Chapter 1

Three Months Later

Inverary, Highlands

She has tae be somewhere. Nae woman can just disappear, nae without a trace.

Avery paced up and down in front of the tavern. In the heavy downpour, the rain fell relentlessly. With the moon peeking between the clouds, each droplet glistened in that silver light like long thin gems falling from the sky. By the time they hit the earth, they mixed with other droplets to form vast muddy puddles. It was these puddles Avery kept marching through, splashing his long leather boots and his already muddied trews.

Lifting his chin, which was dappled with stubble, for he hadn't bothered to shave recently, he glanced up and down the street. This late into the night, barely anyone was still awake in the town. Only a few people inside the tavern could be heard making merry so late at night.

Avery glanced long enough at the tavern window to see men well in their cups, leaning against one another to keep standing. In the tavern, some patrons leaned forward over their tankards while others were already passed out with their faces resting on the wooden tables.

Some place tae spend yer life.

Avery shook his head and returned to his pacing. He scratched his jaw and lifted the hat on his head, giving in to his nervous habit of ruffling the dark hair at his temples before replacing it. Then, he turned back the other way to continue his pacing. Soon, he would have an answer to the question he had been seeking for so long.

"Where is he?"

"Sir?" A voice close by disturbed Avery's thoughts. He turned to look at a man striding out of the tavern hurriedly. He wasn't as tall as Avery nor as strong in stature. In fact, he was relatively small and slight. But Avery had worked with him enough times to know the man possessed other useful skills besides fighting that was invaluable when it came to spying and the exchange of important intelligence across the highlands.

"Talbot?" Avery stepped forward, offering his hand. Talbot shook it heartily, raising his head and revealing an easy smile.

"Nae a good night for meeting outdoors, is it?" He laughed as he spoke.

"Aye, we have had better nights." Avery released Talbot's hand and nodded. "What have ye found for me?" He waited with bated breath for some news. For the last few years, he'd worked with Talbot, providing information and spying when needed.

I have tae find Ella.

"I have heard something of her, sir, of Ella Ogilvy."

Just hearing her name made Avery feel transported. He was no longer standing in the rain outside a poorly reputed tavern but was back in his father's castle. He was younger, a boy of nineteen, with the maid, Ella, sitting beside him. They were sharing a flagon of mead, and she was so close to him that he could smell her perfume. The scent was one of honey and peonies, a lovely scent that has stayed with him to this day. Her long brown hair escaped its confines and curled around her shoulders, taunting him with the thought of running his fingers through those silky locks. Her beautiful blue eyes never left him, and her full lips frequently parted in laughter.

It had been a happy time, the happiest Avery had ever known, and he longed to have it back. But his relationship with Ella had come crashing down the day when his father, Kendrick MacTavish, had discovered the affair.

"Nay gentleman marries a maid, ye bampot. She's after yer wealth."

Those words had plagued Avery ever since. Kendrick had kept his word, and when Avery continued his affair with Ella, she was banished from the castle just as he was about to propose marriage to her. Avery hadvowed never to forgive his father for the personal betrayal and hadleft the castle soon after, looking for Ella, and hadn"t returned since.

He'd left behind his younger sister, though, which was his one regret.

I'll be back someday, Eloise. First, I must find Ella.

He'd started life as a scout, but his experience had soon changed once he'd become involved with men like Talbot. He became a spy and a warrior, sometimes for hire, though he only ever worked for the right man. These days, few men could match him when it came to his skills with the sword. He'd worked hard for other men he believed were fighting for just causes, and now, it was time to reap the rewards of that hard work and loyalty to others. It was time for them to help him find Ella.

"What have ye heard?" He begged. The man nodded towardthe overhanging eaves of a nearby house, and they dashed under the ledge, out of the rain, which was now so heavy that it muffled their words.

"I warn ye, my friend," Talbot heaved with a heavy sigh, "if ye care for this woman the way I suspect ye do, then ye are nae going tae like what I have tae tell ye."

"I have hardly been happy the last few years, so what difference will this make?" Avery shrugged his shoulders. "I must ken the truth. Please, Talbot, nae further delays. What have ye heard of her?"

"I heard the name whispered between men. They visit a certain brothel, though I have nae heard exactly where this brothel is."

Avery stiffened. His entire body hardened as if an iron rod had replaced his spine.

"They say a woman by the name of Ella Ogilvy is there. I am sorry, sir, but she is a courtesan."

