If You Dare(49)
She squinted at him as if she didn’t recognize him. “Tell me again why I should care about that outcome?”
He scowled until she asked, “Is he one of Pascal’s men?”
“Aye.”
“Did I kill him?”
Court saw his chest rise and shook his head. When she bent to pick up her rock again, he strode over and took it from her hands. “You doona want to kill him.” Court would do that. Retribution for touching her.
“I really do.”
“No, Anna.” When she continued reaching for it, he added, “It’ll do things to you. No’ worth it.”
She informed him crisply, “I—need—that—anyway.”
He held it high from her. “For me?”
She nodded without shame.
Clever, brave woman. His brows drew together as he remembered the way he’d reacted to the thought of her being hurt. The way he’d decided a bullet between his eyes was incidental to the need to save her.
He swore under his breath.
“What was that?”
“Nothing. Why don’t we wake up this son of a bitch and find out how many more are coming?” Her eyes widened, and he could tell she hadn’t thought about that prospect. She looked alive for the first time in days. He heaved the rock away, then bent down to slap the man, but whipped his head back around. “Annalía, doona think of hitting me again.”
“Two with one stone,” she said waspishly.
“Be smart. They’ll keep coming. You must prefer me over them?”
“I prefer none of you.”
“They will no’ kill you at first.”
Her face paled, and she finally said, “Very well.”
He recognized the man before him. He was called Ruiz the Scarred. Court only remembered him because the moniker fit so well. When the assassin roused, he spit blood.
Court had always been heartless in battle, emotionless with the enemy. Now he felt rage building once more, making him hide his clenched fists from Annalía. This was a man who wanted to murder a defenseless woman. Once he let go of that fury, she’d never look at him the same. “Anna, go see if you can find the horses.”
“No, I want to stay. I must ask him about Aleix.”
“I promise you this is no’ anything you want to see.” She hesitated. “Go now.” His tone was lethal. “And if you try to leave, I swear to God you will regret it.”
She regarded him with a marked fear that he hated seeing, then hurried away. He faced Ruiz. “How many more?”
“Infinite numbers until you are both dead. The way of the Rechazados.”
“Did you come from the group at the border?”
He said nothing, so Court raised the pistol and hammered the handle down on the man’s skull. He choked back a sound of pain. “W-We came through the main pass to France. We know nothing of the others.”
“Why her? She’s only tried to return to him.”
“A moment of anger. He’s since tried to turn us from her….”
“But your order never has.” Court had heard that one had better think through an assassination command with them because once set on a path, no force could move them from it.
“Never.” He sneered. “I wonder if she knows you’re the reason Pascal had her brother?”
Court put all his weight into it when he punched the side of his head.
He needed to focus. When a Rechazado got talkative, he doubtless was stalling until he could find a way to kill you. His giving you information meant nothing if he made sure you’d never live to use it.
But Annalía had to suspect him of it—if the fool hadn’t attacked…“Wait, you said ‘had her brother.’”
“He escaped.” Ruiz smiled and flashed bloody teeth. “He knows you have his sister. He’s coming to kill you if we don’t get you first. Mark your days.”
Court was almost so wrapped up in what he’d learned that he forgot that the more talking this one did, the closer he was to dying. Almost.
When Ruiz’s fingers eased down his leg to the knife strapped to his calf, and he drew, Court shot him.
The report brought Annalía running. She glanced from the body to him, her face drawn.
What he wouldn’t have given to know her thoughts just then. “Did the horses bolt?”
“Yes, but I’ve coaxed mine back and tethered her,” she answered absently. “Yours is down the hill by the stream.”
He nodded. “We need to get these two farther off the road.”
Strangely calm considering the circumstances, she stood watch until he’d dragged the two deeper into the woods. Afterward, he collected her horse, then started toward the stream for his. She followed him, and even sank down on her calves just beside him while he took advantage of the cool water to wash off.