Page 106 of Escape Velocity

“I had no choice,” she answered. “The knife was a present from . . .” She stopped and started again. “From a friend. Thank the gods she gave it to me.”

“I want to get her out of here,” Max said. He kept an arm around Amber, holding her close as he quickly shepherded her into the cool air.

The chief went into the building, and Max pulled Amber into his embrace. Still coming to grips with what had happened, she started to shake.

“It’s over. You’re all right.”

Was she?” She still couldn’t be sure.

Max held her and soothed her. “You were so brave. You saved our lives.”

“I didn’t know I could go through with . . . killing someone. Even him,” she said, wanting to hear herself acknowledge what she had done. “But I had to, to keep him from killing us all.”

“Yeah. I know. And, as you said, thank the fates you had that knife.” He looked at the hair ornament that was still in her hand. Camille gave it to you?”

“Yes, but don’t tell Gatroux.”

One of the men came out and gingerly handed Amber the knife. It was now cleaned of Tudor’s blood. She fixed the blade back inside the covering, then returned it to her hair.

“Thank you.”

Two of the men took off, running back to make sure the people at the camp knew they were no longer in danger.

Max turned to one of the Inheritors. “Can you get your chief back here? I need to tell him something important.”

“Oui.”

He rushed off, and a few moments later, the older man was back. “What do you need?”

“Where is your security chief?” Max asked.

“In the camp. One of us is always there.”

Just then, some of the invasion force came out of the house, many carrying loot from inside. Plates, bowls, ornaments and linens.

Gatroux gave them a stern look. “You must put those things back immediately.”

A man spoke up, his voice challenging. “Why? He doesn’t need this stuff anymore.”

“And you certainly have not earned it. But more important, there must be no clue that we were ever here.” The head man walked to the door and shouted a repeat of his edict. “Take nothing from the house. Put any loot back in its place. If you go against this, you may bring the authorities down on all of us.”

Rafe came out, a look of disgust on his face. “I found his torture room. You don’t want to see it.”

“No, I don’t,” Amber agreed.

“I will get a crew of men digging along the foundations,” Gatroux said.

“And get some breaking up the floor,” Max said. “That should speed things up.” He glanced at Amber then back to Gatroux. “This is your business as well as ours. Where’s that guy who led the hunt last night. LaTour?”

“He stayed back to help guard the women.”

“Oh, right.” Max pulled the head man aside and spoke to him in a quiet voice. Amber saw the leader’s eyes widen.

“This is a serious charge. Are you sure?”

“Yes. Tudor bragged about it—because he was sure we would never be able to pass on the information.”

“LaTour. A traitor,” Gatroux said slowly as if trying to wrap his head around the reality. “I thought he was just a hothead.”

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