If You Dare(34)
MacCarrick began to speak, then closed his mouth, never taking his eyes from her chest.
“You are despicable!” she cried. “Is that why you kidnapped me? Because you wanted me? Because of one miserable kiss?”
At the last, she thought she heard murmuring just outside the door. MacCarrick turned to glower, but everyone had disappeared from view. “Doona flatter yourself,” he grated over his shoulder before facing her again, this time actually looking at her face.
“Then why?”
“I have my reasons. Chief among them is revenge against Pascal.”
“But why me?” she demanded. “When will you return me?”
“We will no’.”
“But you must! You don’t understand!”
“Doona understand that he was holding your brother’s life over you to get you to marry him? Doona understand what you are?”
She labored for breath. “Y-You know that the only thing keeping my brother alive is my marrying Pascal? Why in God’s name would you take me?”
“Your brother’s gone, lass.”
“No, MacCarrick. He is not.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I have it on good authority that as of tonight he still lived.”
He shook his head. “We checked the jail for him. He was gone.”
She sneered the words. “That’s because Pascal is keeping him at the main house.”
“And who told you that?”
She put her chin up. “A reliable source.” She knew he would scoff that she believed Olivia. And truthfully, Olivia had never said he was there. But Annalía knew.
“Tell me.”
When she didn’t answer, he said, “Then I’ll assume you’re lying and will no’ listen to you anymore.”
“Fine. Pascal’s daughter told me.”
“Very reliable source you’ve gotten yourself.”
“You won’t believe me, but know this, I won’t believe you. He isn’t dead, yet he might be after your efforts today if I don’t get back there!” She marched past him, but he caught her around the waist, spinning her back into the room. “You can’t keep me here!”
“Aye, I can. I’ll no’ let you risk your life when there’s nothing to gain.”
“It’s my risk to take!”
“No’ anymore,” he said so easily.
“And just what do you intend to do with me?”
“We’ll wait here for a couple of days, then I’m taking you to a posting house in Toulouse. It’s safe there. You can contact your family.”
Her hands balled into fists. “And I should just trust that your intention is to get me to safety? Out of the kindness of your heart? I seem to recall you saying ‘Never trust me, Annalía.’” She lowered her voice and mocked his Scottish accent. “‘I’m bluidy bad and ye wilnah liv tae regret it, Annha-leha.’”
Outright laughter from the next room. He turned with a scowl, then faced her again. “I never said I was bad.”
“I took license!” She fought to dampen her temper. “I am…sorry. I just want to come to some terms.” When he appeared unmoved, she resorted to begging. Clasping her hands together, she said, “I will agree to what you…to what you said before, but please—please—let me return to Pascal.” Instead of this softening him, he appeared to grow even angrier.
“Forget it. The plan goes ahead.”
“But I saved your life!”
“And I canna tell you how much I appreciate that.”
Loathe you. So she wouldn’t reach out her hands to strangle him, she crossed her arms over her chest. His gaze flickered over her breasts again as if he couldn’t stop himself from leering.
And as easily as that, his mind was again on bedding her. “You are a rutting Scottish animal just as everyone said.”
He met her eyes, his expression deadly. “Calling me that? When you were there to rut with the general.”
She sucked in a breath. “I was there to marry him!”
“Even worse,” he roared. “Why no’ tell me the truth?”
“Why should I have?” she asked, truly bewildered. “Because of our friendship? Because of the kindness you showed me? You’re worse than you think he is, which is precisely why I chose him over you!”
“I dinna harm you. I dinna steal your jewels or silver—”
“You say these things as if they’re noteworthy!”
“For a mercenary, they are!” He raked his fingers through his hair.
“You’re no mercenary,” she spat the word. “Mercenaries kill and then receive money for it. From what I heard at Pascal’s you haven’t managed the last.”