Page 8 of The Ruthless Highlander's Hellion
Nicholas stood tall in the rain, his eyes dark with something unreadable. His hands rested on his hips, the wet fabric of his cloak clinging to his broad shoulders. “Ye shouldnae be demandin’ anythin’, lass,” he said in a low growl, his voice barely audible over the storm.
“Ye’re in nay position to be makin’ demands. Yer fate’s in me hands now, and ye’ll do as ye’re told, or ye’ll find yerself regrettin’ it.”
Alexandra’s temper flared at his words, and she took a step toward him, the rain now soaking her completely. “Regret it? I’ll nae be scared into silence by ye, Nicholas Robertson! Ye’ve abducted me, and I deserve answers! What are ye playin’?”
Nicholas leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing, his voice harder now. “I’m nae playin’ lass,” he said, his words sharp. “And if ye think ye can talk back to me, ye’re sorely mistaken. I’ve broughtye here for a reason, one ye already understand so stop with yer lies.”
“I daenae ken what ye mean!” Alexandra shouted, shaking her head in disbelief. “Ye cannae just take me and expect me to sit here like some meek little lamb. I tell nay lies? Why are ye so determined to make me suffer?”
Nicholas stepped closer, his gaze hardening, his voice rough and commanding. “Ye’ll suffer nay more than ye have to, if ye learn to keep yer tongue in check. I took ye to keep things from goin’ worse than they might’ve, but that’s a matter ye’ll ken in time. As for now, ye’ll stay here, and ye’ll do what I say, else ye’ll find yerself in more trouble than ye’ve bargained for. Now tell me where he is!"
The rain beat down on them relentlessly, but neither of them moved. Alexandra’s chest rose and fell with each breath, her heart pounding in her chest. Her frustration was a living, breathing thing inside her, pushing her to challenge him further.
"Who? Where who is? Ye make nay sense!" she shouted.
"Enough! I will take ye inside and ye will answer," he said.
But even as she opened her mouth to retort, she saw the glint of warning in Nicholas’s eyes, and for the first time, something inside her hesitated.
"Take the maid and the guard, Marcus," Nicholas said. "I will take this lass."
"Nay! Erica!" Alexandra shouted.
"Tis all right, mistress. Do as they say," Erica said in return.
Alexandra felt his grip tighten around her arm as he yanked her toward the front door of the castle. Inside, the torchlight flickered on faces as they passed. Alexandra knew these to be servants by the way they were dressed and how they lowered their heads to Nicholas as they passed.
She thought she heard the nameCharlesin a whisper, but was unsure.
Finally, Nicholas opened a heavy door and heaved her inside with such force she stumbled against a heavy desk and caught her fall with her palms.
The door slammed shut behind them, and Alexandra flinched at the sound. Nicholas led her across the dimly lit room, his grip firm on her arm, before he shoved her into a chair.
She was still in a daze, shock clouding her thoughts, but the anger simmered just beneath the surface. “Sit,” he commanded, his voice cold, as he stepped back to survey her, his eyes never leaving her face.
“I willnae hurt ye as long as ye obey me,” Nicholas said after a moment, his tone softer but still firm. “Nae unless ye make me, that is. But ye will answer me questions, and ye will do so without protest.” He crossed his arms, eyes narrowed, as he waited for her to respond.
Alexandra’s mind raced, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak, her body still trembling from the shock of being taken.
“Ye’ll nae get anythin’ from me,” Alexandra muttered, her voice hoarse with a mix of fury and disbelief. “I’ve nothin’ to tell ye, but even if I had ye wouldnae get it by tauntin’ me.” She lifted her chin, trying to stand her ground despite the fear creeping through her veins. “I’ve done nothin’ to ye, so ye’ve no right to hold me here.”
Nicholas let out a low growl as he stepped closer. “Ye’re a feisty one, aren’t ye?” he said, his voice laced with irritation. He towered over her, his presence imposing as he watched her with a steady, unyielding gaze. “That’ll make this all the more interestin’.”
“Why did ye take me?” Alexandra spat, her voice thick with emotion. “What do ye want from me, O’Donnell? If ye think I’ll be afraid of ye, ye’re sorely mistaken.”
She glared up at him, trying to hide the turmoil swirling inside her. Her pulse raced as she waited for him to answer, though she feared what the truth might be.
Nicholas’s expression hardened, his eyes darkening with a hint of something dangerous. “Yer brother took somethin’ of mine first,” he said, his voice low and measured, yet it carried an unmistakable weight. He paced back and forth in front of her, his boots thudding heavily against the stone floor. “And now I’m takin’ somethin’ of his.”
“Me brother took somethin’ of yers?” Alexandra’s confusion deepened, her brow furrowed in disbelief. “What in the world are ye talkin’ about? Me brother wouldnae steal from ye—he wouldnae do anythin’ like that.” She shook her head, her thoughts spiraling as she tried to make sense of his words. The mention of her brother stirred something in her gut, but she couldn’t fathom what Nicholas meant.
“Daenae play ignorant with me, lass,” Nicholas growled, his eyes narrowing with a sharp intensity. “I ken ye ken what I’m speakin’ of. Yer brother has somethin’ that belongs to me—me son, Charlie.”
The words hit her like a slap, leaving her breathless and dizzy with the weight of them. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out as her mind struggled to catch up with the revelation.
“Me brother has yer son?” Alexandra asked, her voice barely a whisper as the shock and disbelief sank in. “Nay, that cannae be true. He would never do somethin’ like that—he would never hurt anyone, especially nae a child.”
She shook her head again, more violently this time, her hands trembling as they gripped the chair’s armrests. She couldn’twrap her mind around it, couldn’t understand how her brother could be involved in something so terrible. Then again, it was possible her brother didn't tell her everything in an attempt to protect her.
