Chapter 12

12

A drian knew how Samantha felt. Hell, his own fury compelled him to storm inside the tavern and start slashing throats, but doing so would be rash and foolish. They had to stay smart, level headed, and keep a low profile.

There would be too many witnesses here if he lost his cool. And with Kendrick eager to prosecute him, it was vital he not provide the man with good reason to do so.

"Wait for us here," he told the driver. "Keep your pistols at the ready."

Shifting his weight, he started forward, ever conscious of Samantha's presence exactly one step behind him.

He reached the door, met her gaze, and pulled it open when she responded with a firm nod.

A dimly lit entrance hall greeted them. From there, the building opened up to either side with stairs straight ahead leading up to the next level.

A crowd of men, no different in appearance from what one might find at any other English tavern, occupied every available space. The only indication that this place had something more to offer was the presence of several scantily clad women.

Raucous laughter accompanied cheers to good health. Lewd language followed and a woman's voice answered, her tone playfully scolding. Everyone hooted, in response to which Adrian scowled.

"I doubt he's down here," he told Samantha. "Let's have a look upstairs."

He shoved past a couple of men who stood in his way, ignoring their complaints as he strode for the stairs. The wood plank flooring dipped beneath his weight, each step testing whether or not the worn-down building would hold.

"What you want?" A burly fellow with a wiry beard appeared at the top of the landing. Twice Adrian's width and nearly of equal height, he'd make an impressive adversary. The man glanced past him and chuckled. "Well ain't she a pretty one. 'Aven't seen 'er up 'ere before. Ye new, are ye?"

"That's right," Samantha purred with sultry charm.

The man chuckled, rocking back on his heels. "Well then. Maybe ye and I can get better acquainted after this 'ere fellow is done with yer wares."

A red mist descended in front of Adrian's eyes, yet he held himself perfectly still. Silent. Calm on the outside even as rage devoured him from within.

"I'm sure we can come to some sort of agreement," Samantha promised.

It took every vestige of control in Adrian's bones not to shove his fist into the bastard's teeth. Somehow, he found the wherewithal to say, "The sooner you let us pass, the sooner you'll get beneath her skirts."

A gleam of interest lit the burly man's eyes. He licked his lips, the action causing Adrian's stomach to roil with pure disgust.

The man grunted. Looked just about ready to move, when he suddenly paused. "I'll be needin' tonight's secret word."

Shit .

Adrian glanced at Samantha. "Well?"

"Sweetmeat?" she suggested. It was as good a guess as any. Unfortunately, it was also incorrect.

A shrill whistle sounded from the stocky man's throat. The building began vibrating with movement.

Adrian snarled and climbed one more step. The man blocking his path kicked his leg forward, straight at Adrian's chest.

A smooth sidestep and Adrian caught him by the heel. Another quick movement caused the assailant to lose his balance. He fell with a thud, slamming into the top step.

"Go," Samantha urged. "I'll incapacitate him."

"No killing," Adrian reminded her, his feet already taking him down a hallway with doors on each side. Some gaped open, the occupants of the rooms having taken flight at the sound of the whistle. He spotted the back of a man hastily fleeing while trying to put on a shoe as he hopped around a corner.

Moving swiftly, Adrian peered into the first room he reached. A messy bed filled it. Clothing items were strewn across the floor. Multiple pairs of shirts and trousers hinted at men indulging in the sort of illegal behavior that would see them hang if they got caught.

Hardly surprising they'd run when they heard the warning.

The next room looked like it had been fled with equal haste.

"Nothing yet, I gather." Samantha swept past him and thrust a closed door open.

A woman's low chuckle came from inside the room. "Care to join us, or do you prefer to watch?"

"Doesn't look like there's much to see," Samantha said, her voice blunt.

The woman cackled while a man started cursing. Adrian, having reached Samantha, peered inside the room, searching for any sign of Isak's presence. Finding none, he pulled the door shut.

"That looked rather awkward," Samantha murmured. "Can't have been very comfortable for either of them."

Adrian grunted his agreement and kept on moving.

A naked woman lounged on the bed in the next room he entered. Alone, as though waiting for someone to join her, she sent Adrian a saucy smile and beckoned him with her finger. He growled in response and started turning away when his ears pricked in response to a muted thump.

Pausing, he scanned the room.

"What is it?" Samantha asked.

"I heard something."

"'Twas just me, handsome." The woman rocked on the bed, causing the headboard to knock against the wall. She shifted her gaze to Samantha and pursed her lips. "I'm happy to show you a few tricks. Make sure he'll never be tempted to stray."

"Keep thinking in that direction at your own peril," Samantha replied.

The woman grinned. "You're a feisty one, aren't you. I rather love that."