Avery swayed and reached for the wall beside him. Planting his hand on it, he kept himself standing.

How can innocent Ella be a courtesan?

The memory of her danced before his eyes once more, as if she were present with him. She had worn a beautiful blue dress that suited her perfectly and made her eyes sparkle. She had playfully taunted him, urging him to come closer, and he couldn"t resist her charm.

"I've heard of such women who have nae chances, nae money tae their names, ending up in such places before," Talbot explained in a rush. "When they have nae friends, nae one tae help them, places like these brothels take advantage of such women. I asked around about this brothel, tae ken as much as I could about it, tae warn ye of them."

"And? Who owns the brothel?"

"The Mathieson family." Talbot grimaced at the words. "The whispers then became confusing. The father may have once owned it, but who kens if he's still alive? It's the eldest daughter who runs the business now, Fiadh Mathieson. They say she is fearsome and makes ladies do disgusting things to men willing tae pay extra for their own pleasure. She pockets the money she gets from her courtesans' endeavors and keeps the women under her roof as if they are her pets."

Avery turned and leaned completely against the wall, his head forward. Ella being manipulated in this way, used by men and at the command of another woman, sickened him to his core.

"The world is a grotesque place," Avery muttered, reeling in shock. "A woman would do that tae her kin? Tae ladies such as her?"

"It is what I hear." Talbot nodded slowly. "There are reputedly many under the Mathieson roof. There are other sisters, but Fiadh is the one in control. When I heard Ella Ogilvy's name whispered, there was a suggestion that Fiadh had brought her into the brothel herself. She found Ella on the road and offered her another life. Poor woman." He inhaled sharply. "She must have thought she was being offered sanctuary?—"

"Nae tae lay her head in hell itself." Avery cursed and leaned forward, palms to his knees. All he could think about was Ella being forced to give her body to men who didn"t deserve her, all because she had no choice in life. "This Fiadh woman has violated her as if she had done the deed herself."

"Aye, I agree with ye." Talbot mimicked Avery's stance and leaned on the wall beside him. "It is a sick world we live in, but at least now ye know where Miss Ogilvy is. What will ye do now, sir? Now that ye ken."

Avery swallowed, feeling a lump in his throat. It was difficult, but he eventually managed to stand up straight, staring out at the rain that continued to fall. Thunder rolled in the distance as lightning flashed over the nearby hills.

I promised her we would marry someday. I made a vow to protect her and look how poorly I have kept tae my vow!

He could still recall the last time he saw her. Her blue eyes were red from crying, and her lips were pressed together in a thin line. Her delicate hands had curled around his, clinging to him. Kendrick had already told her she"d have to leave, but Avery didn"t think his father would follow through on his threat. He realized how wrong he had been the next morning when he awoke to find Ella no longer in the castle.

"They have violated her, brutalized her. God only kens how many times she has been assaulted, just at the whim of men who want quick satisfaction." Avery spat the words, unable to hold back his fury. He turned to face his friend, noticing that Talbot had actually taken a step away from him, clearly a little afraid. "I cannae let the world continue in this grotesque way."

"What will ye do? Ye intend tae go after her and get her out of there?" Talbot smiled, nodded, and rubbed his chin. "Aye, it is a good thought. Though be warned. If what I hear of Fiadh Mathieson is true, she will nae let one of her courtesans go without a fight. I heard a story of one of the women being shackled tae the bed."

"In the name of the wee man!" Avery cursed and turned on the spot, his hand reaching for the hilt of the sword that always rested in his belt. "Then this must end. It must end soon, and I will make sure that Fiadh Mathieson cannae hurt any others in this world."

"Ye will?" Talbot hesitated, plainly having sensed the vow before Avery could even utter it.

"Fiadh will pay the price of death. Her brothel will be burned tae the ground, and that family will never hurt another woman like Ella again."

* * *

"Callie! Callie? They want us." A young woman was shaking her, forcing her awake.

"Five minutes more," Callie pleaded, turning over on the ground. The grassy mound served as a pillowand the torn jacket she was carrying was herblanket.

"Nae more minutes, ye fool. They want us. Ye ken what happens tae those they have nae use for anymore, do ye nae?" The woman's words made Callie's eyes shoot open.

It was already evening, but she hadn"t slept much the night before, so she nappedduring the day. The men she now spent her time with were demanding in that way.

Thefts happen best at night, do they nae?

