Page 45 of Confessions of a Highland Assassin

Ava caught her breath as she closed the study door behind her and made her way to her own room with the letter. She wasn’t sure if she should burn it in the fire or stash it away somewhere safe. At times like these, she wished with every fiber of her being that she could read.

What had Boyd written about her to her family? That he wanted to marry the kind, honest, and gentle woman he’d come to know over the past few days? Had he written about his feelings for her and how he wanted to build the rest of his life with Ava Sinclair?

Honest…

The word tumbled in her mind like a sickening flu. She wasn’t honest at all. She was a deceiving, lying, rotten excuse of a person. She was deceiving the man she loved in the worst way imaginable. It was clear that he trusted her without a doubt, wrongfully thinking that she was a good person.

No! Ava had wanted to scream when he’d asked her if this is what she wanted. She didn’t want anything to be this way. She wanted her brother to be well and live a happy, normal life. She wanted to be in love with Boyd Cameron and not have to take his life. There were hundreds of other things she wanted in life, but not this.

Entering her room, Ava fell on her bed with her face in the pillows and began to sob while her heart broke in two. Just a week ago her life had been difficult. But nothing was as difficult as having to kill the man she loved.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Grey clouds gathered over the castle as Ava and Skye walked together, their boots squelching in the mud. The sun was barely peeking through the clouds as they both pulled their grey shawls a little tighter over their shoulders.

Plans for the upcoming wedding were in full swing as Boyd gave orders for letters to be sent and food to be ordered. The servants could talk of nothing else as the word spread that Ava Sinclair was soon to be wed. Skye had suggested they take a walk for Ava to catch her breath.

“I think one of us should go back tae the cabin and see if the debtors have left any news about Neil,” Ava said as she stared at the ground while they walked. “We’ve been gone a long time and I’m scared they willnae tak’ kindly tae unanswered messages,” she wrapped her arms around her waist as they walked.

“Ye cannae go, Ava. With all the plans for the wedding coming up, ye will be missed in a matter of seconds if ye leave. I’ll go and check on things. I will nae be missed if ye tell everyone I went on an errand for ye.”

“Thank ye, Skye. I appreciate that. Ye better go now while we’re out here, naebody will notice if ye slip away,” Ava sighed with relief. “I’ll walk with ye till we reach the forest.”

“I’ll be sure tae hurry back. But I dinnae think the debtors will have left any messages, Ava. They ken by now that ye will nae leave Neil. If they were unsure of yer plans, they would have done something big tae draw yer attention by now.”

They spoke of all the preparations being made for the upcoming wedding as they left the castle walls and crossed the moor that led to the edge of the forest. Boyd was moving fast and had already sent out as many letters as he could. Skye had suggested they burn the letter he had written to the real Sinclair family, just in case anyone found it. It would be hard to explain why it was still in her possession.

Skye had also suggested that they think of an excuse as to why her family could not come to the wedding. Ava was growing tired of all the lies she had to tell just to keep her head above water.

“Be safe, Skye,” Ava said as she hugged her best friend. “Be safe and hurry back.”

“I will be back ‘afore the sun is down. Dinnae worry about me, ye just keep on with the plan so that Boyd willnae suspect a thing,” Skye hugged her back and smiled warmly. “It’s going tae be all right,” she reassured her before turning to leave and disappearing into the forest.

The giant oak trees that grew in the thicket shaded the earth enough to form a void just a few feet into the woods.

Ava had lost count of how many times she’d heard those words in the past few weeks. It’s going to be all right. Everything will work out just as it should. Skye said those words on repeat, even Boyd had said them to her. ‘Everything would be fine…’

Her mind wandered back to the thunderstorm and how he had cradled her in his arms. Her heart grew heavy as she thought of him and how much he’d opened up to her. Boyd… He’d said to her that everything would be fine. If only he knew just how not fine things would be as soon as they were married.

The world turned to black as she was suddenly yanked into the trees before she could even scream. Kicking and fighting as hard as she could, Ava tried to yell for help, but her assailant hand placed a bag over her head and held it tightly in place. Strong hands gripped her arms and legs as she was carried into the woods, digging into her tender flesh. Branches slapped her in the face through the sack as she fought with all her might. But her efforts were useless against the strong hands that gripped her limbs.

Ava was beginning to gasp for breath when the hood was suddenly yanked from her head. She felt herself being flung to the ground as she landed on the damp earth on her hands and knees, gulping the fresh air into her lungs. Her fingers dug into the cold earth as she fought for breath.

Ava looked up to see that she was in the middle of a dark clearing, the trees around her hiding the spot from the outside world, creating an alcove of privacy. Her attention was drawn ahead as a man clapped his hands together in a slow steady rhythm, stepping into the open. The ominous figure was tall and bulky. His muscles bulging beneath his clothes. Dead leaves cracked under his boots as he approached.

“I hear that congratulations are in order,” a familiar voice growled. “Ye’ve done quite the job with getting Boyd tae fall in love with ye. I didnae think it would happen this fast. I’m impressed.”

Ice shot through her veins as she recognized the voice of the man who had hired her to kill the laird. His face was still hidden beneath a hooded cloak as he sank to his haunches in front of her. “The laird has sent the other ladies away. Ye must be quite something if ye gained his attention that fast,” the voice was cold and cruel as it mocked her.

“How did ye ken that the laird sent the others away?” Ava swallowed as she struggled to regulate her breaths. She tried to match the voice to one she’d heard in the castle before but couldn’t seem to find where it belonged.

“Dinnae worry about that, lass. I have my ways of finding things out. I’ve kept a close eye on the situation. Ye’ve far and above exceeded my expectations. I didnae expect anyone tae gain his affections again.”

Ava frowned as the figure stood and walked a short distance away from her. How is it possible that a stranger has inside information into Boyd’s castle and personal life?

“I cannae wait any longer. It’s time tae end this. Boyd is in love with ye. We will proceed tae the next step in the plan. It’s time for Boyd Cameron tae die. I’m pleased that the special conditions have been met.”

“I cannae dae it anymore,” Ava said quietly and shut her eyes as her heart ripped in two. She hadn’t known if she was capable of going through with the plan anymore until she heard Boyd’s name coming from the man who wanted him dead.