Lucan seized him by the front of his shirt and lifted him up over his head. “Then you should have no difficulty drowning.” He heaved him into the water.
Jamys ran past Lucan, diving off the end of the pier.
Chris looked up from the wounded man as Lucan turned around and walked toward them. She stood. “He’s had enough, my lord.”
“I think not. He still breathes.” When Chris blocked his path, he reached out as if to touch her.
She braced herself. God, I hope this is worth all the broken bones.
Something flashed in Lucan’s eyes, and then died away, and he lowered his arm and stared at her as if he didn’t recognize her. “Christian. What are you doing here?”
He sounded completely bewildered. “I was showing Lord Durand around town and saw your Ferrari parked over there.” She glanced over the side of the dock, where Jamys was pulling a limp body out of the surf. “He’s busy rescuing that guy you just tried to drown.”
“I tried to . . .” He fell silent and still, as if someone had shut off a switch inside him, and then just as quickly came back to life. He seemed to forget she was there as he strode away.
Chris pulled out her mobile and speed-dialed Sam’s number as she hurried after the big man.
“Hey, kid,” her friend answered, and yawned. “Taking the night off?”
“No, I’m on duty. Hang on.” Chris jumped off the steps onto the sand. “Jamys and I are by the old abandoned pier on Loggerhead Beach. So is Lucan, and something’s seriously wrong with him.”
“How wrong?”
“He just threw a guy who can’t swim off the pier.” Chris raced through the pilings toward Jamys. “Sam, we need you down here. Now.”
“Four minutes.” The line clicked.
By the time Chris reached Jamys, he was standing over the coughing, heaving thug and holding a copper dagger.
“Get out of my way, boy,” Lucan said as he approached them. He jerked back as Jamys made a quick motion, and looked down at the horizontal slash in his shirt. The edges of the white fabric grew dark as blood soaked through them. “You cut me. You fucking little bastard.”
“Stay back,” Jamys ordered.
Chris went to the man, and helped him to his feet. “Can you run?” When he nodded, she gave him a push. “Go. That way. Get your friend, and get the hell out of here.”
Lucan noticed the thug as he staggered away, and moved to follow. Jamys countered him, still holding his dagger ready.
“I have fought armies, and slit the throats of more men than you could count,” Lucan said. “Think you can end me with one tiny blade, boy?”
“We can find out, my lord,” Jamys assured him.
“Suzerain, please,” Chris begged. “Stop. Just stop.”
“And you, you treacherous little slut.” Lucan turned his head toward Chris. “I took you into my household, did I not? Gave my protection and my affection, and for what? So you might whore yourself behind my back for this nothing of a boy. Is that how you keep your oath to your master?”
“I haven’t taken the oath yet, and I don’t whore myself for anyone.” It took everything she had to smile instead of bursting into tears. “I think you have me confused with some other treacherous little slut.”
“I will deal with you later.” Lucan turned on Jamys. “You are no longer welcome in my territory, Durand. You will leave at once, tonight, and you will not return.”
“No.” Chris felt horrified. “Lucan, please.”
Jamys politely inclined his head. “As you say, my lord.”
“That’s more like it.” Lucan bared his fangs. “If I ever find you inside my boundaries again, I will take you apart and send you back to your father in a basket.”
“I will go.” Jamys lowered his blade. “First you give your word you will not harm Christian.”
“My word? I am the master of this territory, and she belongs to me.” Lucan grabbed hold of Chris’s arm and dragged her to his side. “I will do whatever I damn well please with her.”
“If that is how you feel,” Jamys said, “I will take her away with me.”
“It seems you have a choice, girl.” Lucan sneered down at her. “Go with him, or stay with me. Or perhaps you don’t care who crawls between your thighs.”
Chris blinked. Lucan had a terrible temper, especially where Samantha was concerned, but even in his worst mood he always maintained a frigid politeness, especially toward women. “What is wrong with you?”
“Nothing a bit of slap and tickle wouldn’t cure.” Lucan focused on Jamys. “Shall I have her now, boy? If you watch a real man at it, you might even learn something.”