Page 184 of Adored

And that’s when Gamble struck, using the hook holding him in place to carry his weight. He swung his legs up, wrapped them around the mercenary’s neck, and twisted really fast.

They both heard the crack.

Only, one of them was going to keep living, and one wasn’t after it. The mercenary paid by Von wasn’t winning that round.

Not today.

They shouldn’t have touched his husband. That was their biggest mistake.

When the man dropped to the floor, Gamble jumped up, and unhooked his arms. Then, he was free from that position. Now, he had to get these shackles off of his wrists so he could fight.

As he patted the man down, he didn’t have a key.

Fuck.

He needed to get to Poe at the cemetery, and he didn’t have time. The only saving grace was it took time to dig up a grave.

As he heard another man coming, he stood by the entrance, and when he came in, he wrapped the chains around his neck, and strangled him.

The man fought, but Gamble forcing him to the floor to stand on his back as he choked him was too much for the man to sustain.

Torture him?

Yeah, that wasn’t happening. The day he went down to some two-bit Marine washouts was the day he packed up his job and retired.

As he searched the dead man’s pockets, he found the key, and he unlocked his wrists. Then, he locked the door, and headed out.

As he moved through the castle, it was fairly empty. That told him everything he needed to know. The party had been disbanded, and he’d bet that was the Duke of Norfolk’s doing too.

Oh, every dog would have his day, and that man’s would come.

Bet.

On.

It.

As for the other Mercenaries, they would be where Poe was, because the man would assume he wouldn’t be able to outmaneuver two of his men.

Big mistake.

It was a race against time, but Gamble was not letting his husband get hurt. He’d get to him, no matter what.

Outside, he got to his horse, and rode out of there like a bat out of hell.

“Get to Hemmingway,” he said, letting the horse go crazy and charge through the dark night toward the cemetery.

What was his plan?

He didn’t have one yet.

But he’d figure it out.

Poe’s life depended on it.

* * * Poe & Gamble * * *

The Cemetery