Page 12 of Utterly Dauntless

"Already done. Talk soon."

Grey ended the call and pressed harder on the accelerator. "Let the traffic police chase me all the way to Kingsmills Road if they want me badly enough."

The van headedinto the heart of Inverness. Aries' emotions warred within her—the thrill of being home again mixed with the old dread. Bad things happened when she came home.

Her captor pulled into a petrol station and insisted she climb into the back and lie low. She did as she was told, the threat to harm her grandmother still hanging in the air. If she didn't do exactly as he said, he would drive directly to the old woman's house and slit her throat when she opened the door. And there was no guarantee her gran could see it coming, so the threat was all the motivation she needed to behave.

Unfortunately, with her in the back, that meant neither Grey nor his friends would see her riding through town. She sat on the floor against the sliding door and faced forward, aware of every turn and every street.

She almost expected him to head to Clachnaharry Road and Wickham Muir's old ranch, since the only controversial events she'd been involved in had included the 79 Highlanders who had been raised from the dead on the battlefield at Culloden. But to her surprise, he turned right and crossed Friars Bridge. Was he headed to Gran's house after all? She had done exactly as he'd said.

"Wait a minute," she started.

"Shut it," he snapped.

"I did what you said."

"I said shut it."

He was nervous now, on edge with being in town where a scream would draw attention. Or maybe he was anxious because of what came next. Aries had to be careful not to provoke him further.

They passed her grandmother's road, and Aries felt a surge of relief when they drove on by. Her captor chuckled, knowing he'd made her nervous. But it only pissed her off.

They passed a few more streets before pulling between two houses and into a back garage. He got out and closed the rolling door before opening the van to let her out.

"Who are you?" Aries demanded, unable to keep the frustration from her voice.

He sneered. "Still haven't worked it out? And here I thought ye were clever."

"Just tell me."

"Not yet." He cut the ties off her wrists with a knife, then offered his elbow. "Now, ye're goin’ to take my arm and walk into that house like ye're my dotin’ girlfriend. Smile pretty and keep yer mouth shut. Remember what happens if ye dinnae."

Aries placed her hand in the crook of his arm but couldn't bring herself to look at him. As they stepped out into the yard, movement caught her eye. Someone skulked at the corner of the neighbor's house—she would have recognized the handsome man anywhere, even from the sliver of him as he leaned around to give her a wink and touch his finger to the side of his nose. Then he was gone again.

It was McHenish—one of The 79.

Smiling was easy then. This fool had no idea what kind of hell was about to rain down on his head. And she might have felt sorry for him, but he'd forced her back into Grey's territory, andthatshe just couldn't forgive.

CHAPTER TEN

After his stop for food, Grey had plenty of time to think in the two hours it took him to get back to Inverness. By the time he hit town, he had slowed considerably, but in direct opposition, his mind raced faster.

Kitchens had called with details. Aries had gone willingly into the house, and hadn't seemed in immediate danger. But there were eyes both inside and outside. Thanks to a laser microphone, they could hear everything, but it wasn't much. From what the men had gleaned, Aries had been isolated in a room or a closet, told to take a seat, then left alone. It appeared the man was in no hurry to deal with her.

Conversely, Grey couldn't wait.

Carson paced the kitchen anxiously,his eyes darting to the pantry door that separated him from Aries. He had dreamed ofthis moment for years, ever since the day of her father's funeral. He had watched and waited, biding his time, hoping against hope that she would return to Inverness. And now, long after he'd given up, she had.

He replayed the events of the previous day in his mind. He had spotted her rental car as she was leaving Peg's and knew he couldn't let her slip away again. So, he had followed, waited for his chance. When the road finally was theirs alone, he'd nudged her onto the shoulder and blocked her in. His threat had been so convincing, she'd come along quietly. What luck!

He just hoped his luck would hold.

Now, with the witch safely contained on the other side of that door, Carson could think rationally again. He must decide exactly what to say before he confronted her. He'd write it all down so he didn't forget anything. One would think, after decades, he'd have it all memorized, but he didn't trust his memory. Every time he looked at her, his mind blanked.

No. He needed crib notes.

He searched the drawer and found a pen, no paper. He headed for the desk in the back room, but his feet and heart stopped together. Blocking the doorway was a towering, kilted Highlander with a sword on his hip. A man whose entire body flexed when he opened and closed his fists.

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