He shook his head as they quietly made their way down the passageway, a single torch guiding their way.
A clang of steel had them freezing in their tracks, and Tanin ordered everyone to hurry. Burke glanced back and spotted where the passageway veered off into a darkened tunnel.
He had only a moment to make his decision, but it was an easy one. There was no way he’d leave that woman on her own, whether she liked it or not.
Burke could barely make out where he was going. His broad shoulders bumped into the narrow tunnel walls now and again, and dust collected in his nostrils from the dry dirt his boots kicked up.
He wondered why he hadn’t collided with the woman yet. She hadn’t had that much of a head start on him. And with it being so dark, she couldn’t possibly have traveled that fast.
The whining screech of rusty hinges stopped him dead. A clang of chains, muffled voices, and then suddenly hasty footfalls approached from the opposite direction.
Burke readied himself, intending to take the person down and find out his identity later. He waited in the dark, listening, judging the distance, and when the time was right…
His arm shot out and the man crumpled to the ground, probably not knowing what had hit him.
In an instant, the woman was in his face, her blue eyes the color of a gale storm that would put fear in the staunchest of sailors.
“I gave you orders,” she snapped.
Burke was good at giving orders, not taking them, and certainly not from this wee wisp of a woman.
“I thought you might need my help—and I was right.” He leaned down, grabbed the dirk in the guard’s waistband, and held it in front of her face.
“You thought wrong. I would have handled him.” She shoved him aside. “We need to get out of here now.”
The narrow passageway afforded little room, and in stepping over the unconscious man, she all but melded with Burke to brush past him. He felt her sleek frame coil, tense, and move off, all in a split second.
She once again issued orders.
“Malcolm, stay behind him. And you—” She jabbed at Burke’s chest. “Do as I say.”
Malcolm leaned into him. “Do what Storm says. Believe me, you don’t want her mad at you.”
Her name certainly fit her, but then he had weathered enough storms in his life. This little tempest wouldn’t intimidate him.
“Make another mistake, stranger, and you’re dead,” she warned as if making a casual remark. “Let’s go.”
Malcolm nudged him this time. “Storm takes getting used to.”
You could say that again, Burke thought. Sandwiched between the pair, he easily kept pace with them. He followed her sure-footed steps without complaint since he had no idea how to get out of there, and he didn’t intend to be left behind.
They came upon a dimly lit passageway and made their way to a flight of steps, then up a circular stone staircase and out into the dusky night.
Pungent pine and crisp autumn air greeted him, and with a deep breath, he drank greedily of freedom. He caught that breath when stung by the warning in Storm’s eyes for silence.
She signaled them to follow, reminding him once again to be silent before she crept cautiously against the stone wall of the prison.
Burke followed and as they came to the edge of the corner, he caught sight of the last of the prisoners disappearing into the woods a few feet away. Tanin gave a signal, then merged with the thick trees.
Storm stepped forward, just as a guard came into sight. While the young guard fumbled for his sword, Burke reacted instinctively, pouncing on him with a solid blow to his jaw that knocked him out cold. He turned to grab Storm’s arm and head for the cover of the trees but she sidestepped him.
“Get him out of here, Malcolm, before I run my blade through him,” Storm said, pointing her sword at Burke.
“Let’s go,” Malcolm said, grabbing his arm.
Burke yanked his arm free, and before he could say a word, he felt the point of a blade at his neck.
“I’ll not warn you again about following my orders. Go with Malcolm or feel my sword. The choice is yours.”
“You certainly don’t respond well to a helping hand.”
She pressed the sword to his neck, not enough to draw blood, but to warn that she meant business.
“Fine,” Burke said through gritted teeth.
She withdrew the blade, and Burke, swearing beneath his breath, followed Malcolm.
Chapter 2
Storm couldn’t wait to get rid of the American. He had done nothing but interfere with her carefully laid plans. She could tell that he wasn’t used to following orders and that he could handle himself in a difficult situation. However, this was her command, her battle, her land.
Which was why, at the first possible chance, she would leave him somewhere safe enough, but she wanted to be rid of him. She couldn’t take the chance of his messing things up any more than he already had.