Page 169 of Claimed Highland Brides

He let the man creep past him before following. The first man opened a door at the end of the corridor and crept into the chamber while the second man kept watch. Diego took the chance to rush him, slinging his arm around the man’s neck and squeezing for all he was worth. The man squirmed, trying to wriggle out of Diego’s hold or call out, but Diego slowly pressed down upon his neck, cutting off his air.

Eventually, the man slumped in a dead faint, and Diego let him fall to the ground. He slid into the room where he saw two figures struggling on the bed. One was making whimpering noises, clearly trying to shout for help while the other repeatedly muffled their mouth.

Diego looked around for anything he could use as a weapon, and his eyes fell on the pewter jug sitting on the sideboard beside the basin of water. He grabbed it, rushed the man on the bed, and swiped it hard across the back of the man’s head.

He let out a roar of pain and turned to Diego, staggering a bit in confusion. Diego leaped forward, going for the man’s arms and imprisoning them in his own. The man tried to headbutt him, but he dodged out of the way, thus compromising his hold on the man’s arms.

The man pressed his advantage, pushing Diego back and causing him to stumble. He kept his feet, however, and rushed forward, hands fisted. The person in the bed got there before him, having commandeered the pewter jug and brought it down over the man’s head again. He collapsed at Diego’s feet, who kicked him a few times to make sure he stayed down. Then he peered in the dim light from the fire, trying to find out which sister he’d saved.

“Ùna? Are you quite alright?”

She nodded, her breath hitching, and Diego opened his arms for her. She ran into them, hitching having turned into veritable sobs. He picked her up and put her on his hip. “Come, we must go and find help.”

She nodded, clinging to him like a limpet. He carried her out, stepping over the second man before hesitating. “Where do your sisters sleep?” he asked.

She pointed at the door across from her, and he went and knocked. “Who is it?”

Diego turned to Ùna. “Say it’s you.”

Ùna called out to her sister, who opened the door, and Diego saw that it was Maisie. Her eyes widened when she saw them. “What is going on?”

“There has been an attack. I must go and see what is happening downstairs. Can you stay with your sister? She can apprise you of what has happened. Lock your door.”

Maisie’s eyes widened further. “Oh, dear. Will ye be alrigh’ on yer own?”

Diego smiled at this sign of caring. “I shall not be alone. I shall fetch my brother.”