Adrian sent her a scowl and stepped farther into the room. He angled his head, tried to concentrate while the woman kept prattling on. Another thump sounded, but it came from the right, not from the left where the bed was standing.

He turned to Samantha, who looked like she planned to unsheathe her claws and give the goading whore hell. The stern use of her name forced her attention away from the woman. "My guess is she wants to distract you. Don't let her do it."

Samantha flattened her mouth and gave a curt nod.

"Aw," said the whore. "Afraid he'll prefer what I'm willing to offer to what little you might be capable of?"

Ignoring her, Adrian crossed to the wardrobe and flung open the doors. Nothing looked out of place at first glance. The piece of furniture was filled with bedding and what appeared to be various types of costumes. Samantha, who'd come to stand at his shoulder, frowned with clear confusion.

"Fancy playing a bit of pretend?" asked the whore. "Does parlor maid and lord of the manor intrigue you?"

A quick glance over his shoulder informed Adrian that the woman had risen. She padded across the floor to where they stood, not bothering to cover herself. He swiveled, unsheathing the dagger concealed in his boot with one fluid motion. "Don't move."

"Come now." The whore splayed her arms wide. A glint of humor shone in her eyes. "You can clearly see I'm unarmed."

She was right, but the three men who now entered the room weren't. Her chatter had given them time to arrive. Adrian muttered a curse as the first of the three, a hardened sort who looked like he took part in fights for amusement, slashed his blade through the air.

Behind him stood a slimmer fellow with a crooked nose. The man who'd been blocking the stairs was at his side, an ugly snarl curling his lips as he fisted his hands.

"Looks like our friend from earlier has regained consciousness," Samantha said.

"You didn't think to tie him up?" Adrian asked.

"With what?"

Blade Slasher raised his hand and attacked, denying Adrian the chance to comment. Stepping forward, he blocked the man's blade with his own, the muscles in his arm straining beneath the pressure .

Shouts and grunts filled the air as Samantha fought his companions. Adrian's hold started slipping. His opponent took advantage, sending his fist into Adrian's chest.

The punch pushed him off balance. Blade Slasher's arm slid free. A wide-arced swing followed. Adrian dodged, but the silver edge of Blade Slasher's weapon still managed to skim his cheek. He winced in response to the sting and barely avoided the next attack.

Blade Slasher, who clearly didn't share Adrian's intention to steer clear of murder, came at him again with death in his eyes. He swung his blade wildly but Adrian blocked it again, the sharp clang of metal piercing the air.

Behind Blade Slasher, Adrian glimpsed Samantha, her swirling figure avoiding the blows directed her way. She faced not just one but two opponents. He had to help her.

Grabbing the wardrobe door, he pulled it shut, then swung it back open hard. Blade Slasher's blade drove into the wood and stuck there, leaving its owner briefly startled.

Taking advantage, Adrian gave him a hard kick, straight to the side of the knee. A loud pop had the man's face twisting. He cried out in pain and buckled.

Not missing a beat, Adrian launched himself at the man who'd blocked the stairs, his fist slamming straight up into his jaw. He dropped to the floor, unconscious once more .

"Kill them, Roy," Blade Slasher ordered, his voice barely more than a whimper.

Roy's blade, an ugly cutlass-type weapon that would have looked more at home on a pirate ship, sliced the air directly in front of Samantha's breast.

A roar broke free from Adrian's throat as he shoved his own dagger forward, directly toward Roy's side. The man somehow sensed the advance and shifted, spinning neatly out of his way, then changed direction and countered with another attack.

"Any chance you've changed your mind?" Samantha asked, her voice strained with exertion as she responded to Roy's next move. "It would make it so much easier for us to win this."

"No." Adrian made a grab for Roy's arm but grasped only air. "It's not worth the risk."

They circled around and Roy pulled Blade Slasher's dagger free from the wardrobe. He now wielded two lethal blades. A smirk tugged at his lips, creasing his pockmarked cheek.

"I'll take great pleasure in spillin' your guts." Roy swung the cutlass as he advanced, forcing Adrian back. Samantha tried to move in from the side but was blocked by a swipe of the dagger. She danced away, her footing nimble and quick.

Roy kept his attention on them both, never giving either the chance to sneak up behind him. Samantha lunged once more; Roy's dagger clashed against hers. He shoved her back and she fell with a yelp.

Rage burned fiercely in Adrian's blood. Intent on destroying the man, he stepped right into his space. His fingers wrapped tightly around Roy's wrist. The dagger he held in his right hand blocked the one being thrust toward him.

He prepared to knee the bastard so hard he'd forget his own name, only to see his eyes grow impossibly wide. A scream rose from his throat as he crumpled. Adrian watched in dismay as he hit the plank flooring. And then he spotted the blood.

