Page 28 of The Rogue’s Embrace

Lisandro didn't look back as he rode out of the gate of the convent. As he'd turned away, he'd caught a glimpse of tears shining in Maria's eyes and he was determined that if things did go awry, his last memory of her would not be one of sadness.

Today I will claim what is mine, and those who have sought to harm Maria shall pay.

It was a little more than two miles from the village of Irura to Castle Villabona. At a gallop, his horse could travel the winding mountain pass in less than fifteen minutes. But once he reached the main road, Lisandro drew back on the reins and slowed his mount. His gaze searched the snaking track ahead.

Trees dotted the steep hillside to his left, while on the other side of the road, the lush, green grassland fell away until it reached the valley floor. Lisandro knew this mountain path well.

Where are you?

He urged his mount on again. Rounding a bend, he caught sight of a group of men riding toward him. He held his breath.

As they drew near, the hooded man at the head of the group raised his hand. By the time the two parties met one another, they were at a walk.

"The Englishman was spotted in the village this morning, and Perez met with him. He is still playing the innocent, of course, but after your note was received last night, the scales finally fell from my father's eyes, mine too,"

said Diego.

He and Maria had left Bilbao only just in time.

Thank God I saw him outside the cathedral. He must have had spies watching the city gates.

The fateful storm had probably saved their lives, with Wicker not being able to catch up with them in the furious raining maelstrom.

"Good, so Antonio knows not to trust Perez. Maria is at the convent of Saint Casilda, in Irura. If they come for her, don't hesitate to shoot,"

he replied.

Diego nodded and continued on, his heavily armed troops following. The chink of metal swords accompanying the sound of hooves on the road. Lisandro let out a slow breath of relief. Maria would be safe.

Now it was up to him to entice a rat out of its hole.

Castle Villabona loomed large in front of him as Lisandro reached the top of the small hill. It wasn't as grand a construction as his own home, which gave him cause for a secret smile.

At the entrance to the castle, he surrendered to the armed guards and was taken into custody. His pistols, sword, and most of his knives were seized. The knife he had strapped to his back remained successfully hidden.

He was escorted at gunpoint into the grand reception room of Castle Villabona. The Duke of Villabona rose from his chair.

Lisandro dipped into a low, respectful bow. "Don de Elizondo."

Coming back to an upright position, his gaze fell on the man standing to the right of Maria's father—a well-dressed gentleman whom he immediately assumed was the duplicitous Se?or Perez.

El canalla.

With his head of gray hair, Se?or Perez even looked somewhat like a rat. When he narrowed his eyes at Lisandro, he knew he had his attention.

His self-confident poise gave Lisandro a moment of clarity. The arrogant way he held himself suggested that he was someone more than capable of organizing and masterminding something as evil as the abduction of his master's daughter.

Lisandro could just imagine what was going on in that cunning, calculating brain. Perez was likely wondering how he could turn this unexpected encounter to his advantage.

"Why is the enemy of my family standing in my home?"

demanded Antonio de Elizondo.

Lisandro met his gaze and coolly replied, "I have your daughter, and I want you to pay me a ransom before I consider whether I should hand her back."

There were gasps of shock and horror from several of the people gathered in the room. Maria's father, however, remained stony-faced.

"This is an outrage!"

bellowed Perez.

"Call it what you will. I want one hundred thousand pesos, or I will keep her,"

replied Lisandro. He wasn't going to ask for the same as the kidnappers had, fearing it would trigger too many questions in Perez's mind.

The Duke of Villabona angrily strode over to where Lisandro stood and glared at him. "And just what will you do to my daughter if I don't pay the ransom?"

Lisandro stifled a grin. Maria had come up with a surprising number of sexual things he could offer to do to her when they'd discussed what he should say at this moment, but he wisely kept them to himself.

"I haven't yet decided. Ruining her sounds like a good start. No one, least of all Count Juan Delgado Grandes, will want to touch her after I have had my way. She'll be tainted. Soiled. Call it whatever you like,"

he replied. He coolly met Antonio de Elizondo's gaze. "Perhaps I could even put my bastard in her belly."

The duke's face twisted into a look of pure rage. His cheeks turned a deep crimson. He shook his fist at Lisandro. "God will strike you down for this, Don de Aguirre. The gates of hell will welcome you to their fiery pit."

"Pay the ransom or let me leave. My men have instructions to kill Maria if I am not returned by nightfall,"

he replied.

Se?or Perez stepped forward and leaned in to speak to the duke. "Let me have him in the dungeons for an hour, Don de Elizondo. I will get all the information we need to rescue Do?a Maria. I swear on my life I will not rest until she is safely home."

Lisandro looked him up and down with undisguised disdain. Just a little more, you, filthy traitor. Step farther into the trap.

"Seize him. Take him to the cells and make him talk. Torture him if you must,"

said the duke.

Guards came and roughly took hold of Lisandro. He was dragged from the room and thrown into the dungeons. The solid, iron door was slammed shut behind him.

With his back against the ragged brick wall of the cell, he stared at the door and waited. "Come on, Se?or Perez,"

he whispered.

The trap was set. Now all that remained was for his prey to take a nibble of one last morsel of tasty cheese and it would slam shut.