A red mist descended in front of Adrian’s eyes, yethe held himself perfectly still. Silent. Calm on the outside even as rage devoured him from within.
“I’m sure we can come to some sort of agreement,” Samantha promised.
It took every vestige of control in Adrian’s bones not to shove his fist into the bastard’s teeth. Somehow, he found the wherewithal to say, “The sooner you let us pass, the sooner you’ll get beneath her skirts.”
A gleam of interest lit the burly man’s eyes. He licked his lips, the action causing Adrian’s stomach to roil with pure disgust.
The man grunted. Looked just about ready to move, when he suddenly paused. “I’ll be needin’ tonight’s secret word.”
Shit.
Adrian glanced at Samantha. “Well?”
“Sweetmeat?” she suggested. It was as good a guess as any. Unfortunately, it was also incorrect.
A shrill whistle sounded from the stocky man’s throat. The building began vibrating with movement.
Adrian snarled and climbed one more step. The man blocking his path kicked his leg forward, straight at Adrian’s chest.
A smooth sidestep and Adrian caught him by the heel. Another quick movement caused the assailant to lose his balance. He fell with a thud, slamming into the top step.
“Go,” Samantha urged. “I’ll incapacitate him.”
“No killing,” Adrian reminded her, his feet already taking him down a hallway with doors on each side.Some gaped open, the occupants of the rooms having taken flight at the sound of the whistle. He spotted the back of a man hastily fleeing while trying to put on a shoe as he hopped around a corner.
Moving swiftly, Adrian peered into the first room he reached. A messy bed filled it. Clothing items were strewn across the floor. Multiple pairs of shirts and trousers hinted at men indulging in the sort of illegal behavior that would see them hang if they got caught.
Hardly surprising they’d run when they heard the warning.
The next room looked like it had been fled with equal haste.
“Nothing yet, I gather.” Samantha swept past him and thrust a closed door open.
A woman’s low chuckle came from inside the room. “Care to join us, or do you prefer to watch?”
“Doesn’t look like there’s much to see,” Samantha said, her voice blunt.
The woman cackled while a man started cursing. Adrian, having reached Samantha, peered inside the room, searching for any sign of Isak’s presence. Finding none, he pulled the door shut.
“That looked rather awkward,” Samantha murmured. “Can’t have been very comfortable for either of them.”
Adrian grunted his agreement and kept on moving.
A naked woman lounged on the bed in the next room he entered. Alone, as though waiting for someone to join her, she sent Adrian a saucy smile and beckonedhim with her finger. He growled in response and started turning away when his ears pricked in response to a muted thump.
Pausing, he scanned the room.
“What is it?” Samantha asked.
“I heard something.”
“’Twas just me, handsome.” The woman rocked on the bed, causing the headboard to knock against the wall. She shifted her gaze to Samantha and pursed her lips. “I’m happy to show you a few tricks. Make sure he’ll never be tempted to stray.”
“Keep thinking in that direction at your own peril,” Samantha replied.
The woman grinned. “You’re a feisty one, aren’t you. I rather love that.”
Adrian sent her a scowl and stepped farther into the room. He angled his head, tried to concentrate while the woman kept prattling on. Another thump sounded, but it came from the right, not from the left where the bed was standing.
