Page 64 of Bought to Break
Kane didn’t spare him a look, and they both followed Viktor without another word.
Chapter 32
Lana
Whispers and low conversation. That was all she was aware of when she began to wake. She didn’t try to move or open her eyes at first, not sure what to make of her swimming head and tingling limbs. She remembered a sickening smell around her nose and mouth and then nothing.
She had been taken.Yes.By Quin, one of the other Brothers. Images of Uth and Ryon rushed into her mind and she suppressed a shudder, not wanting whoever was there to know she was awake. If she could delay whatever plans they had for her, she might be able to escape them. She turned her attention to the two hushed voices not far away.
‘Well, at least we’re risking our lives for a pretty girl. Maybe she can make it worth our while later.’ She felt fingers trace her collarbone and stayed completely still, hoping against hope that she had enough luck left in her coffers to get away unscathed this time.
‘Leave her, Payn.’
The touch disappeared and she was sure her saviour’s voice belonged to Quin.
‘We never have any fun anymore,’ Payn whined in jest. ‘Are you going to let them know where she is?’
‘I haven’t decided yet.’Quin.
‘Well, you’ll need to tell either them or Greygor. She can’t stay here forever. Greygor has sent some soldiers to look for her. Isn’t she one of us now? What has she done?’
‘Gods, Brother. Shut your mouth. Did you dump her clothes into the sea?’ Quin changed the subject abruptly.
‘Aye,’ Payn answered. ‘I ripped her tunic and that little white chemise that was under it, stained them well with blood and threw them in by the port just like you said. They’ll wash up with the tide. Are you going to explain to us what’s going on?’
‘We want everyone to think she’s dead. Just make sure no one knows she’s here. Not yet.’Quin.
Lana stifled a gasp. What did they mean to do with her?
‘But it’s not as if –’
‘Hush. She’s listening to us. Aren’t you, girl?’
Dropping her pretence, she opened her eyes to find Quin sitting not far away on the ground. The other two members of his unit were there as well, though only one of them had been talking to Quin. She lay on the dirt-covered floor on a blanket in what looked to be a small cave.
She also saw that her top half was clad in just the linen that was wrapped around her breasts. Had one of them just said he’d thrown her clothes into the sea?
She didn’t say anything to him as she attempted to sit up, belatedly realising that her arms and legs were bound. She began to struggle while they all simply watched her impassively.
Quin stood. ‘No one can hear you up here, but if you do scream, I’ll simply drug you again. Understand?’
Lana nodded, not trusting her voice.
He gestured to Payn and the other one to leave them. They did so without a word, and she and Quin were alone.
He stepped closer and she shrank away, kicking and twisting her body until she felt the damp wall of the cave at her back. She was panting hard by then.
‘What do you want with me?’ she gasped between breaths, finally finding her voice. ‘What did you do to me?’
Quin crouched down in front of her but made no move to touch her. She noticed a tattoo on his neck and stared at it, trying to keep herself calm by concentrating on the intricate swirls of the design.
‘I mean you no harm, Lana. I didn’t want to have to do it that way, but, with such limited time, it was the only option. The drug will wear off and your head will clear soon, provided you don’t make me dose you again.’
‘My unit will find me,’ she muttered.
‘They will,’ he agreed, ‘but it would have been too late if I’d left you in the hall unprotected. Greygor wants you dead. After the shambles of this morning, he and most of the Army suspect you for what you are.’ He stood up again, towering over her and forcing her to crane her neck to look at him.
She didn’t speak, fearing she already knew what he was going to say.
