Page 7 of Confessions of a Highland Assassin

Hurrying away, she slammed the door behind her and headed straight for the woods that surrounded the tavern. When she was sure that she wasn’t being followed, Ava pulled back her hood and took a deep breath, sinking against the white trunk of a thick birch tree as she let her hair fall loose. The ever-growing darkness meant that she could breathe a bit.

“What are ye thinking, Ava Rose?” she whispered to herself. She had no business going into a place like that in the first place.

Taking another deep breath, she wracked her brain for solutions and thought about her parents on the night they had lost their lives.

She’d gone to the market after the family had received a disturbing visit from the men they owed money to. Her father had humbly apologized to them and said that they didn’t have the money yet, that they needed more time to sort things out.

She could still smell the blood soaking into the wooden floor when she entered the cabin that evening. The basket of food she’d been carrying had fallen into a pool of her parents’ blood. Neil had been tied up and left on a chair, cruelly left to stare at the lifeless bodies of his loved ones.

She’d sworn then that no innocent person would ever lose their life, not by her hand. Ava jerked her head around as a twig snapped behind her. She quickly scanned the bushes, placing her hand on the dagger hidden in her dress.

A tiny grey squirrel scampered past her and into the darkness.

Smiling nervously, she eased her breathing and pushed herself up from her knees.

“Look what we have here,” a cold voice hissed in her ear as an arm suddenly gripped her around her throat and pulled her into submission.

She could feel the cold steel of a blade slicing through her dress. Her assailant had placed the dagger under her cloak in the blink of an eye. Both of her hands were on her assailant’s hairy arm, pulling at it until she could breathe, there was no time to reach for her dagger.

“I will dae much more than rip yer pretty dress if ye scream, lass,” the voice hissed again, warning her. “Just my luck that I was on my way tae see ye, and then who should go wandering intae the forest, but pretty little miss Ava Rose hersel’, bit o’ a nasty place for ye tae be hanging around, lassie, dae ye nae think?”

“What dae ye want?” Ava said quietly, her panic growing as she struggled against the hold the man had on her. Even if she dared to scream, it was unlikely that anyone would come to her aid. Not this close to the tavern.

"First, ye will be a good little lassie and stop squirming, if ye behave we can have a nice little chat without anyone getting hurt. How does that sound?” His breath reeked of ale as the stench poured over her face.

Relenting to her situation, Ava stopped struggling, knowing full well that she needed to cooperate if she was going to get away with her life. She could try and think of a plan as he spoke.

“There now, that’s better,” the man laughed, making Ava’s stomach twist from the cold sound. The icy voice made her feel as if she was in the clutches of a ruthless predator. “I have a wee message for ye, the gentlemen ye be owing money tae have had a little change o’ heart. Ye see they are nae longer happy with ye delivering the money in two weeks.”

She felt her heart drop at his words. “I cannae get it any faster than two weeks,” Ava confessed in panic, her mind frantically searching for a solution.

He ignored her words and carried on. “Since they have been more than kind until now, they will be expecting triple the amount, and just tae show how a little generosity, they are willin’ tae give ye an extra week.”

The blood in her veins turned to ice as it pulsed through her body. What they are asking for is impossible…

“Triple the amount in two tae three weeks or ye will be burying yer brother next tae ye precious mother and father,” the man laughed nastily as he loosened his grip, letting Ava fall to the ground on her hands and knees.

“I followed ye looking for a good time,” he continued to laugh, “I could see by the way that ye swayed yer hips when ye walked intae the tavern that ye were a pretty lassie, but it’s even better now that ye have saved me a trip, Ava Rose… Pity that they want ye alive for now.”

Ava could hear his cold laughter echoing in the forest as his steps disappeared, replaced by the trees rustling in the cold breeze. She stared at the ground in shock. She didn’t know which was worse, being followed by a man that wanted to have his way with her, or the fact that she was now in an even more impossible situation.

She clenched her fists in the moist earth, feeling the coolness beneath her palms. Her nose filled with earthy musk as she stared down at her hands in the dirt, curling her fingers deep into the rich soil.

Arenae my hands already dirty? Would one more life make a difference even if he didnae deserve tae die?

Pushing herself up again, she dusted off her hands, cloak, and soiled dark dress. The mud camouflaged with the dark green fabric. She pulled her hair back into a tight bun before pulling the hood of her cloak over her face once again. Turning, she made her way back to the tavern, pushing her conscience as far back as she could by reminding herself of her brother.

* * *

The man was still seated in the corner when Ava approached him again and sat across from him at the table. Keeping her head low and her voice even lower, she asked, “Is the job still available?”

The nasty grin that revealed his teeth made her sick. “I see ye have had second thoughts…”

“Nae questions,” she said more coolly. “My weight in gold and more if the job is executed properly. What’s yer special requirements?”

The figure sat back with a smug grin on the bottom half of his face that Ava could see. “Ye need tae make the laird fall desperately in love with ye ‘afore ye kill him.”

Ava was slightly taken aback at the unusual request. “Fall in love with me?” she asked, wanting to make sure that she’s heard him correctly.