Page 30 of The Runaway
“This is all totally stupid,” Connor declared, then pushed past Henry, back into the sleeping quarters.
Henry stared after him, then turned to Gabriel. “Um… is he all right?” From the looks of it, he was torn between knowing he shouldn’t question an alpha and wanting to help Connor.
Gabriel sighed. “Apparently he’s upset because I’m being too nice to him.” He stood up, knowing it was past time for him to return to his own room. “Sorry to wake you,” he said, not caring if they thought it was strange for an alpha to be apologising to them. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Everyone on the estate had known that Connor was living on borrowed time. So when the clop of two horses broke the quietness mid morning the following day, Gabriel knew their time had finally run out. Two men rode calmly into the yard, neither of them looking at all familiar. Carolyn rushed off, no doubt to fetch Antoine, while Cirroc stepped forward to greet the men and see to their horses as they dismounted. Or perhaps to make sure they didn’t cause any trouble.
Gabriel turned to head for the barn, to warn Connor to keep out of sight, but on this day, luck was against them. Just at that moment, Connor, Nicole and Claude all came around the corner, carrying trays of eggs they’d collected from the chickens. Connor stopped in his tracks as he saw the men, but it was too late. They’d already seen him. And from the look on Connor’s face, there was no doubt about their identity. These were Connor’s masters.
Connor took a single step backwards, then his whole body drooped. From the looks of him, he’d simply decided there was no point in fighting it, and that made Gabriel’s chest tighten. No way in hell was he just giving up.
Connor handed his tray of eggs to Nicole, then came forward. But when he reached Gabriel, Gabriel put a hand on Connor’s shoulder. He stopped, glancing up at Gabriel quickly, but the look on his face said it all. He was expecting to have to go with these men, no matter what promises Gabriel might have made.
The door to the house opened and Antoine came striding out, moving quickly, but making sure it didn’t look like he was rushing. Strategically, it was a bad idea to let on how apprehensive they all were.
“Antoine Calvet?” one of the men asked, standing with his arms folded, and Antoine nodded.
“That’s right. And you are?”
“Simon Riviere. And my brother, Grant.” He looked over towards Connor again, a smirk on his face. “I believe you have something of ours. We’d like it back.”
Gabriel stood frozen in the middle of the yard. He eased sideways a fraction, keeping his body between Connor and the men. “Don’t do anything yet,” he advised Connor. “Just wait.” What Antoine was going to do was anybody’s guess, but he wasn’t going to let Connor give up too soon.
“Could you be more specific, please?” Antoine said. “What exactly are you looking for?”
Simon pointed to Connor. “That fucking slave. He’s a runaway. Deserves a right beating for it.”
“And could you tell me his name, please?” Antoine said. Gabriel wasn’t sure how he was staying so calm. “Just so I know I’m dealing with his true owners?”
Simon’s gaze swung back to Antoine. “What fucking games are you playing at?” he asked. “That’s my property. Hand it over.”
The yard was filling up now. Niles and Lucas, along with Dante, stepped out of the front door, glaring daggers at the two men. Almost every beta on the estate had come out, either from the main house or from the storage sheds, and the rest of the omegas were gradually edging their way out of the barn or the stable, trying to stay out of sight at the same time as trying to see what was happening.
Antoine didn’t flinch at Simon’s demand. “His name, please?”
“It’s fucking Connor, all right? And he’s my property. So you need to hand him over.”
“I understand the law,” Antoine said. “But I do have some concerns about his wellbeing, which I’d like to discuss with you before you make any final decisions.”
“You got no right to be wasting my time,” Simon said. His brother, so far, had said nothing, but from the sneer on his face, he was no happier with the situation than Simon was.
Niles and Dante slowly headed across the yard, falling in beside Antoine. Once again, Gabriel was surprised to see Dante behaving very much like an alpha, as if he had every right to defend his estate. Or perhaps he was just preparing to defend his bonded alpha. Gabriel wouldn’t have been surprised if Simon tried to start a fight, and with Dante’s muscles, he’d be a formidable opponent.
“On the contrary,” Antoine said. “When Connor arrived here, he was injured and malnourished. We’ve put considerable time and effort into restoring his health, for which I would be within my rights to expect payment. However, I’m happy to waive any fee in exchange for a short conversation.”
Simon’s lip rose in a sneer. “The runt’s not worth five francs in ‘treatment’. Fuck knows why you’d bother. But if it’ll make you happy, say your piece. I’m not paying your fucking fee.”
“Connor’s injuries were consistent with an attempt to strangle him. And as far as he’s told us, he did nothing to warrant such harsh punishment. Perhaps you could enlighten me as to his crimes?”
“He’s useless, that’s what he did. He’s slow, he’s weak, and he bleeds every time he gets fucked. Makes a damn mess on the sheets, and then he’s limping about for days like a lame goat. In my books, that warrants a littlediscipline.”
“Has it occurred to you that he’d be quicker and stronger if you treated him less harshly?”
“How about you stop lecturing me and give me back my property,” Simon snarled. He lunged for Antoine, but in a shocking move, Dante stepped between the two men, taking the blow on his thick, muscled chest.
“How about you learn some manners,” he growled, getting his face right up in Simon’s. Dante was a couple of inches taller, and he made good use of the extra height, glaring down his nose at the man.