit!”
Slowly, Harris raised his head. Cold blue eyes met his. Regardless of the marks and bruises on his face, he looked handsome.
Would Grace have escaped if his face was like this fool’s?
He was not ugly by any stretch. But Harris possessed a youth he could never have. But none of that mattered now. He had to ensure the safety of the woman he was meant to marry. Albeit a little used by those dirty brutes.
“Grace is your friend, she grew up with you. I’m sure you have indelible memories of each other.”
Harris did not blink.
Ethan leaned closer. “She is trapped with a clan that brutishly murders its enemies. Surrounded by men. Filthy men who will eventually lay their hands on her. Imagine it. If they find that she is English, imagine her dead at their hands.”
The man’s throat worked; his gaze slid to the side.
“Before I launch another attack, I have to be certain. Was she there or not?”
“I don’t know,” Harris replied through clenched teeth.
Ethan swept items on the desk to the floor in an impatient rage. Their last attack at Clan Hay had been futile. He had lost good men. Part of the reason was that they’d underestimated their numbers. If Grace was in their midst, he would destroy the clan.
“I’m not your enemy,” Ethan said. “I’m not the one who watched her run and did nothing. I want to save her. Don’t make this harder than it should be.”
“I. Do. Not. Know.”
“Why will you not take my word for it?” Owen sounded sullen.
“Because you have the eyesight of a fucking bat in the day!” Ethan exploded.
Owen flinched, cowering behind his own hands.
“I-I have had enough of this. I will be outside.”
“Sit, Owen. We’re just getting started.”
Owen sat. “Ask him why he helped a random woman escape from battle.”
“Why wouldn’t I? Women and children are not to be harmed. Did you forget?” Harris shot back at him.
Ethan’s lips lifted in a cold smile. He looked down at the discarded stationary. One of his men came to arrange them on the desk. He walked back to the chair and sat. He nodded at one of the soldiers.
“Throw him back into the cell.”
Harris did not put up a fight or spare him a glance.
Ethan then drew a plain paper up to him. A few minutes later, the letter was written. He stamped his insignia, proving that the order was coming directly from him. He sat back and puffed circles of tobacco into the air. Only Owen remained in the room. They made small talk, all of which sounded inane to Ethan. Nothing penetrated the cold obsession shrouding his heart.
He had to find her, before it was too late. She was supposed to be a pure, unspoiled flower, ready for his plucking. The derailment of this plan choked him.
