Page 28 of Edinburgh Escape (Brotherhood Protectors International #5)

After Callum left Maggie, he jogged laps around the manor in an attempt to erase Maggie from his mind.

It didn’t work. He slowed to a walk and extended his range to the edge of the manicured lawn and made several passes before he admitted to himself he would never walk, jog or erase Maggie from his consciousness.

Having spent an incredible day and night with the woman, he knew she was different.

Someone worth fighting for. Someone he could love and who could find her way to love him, despite his violent nightmares.

After an hour and a half of circling the compound, he shortened his circle, coming closer and closer to the structure and Maggie. He couldn’t avoid her forever. He was there to protect her. Circling the perimeter was counted, but having eyes on the target was better.

Having been away from her long enough, he had to see her and know she was okay.

A quick look around the bottom floor revealed nothing other than Ewan still poring over ledgers in his office.

“Have you seen Maggie?” Callum asked.

Ewan shook his head. “I’ve been at these ledgers all morning. Why?”

“I was out on the perimeter. She’s probably in her bedroom. I’m headed that way now.”

“Let me know if you need help finding her,” Ewan said.

“Thanks.” Callum headed for the staircase, a sudden sense of urgency making him take the steps two at a time.

When he arrived at the door, it hung open.

He frowned and pushed through. “Maggie?”

No one answered.

His heartbeat quickened as he poked his head into the bathroom.

She wasn’t there.

As he passed through the bedroom again, his glance strayed to the bed where they’d made such amazing love through the night.

A book lay open on the comforter as if someone had left it there, intending to pick up where she’d left off.

He opened the pages and skimmed through the content, his heart sinking to the pit of his belly.

Callum glanced up and called out, “Maggie! Oh, sweet girl.”

He stepped out into the hallway, a knot twisting his insides. “Oh, baby. I’m so sorry,” he murmured as he raced for the staircase and descended so quickly that he stumbled at the bottom.

Once he’d righted himself, he looked left then right. Where would she have gone?

Then it hit him. She would have gone where it had begun.

Callum ran down the long, broad hallway and dove into the library.

It was empty. Maggie was nowhere in sight.

As he turned to look elsewhere, he heard a faint cry.

“Maggie?” he called out.

“Help,” her voice sounded as if from a distance.

“Maggie, talk to me.” He moved around the room, searching for the hidden entrance mentioned in the journal. “Where are you?”

“Please, oh God, please, help me,” she cried.

“I want to,” he said, his hand moving over the shelves, searching for the hidden doorway.

Finally, he felt a faint coolness he hadn’t felt anywhere else in the room. He grabbed the closest shelf unit and pulled. When it didn’t budge, he gripped the one next to it and leaned back with all his weight.

The shelf swung open like a door.

Maggie spilled out and flung herself into his arms, sobbing.

He held her close, his heartbeat hammering against his ribs. “It’s okay. I’ve got you. You’re okay.”

“I couldn’t get out,” she said, her lips pressed against his neck, her tears soaking his skin.

“But you’re out now. I’ve got you. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He leaned back and stared into her eyes. “How did you get stuck in there?”

She buried her face against his neck and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I was pushed.”

He leaned her back, frowning. “You were pushed?”

She nodded, her body trembling. “I was pushed.”

“Did you see who did it?”

“No.” Maggie moved her head side to side. “One minute I’m standing at the top of the stairs, the next, I’m falling into the darkness.” Her body shook violently.

“Are you hurt? Callum asked. “Do I need to take you to the hospital?”

“Just bruised,” she said.

“Did you hit your head?” He set her at arm’s length and stared into her eyes.

She shook her head. “No. I managed to break my fall going down.” Maggie pushed the sleeve up on her arm, exposing a red mark that would be black and blue in hours.

“Oh, baby,” he said and gently kissed the spot. “I’m so sorry.”

“Why?” she asked, frowning. “You didn’t push me, did you?”

He gave her a tight-lipped grimace and pulled her close again. “I should’ve been with you. Had I been here, no one would’ve pushed you down the stairs.”

“Who would’ve thought someone inside the manor would attack me. Does that mean the Russian mobsters have infiltrated Drummond Manor?” Her eyes rounded, and she tried to free herself from Callum’s embrace. “Bryce—has anyone checked on the boy?”

Callum slipped an arm around Maggie’s back. “No, but let’s do that now.”