"Aye, Hettie, I'm coming," Callie murmured. The young woman half smiled and hurried off through the camp, leaving Callie to prepare herself. She sat up from the grassy mound and looked around. A little distance away, there was a blanket laid over some branches as some sort of shelter. The fire had burnt down to its ashes, and breadcrumbs were visible on the ground beside it.

I see they decided nae tae share their food tonight.

Callie sighed and got to her feet. She no longer straightened her gown or her hair when she rose, because what was the point? This was no life to live, but it was the only one she had. She"d gone to her aunt"s house after escaping her father"s brothel, only to discover that her aunt had died. She"d stolen from the street to survive. That"s how the highwaymen found her. One of them caught her trying to pickpocket from his own belt. Instead of murdering her right there and then, he"d been impressed and urged her to join his group. She should be grateful, shouldn't she?

"What other choice did I have?" Callie muttered as she left the camp, following the path the one other woman had taken. Hettie had dived between the trees, heading toward the river, and Callie trailed behind her at a much slower pace. She soon found the highwaymen standing by a large boulder on the side of a loch, with Hettie running up to meet them.

Hettie attempted to seduce Torkell by linking her arm with his and he responded with his typical flirtatious smile. However, he quickly redirected his focus to a map he had placed on a nearby boulder.

"Ah, Callie. I see ye have decided tae join us at last. Ye have grown lazy," he called to her, his eyes red with his own tiredness despite his words. He tossed his auburn hair, which was tied into a thick ponytail, over his shoulder.

"Have ye nae heard of sleep, Torkell? It's what ye do when ye're tired," she reminded him in jest, crossing toward the others at the boulder. "If ye did it more, yer eyes would be less red."

The two other men sniggered, though they stopped the moment Torkell looked at them. Blair was the oldest and shortest of the group. Stocky in build, he was strong and able to dart into small gaps because of his lack of height. He was prized as an excellent thief by Torkell, but not as much as Wallace. The tall figure stood beside Callie, staring at her as he always did.

She shifted away from him, trying to keep some distance between them. More than once, she had woken to find him pulling at her gown at night, begging for one night with her. She'd refused every time. When he would not listen, she'd threatened him with a dirk she kept in her belt. He hadn't bothered her again but still looked and asked relentlessly.

"Tell her," Torkell ordered.

"We have our next targets." Wallace pressed down a dirk in the middle of the map stretched out on the boulder. "A passing English duke is tae travel through Kenmore tomorrow night with a few of his friends. They number five in total. That's the target."

"A duke?" Callie stammered out the words. "Ye are getting bolder, Torkell. I didnae ken ye had a death wish."

"Ye of little faith," Wallace whispered and moved toward her. She sidled away again. "Ye and Hettie are tae draw the men away from their path. Tease them, promise them something." He winked at her, and she had to stop herself from gagging, crossing her arms over her torn dress. "We will then rob them."

"Five is too many," Callie snapped. "Turning one head, or maybe two between us, aye, it can be done." Sadly, Callie had seen it work many times. "Yet five is too many, ye ask too much." She turned her head back to Torkell. "Dinnae be a fool. Ye ken we cannae do it."

"Ye can do it," Torkell said confidently, looking at Hettie at his side. "We'll make the preparations. Tomorrow morning, we'll go into town." He turned away, with the lass still holding his arm, and Blair followed behind them, yapping at Torkell's heels like a dog wanting attention.

Callie stared down at the map, looking at the small town of Kenmore. The roads were narrow and there were few hiding places.

Five men . . . we'll end up dead!

"Ye ken it will work, Callie," Wallace whispered in her ear, and she leaped back, colliding with the boulder in an effort to put some distance between them. His fair hair around his ears twitched in the breeze as he smiled at her. He was ruggedly handsome, but Callie had never liked the idea of sharing a bed with someone as repulsive as Wallace. His leering and the hands that would grab at her in the middle of the nightterrified her. "Ye want persuading it will work? I can show ye the power ye have over a man." He moved toward her again, and she snatched her dirk from her belt, pushing it between them.

"Nay, Wallace. I have told ye, nay." She held his gaze, never once blinking.

"One of these days, ye will forget where ye have put that thing." His eyes narrowed and the threat was obvious.

He means tae force me one day.

"Nay." She backed away from him, her dirk outstretched. She turned and ran, pelting back toward the camp when astrong thought took hold of her.

When they realized they were being robbed, five men meant certain arrest, if not certain death.

I have tae get out of here!