Page 9 of Utterly Dauntless (Return to Culloden Moor #3)
CHAPTER NINE
G rey's stomach growled loud enough to compete with the engine. If he got his hands on the villain in his current state—half-starved and running on pure Highland temper—he'd end up in jail. Still might.
He pulled off at the next exit, found a petrol station, and loaded up on cold water and whatever food they had that wouldn't require two hands to eat. Back in the car, he noticed a missed call from Kitchens and quickly dialed back.
"Traffic cams picked up a blue van heading north on A82 this morning. Plates match a vehicle registered to Carson Campbell, Kingsmills Road, Inverness. Ring any bells?"
"None." Grey crushed an empty water bottle and tossed it aside. "But that's Peg's neighborhood."
"The bloke really is taking her home then."
"Aye. Let's hope it's in one piece. Do ye mind sending some men to watch the place. If she's in danger, I don't want them waiting for me."
"Already done. Talk soon."
Grey ended the call and pressed harder on the accelerator. "Let the traffic police chase me all the way to Kingsmills Road if they want me badly enough."
The van headed into the heart of Inverness. Aries' emotions warred within her—the thrill of being home again mixed with the old dread. Bad things happened when she came home.
Her captor pulled into a petrol station and insisted she climb into the back and lie low. She did as she was told, the threat to harm her grandmother still hanging in the air. If she didn't do exactly as he said, he would drive directly to the old woman's house and slit her throat when she opened the door. And there was no guarantee her gran could see it coming, so the threat was all the motivation she needed to behave.
Unfortunately, with her in the back, that meant neither Grey nor his friends would see her riding through town. She sat on the floor against the sliding door and faced forward, aware of every turn and every street.
She almost expected him to head to Clachnaharry Road and Wickham Muir's old ranch, since the only controversial events she'd been involved in had included the 79 Highlanders who had been raised from the dead on the battlefield at Culloden. But to her surprise, he turned right and crossed Friars Bridge. Was he headed to Gran's house after all? She had done exactly as he'd said.
"Wait a minute," she started.
"Shut it," he snapped.
"I did what you said."
"I said shut it."
He was nervous now, on edge with being in town where a scream would draw attention. Or maybe he was anxious because of what came next. Aries had to be careful not to provoke him further.
They passed her grandmother's road, and Aries felt a surge of relief when they drove on by. Her captor chuckled, knowing he'd made her nervous. But it only pissed her off.
They passed a few more streets before pulling between two houses and into a back garage. He got out and closed the rolling door before opening the van to let her out.
"Who are you?" Aries demanded, unable to keep the frustration from her voice.
He sneered. "Still haven't worked it out? And here I thought ye were clever."
"Just tell me."
"Not yet." He cut the ties off her wrists with a knife, then offered his elbow. "Now, ye're goin’ to take my arm and walk into that house like ye're my dotin’ girlfriend. Smile pretty and keep yer mouth shut. Remember what happens if ye dinnae."
Aries placed her hand in the crook of his arm but couldn't bring herself to look at him. As they stepped out into the yard, movement caught her eye. Someone skulked at the corner of the neighbor's house—she would have recognized the handsome man anywhere, even from the sliver of him as he leaned around to give her a wink and touch his finger to the side of his nose. Then he was gone again.
It was McHenish—one of The 79.
Smiling was easy then. This fool had no idea what kind of hell was about to rain down on his head. And she might have felt sorry for him, but he'd forced her back into Grey's territory, and that she just couldn't forgive.