"Samantha?"

She glanced up from where she crouched, still wiping her blade on Roy's jacket. "I slashed his Achilles. Shouldn't bother us further."

Adrian stared at her for a second, then blinked. He supposed it wasn't much worse than him dislocating Blade Slasher's knee. "Good job. We still ought to restrain them. Especially him." He pointed at the man he'd punched. "So he doesn't give us more trouble when he comes to."

"We can probably find something to use in the wardrobe." Samantha crossed to the piece of furniture, her foot stepping down hard on Roy when he made a grab for her ankle. He groaned and fell back with a curse.

Adrian glanced around. No sign of the whore who'd initially been here. She must have snuck out during the fight. He grabbed the shirt and scarf Samantha offered and began tying Roy's wrists together behind his back.

It didn't take long before the three men were rendered immobile .

"Let's take a closer look at that wardrobe." Adrian knew it was hiding something. The thump he'd heard had come from within. He pushed the clothing aside and patted his palms across the back until it wobbled beneath his touch. "There's something here. False backing, I think."

"Are you able to move it?"

He felt for the edges, found a small lip he could catch hold of with his fingertips, and pulled. It was heavy, but it came away without too much effort. He swung it sideways and propped it against the interior wall, then bent for a closer look at what he'd uncovered.

An opening large enough for a grown man to fit through if he crouched greeted him. Beyond was nothing but darkness.

"Hallo?" Nobody answered. He glanced at Samantha. "We'll need to find a candle or something."

"I think I saw an oil lamp in one of the rooms. I'll fetch it."

Adrian retrieved the flint he kept in his pocket and was ready to light the lamp when Samantha returned moments later. He turned it up all the way and carried it into the wardrobe. The light spilled through the darkness beyond. Something moved, scraping along the rough flooring, as if seeking safety amid the shadows.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he said. Rapid breathing hissed through the air. "Isak?"

Still nothing. He withdrew a little, met Samantha's determined gaze. "I'm not sure he's in there, but somebody is, and I'm thinking they might be less frightened of you."

They switched positions. Samantha took the oil lamp and crawled through the opening. "Don't worry. You're safe now."

Her voice was gentle, soothing, even though she choked the next time she tried to speak. Adrian followed her into the space and instantly realized why. There, in the far corner of the narrow room, was Isak. He lay on his side, curled up into a tiny ball, eyes closed. The light falling upon his face displayed a series of cuts and bruises.

Six other children, girls and boys of varying ages, were huddled beside him, all clinging together. The lack of sound they made was far worse than if they'd been crying. Terror was painted upon their young faces, the abhorrent cruelty they'd been subjected to flooding Adrian with a violent need to avenge them.

Hell, it felt like his skull might explode he was so bloody angry.

But that wouldn't do. Not here. Not now.

So he took control of the demons inside him and told the children calmly, "We're getting you out of this place and making sure you're properly cared for from now on. All right?"

It took a second before one of the older looking children – a girl – nodded. "Tha…thank you."

Christ. His eyes stung and his heart ached so much he could scarcely bear it.

He cleared his throat and reached for Isak. His intention was to pull him into his arms, but he snatched his hands back when the boy's eyes flew open on a broken sob.

"It's just us," Samantha told him, her voice soothing. "Mr. and Mrs. Croft."

"Ca…can't move," Isak rasped. "Hurts."

"Where?" Adrian asked.

"My…shoulder. Wycliff…." The faint sound of crying followed.

Adrian clenched his jaw, his thoughts already straying to what he would do when he left this place.

He tried to ignore his bloodthirsty inclinations for the moment and told Isak gently, "We'll have to get out of here if we're to fix it. This isn't a very nice place, Isak. Is it? I'm sure you don't want to stay."

"No. I don't."

"Then let me help you. It may hurt a bit, but you'll be glad once it's over."

"I'm…scared."

"No shame in that," Adrian murmured. He caught Isak's hand, careful not to hold it too tightly, and felt tiny fingers curling around his palm. A knot formed in his throat – the sort he'd not felt since he was a boy. "I get scared too from time to time. In fact, I was worried we might not find you."

"I'm glad you did."

"Me too." Adrian brushed his fingers across Isak's forehead. "Let's leave this awful place, shall we?"

The faintest movement conveyed Isak's agreement. Adrian scooted forward and scooped him into his arms, the boy's agonized screech in response to the shift in position causing his stomach to turn itself inside out.

Teeth gritted, Adrian held him as lightly as he could manage. Samantha led the rest of the children out through the wardrobe, and Adrian followed with Isak, his progress slow in an effort to keep from causing the boy further pain.

Wycliff, the rotten scoundrel, would pay with his life for this horrid injustice.