Maggie hurried alongside Callum as they climbed the stairs and rushed to Bryce’s room.

Not wanting to wake the child, Callum twisted the knob and stuck his head inside the door.

Maggie pushed it wider and peered inside the darkened room.

Bryce’s small figure lay still in his little bed, the blanket pulled up beneath his chin.

A movement to the left made Callum tense and push Maggie behind him.

Maggie touched his arm and leaned up on her toes to whisper, “Fiona.”

Bryce’s mother sat in a wooden rocking chair, her head leaning back, her eyes closed, a foot pushing against the floor, causing her to rock back and forth in her sleep.

Maggie tugged on Callum’s arm, pulling him out of the room.

He closed the door gently and turned to pull Maggie into his arms.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his chest. “What’s happening here?”

He held her close, not wanting to release her or leave her for a single second by herself. “I don’t know. If a Russian mobster is inside the manor, none of you are safe. We need to let Ewan know.”

Maggie looked up into Callum’s eyes. “What if he’s the one who pushed me?”

Callum couldn’t imagine Ewan as the attacker in this case.

He’d welcomed Maggie with open arms as the sister he’d always wanted, a bonus family member with whom he was willing to share his inheritance.

He’d been SAS. Callum trusted the men who’d gone through the training.

Only the best, physically, mentally and morally were selected.

He’d trust his life with a man like Ewan.

Would he trust Maggie’s life with Ewan?

With no answers and no clues, Callum couldn’t trust anyone with Maggie’s life.

Not even himself. With too many attempts already, he couldn’t bring himself to trust anyone with the woman he was falling so quickly and hopelessly in love with.

God, he wished he wasn’t such a screw-up.

If he could wipe away the demons powering his dreams, he would.

Then he wouldn’t have to worry that he’d wake up with his hands around Maggie’s throat.

Though he couldn’t trust himself to sleep with her, he could be in the same room as long as he kept his distance when he slept. Couldn’t he?

He’d only tried to choke her because she’d gotten too close when he was in the throes of his nightmare.

His other choice would be to have one of his teammates with the Brotherhood Protectors International take over the protection of the pretty redhead.

He could step back and ask for a different assignment.

If she were attacked while he was on another assignment, could he forgive himself for not being there?

No.

Was he a danger to her?

Yes.

Inside, Callum warred with himself on his decision to stay. He would stay with her at least until they neutralized the Russian mobster threat.

His arms around her, holding her tightly, and he knew he didn’t want to be anywhere else.

Slipping his arm around her waist, he walked with her to their bedroom and pushed the door open.

Her gaze went to the book on the bed, “You read it?” she asked.

He nodded. “I skimmed.” Callum shook his head. “I’m sorry,”

“My mother was—” She swallowed hard, her voice choking on a sob.

“I know.”

“Makes me want to shave my head.”

Callum chuckled. “Why?”

“You heard Ewan. We look like him.” Maggie shoved her hands into her thick coppery curls and pulled hard. “I hate them. I hate him. Why couldn’t I look like my mother?”

“Ewan wasn’t a fan of his father either.

He’s not shaving his head. And how would that make Bryce feel if you and Ewan hated your red hair?

” Callum swept a curl back from her forehead.

“I don’t care where you are in your genetic lineup, but not all Drummonds are bad.

I can’t hate Douglas Drummond completely because what he did with your mother created you.

” He cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb across her lips.

“I’m sorry your mother was treated so badly.

No woman should have to go through what she did.

But she chose to keep you when she had alternatives. ”

Maggie nodded. “I loved her so much, and she loved me.”

“Red hair and all,” Callum said softly. “Your red hair is what I loved about you from the first moment I saw you at the airport.”

She sniffed. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”

With his thumb, he tipped her chin up. “Is it working?”

Maggie smiled, her lips trembled, and a single tear escaped from the corner of her eye. “A little.”

“Good. Because I don’t want to kiss a woman with a dreadfully damp face.

” Despite his words, he did kiss her. He knew it was a mistake and would only make him want to continue kissing her, but he couldn’t resist. When he hadn’t been able to find her, briefly, he’d thought she was lost, and he’d almost lost his cool.

He would have ripped the entire house apart looking for her.

“I’m not the right man for you, Maggie McKendrick, but you’re stuck with me until we figure out who is targeting you.”

She gave a shaky laugh. “You don’t hear me complaining.”

“Just don’t get used to me. I’m serious. You deserve better.”