Page 4 of Lord of Fortune
Every muscle in Penn’s body tensed. He was finished pretending to be pleasant. He snarled at the leader. “Release her.”
“Give me the dagger,” he responded blandly.
When Penn hesitated, the leader nodded toward him. “Search him.”
As the other two men holstered their pistols and advanced, the growler tipped the woman’s hat from her head, revealing her mass of golden curls. Strands cascaded down her back while the bulk of it stayed wrapped in its knot at the back of her skull. She twisted in the brigand’s arms, and he tightened his grip, forcing a cry from her throat.
Penn lunged toward her just as the other two men grabbed him by the arms.
“Can’t we just shoot the lot of ’em?” the growler asked hoarsely. “Maybe not her. At least not yet. She smells nice.” He sniffed her hair and dragged his lips across her forehead.
Penn moved quickly, surprising the men who’d grabbed him by elbowing them swiftly and dashing forward. The leader’s pistol came up. “Stop!” he yelled.
A pistol shot rent the air, but Penn didn’t turn. He dove for the growler, knocking the large man—and the woman—to the ground.
“Bowen!” The sound of Egg’s voice broke through Penn’s haze of fury. The distraction was enough for the growler to gain the upper hand. He hit Penn in the jaw and flipped him to his back. The leader stood over him then, his pistol aimed at Penn’s head.
“We’ve shot your man. Give over.” He looked at the woman. “You—find the dagger and give it to me. Otherwise, I’ll let my man have you.”
“You’re despicable,” she spat.
Penn couldn’t see her, but he heard the venom in her tone and imagined the fire that must be sparking from her green eyes, just as when she’d called him the same adjective. He wasn’t sure how he felt about being judged the same as these villains. His thoughts turned to Egg and what his wound might be, but he didn’t dare move his gaze from the gun pointed between his brows.
“You all right, Egg?” he called.
“Just a nick on my arm,” Egg answered.
Penn exhaled with relief, but it was short-lived since their situation was utterly untenable.
“How about I give him more than a nick?” the leader offered. “And we’ll take your lady friend here with us.” His dark eyes narrowed, and he bared his teeth for a brief moment. “Give me the goddamned dagger.”
Anger spilled through Penn’s veins. Trapped, he slipped his hand into his coat and pulled forth the dagger. “I’ll get it back.”
The man reached down with his left hand and pulled the artifact from Penn’s grip. “Highly unlikely, but you’re welcome to try.” His mouth spread into a condescending, malevolent smile.
“I’ll do more than try,” Penn promised.
“Bind them,” the leader said, taking a step back.
The other three men sprang into motion, one of them dragging the wounded Egg to where Penn lay in the dirt. The growler pushed the woman next to Penn as another of the men pulled Penn to a sitting position. Egg dropped beside Penn, and their arms were pulled behind them and bound together at the wrist. Penn tested the rope, but it held fast.
“And their feet,” the leader bade as he turned the dagger over in his hand.
As the three men bound their ankles together, the leader looked down at Penn. “This is quite a find, thank you.”
“You’re a bastard and a coward,” Penn said, gritting his teeth as the man tying his feet pulled the rope extra tight.
“No and no, actually. Come, gents.” He holstered his pistol and turned away.
Two of the men followed him immediately while the growler lingered a moment. He leaned forward, his face a few inches from the woman’s. “Next time, my pretty.” He flashed her a smile that was missing several teeth before backing away and jumping to his feet.
She was close enough to Penn that he felt her shudder.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Fine.” The word was strained, and Penn didn’t believe her.
Penn turned his head to his assistant, who was tied to his right. “How is your arm?”
