I answered him with a vigorous kick. Pierce grunted, and I took my chance, bringing my blade down. He blocked it, but I cut into his forearm.
“Son of a bitch!” Pierce hollered, his exhale hot on my face. Latching to my wrist, he pulled it back and twisted. I bit my bottom lip, trying to keep a cry from escaping from the pain. The knife started to leave my hand and guilt surged through me. I was about to fail George. The weapon fell from my hand and Pierce released my wrist.
“Why thee long face, love?” he taunted. “Ye didn’t lose your spunk, did ye?” I looked over his shoulder, searching for George. Men still fought, several laid out, unmoving, and then my eyes fell on a green shirt.
George.
He wasn’t moving, his arms sprawled to his sides, and I thought I saw a dark stain.
“What did you do?!” I hollered in his face. I covered my mouth, nausea brimming. Just moments ago, George was holding my hand, and now he was lifeless, on a field, alone.
“No need to shout now,” he whispered, his rotten breath hitting my nose. He brought my attention back to him, the man who’d just killed my best friend. I stilled, my breathing coming in ragged.
“Let go of me,” I barked.
“Oh, I’m going to. I’m going to let go with every thrust I put into ye, little one. I can’t wait to have ye all to myself.”
“I’m going to kill you,” I sneered, my voice unrecognizable. Clenching my teeth, I started to flare my body, pushing off his shoulder and wrestling out of his grip. The asshole was strong, but I would get myself out of this. I had to. I would to avenge George. Pierce would die on this field.
He chuckled. “Oh, you are already doing that. This sweet little body pressed up hard against me is killing me right now.” He compressed my body to his, a grunt escaping my lips. “Didn’t he set you aside?” he mused. “I heard he broke off your engagement, but here you are. Did you decide to be his mistress?”
I slapped him. Hard. My body reacted without warning, and his initial look was shock boiled into fury. He grabbed my face with his hand, pressing his meaty thumbs into my flesh.
“I’m going to have to teach yer prissy little ass some manners,” he hissed.
“Put her down,” Garrett’s voice demanded. Relief flooded me when I heard his voice. I didn’t need to turn around to see him. I felt hope. I narrowed my eyes at Pierce.
“Don’t ye try to headbutt me, lass. I’ll—” Cocking my arm back, I swung, my fist connecting with his cheek. He bellowed, rage filling his eyes. He mimicked my prior actions, swinging his head forward. Pain pulsated through me, and he dropped me mercilessly to my feet. Before I collapsed, he grabbed my arm.
“Fer that, I’ll keep ye with me as my personal whore for the rest of yer life,” he growled in my face before shoving me to the ground. My sight went blurry, as I was greeted by a vigorous kick to my ribs. My breath left my body in a grunt, and I rolled over once to get away from him. “Lord Cranfield,” I heard Pierce say. “At last, we meet.”
Sitting up while holding my side, my eyes met Garrett. His face was filled with indignation while he glared at Pierce. “Step the fuck away from her.”
The thug scoffed. “I don’t take orders from bastards, bastard.”
“Touch her again, Pierce, and I’ll cut off more than you signed up for,” Garrett growled. He looked like an animal; his breathing heavy and his stare pierced through him.
Pierce chuckled again. “Being a little confident, are ye?”
Garrett nodded at his brother. “Knock him out?”
“What makes ye think I only knocked him out?”
“Because you aren’t really a great swordsman.”
Pierce didn’t seem affected by the comment. Garrett looked over at me, his face softening. “Are you all right, darling?” I nodded, as I got to my feet.
“Darling?” Pierce repeated with furrowed brows. “Did I fight the wrong brother?”
“Any brother is the wrong brother,” Garrett snarled. “Not that I think you’ll tell me, but who do you work for?”
Pierce shrugged. “Get paid too much to open me mouth.” I felt Pierce’s eyes on me as I walked cautiously over to Garrett. Looking around for the first time, I noticed that his men were either dead or held prisoner. Pierce didn’t look a bit scared. “These men aren’t scared to die.”
“Oh, they won’t die,” Garrett countered. “They will be interrogated and when they don’t answer, they will be tortured. Then, if they still don’t answer, I’ll let their bones heal and torture them again.”
“These men have been tortured before,” Pierce added.
“Who hired you?”
“Think about it, lad. My men and I cost a pretty penny. Must be someone wit money.”
“A king?”
Piece shook his head. “Fer ye to figure out.”
“Maybe I’ll just string you up for everyone to see. Make a complete fool out of you.”
Pierce grunted. “And maybe I’ll kill the prince and have me fill with the lass”—he lowered his voice—“until she screams to be killed. I like her spirit; might get her pregnant, so I can continue my legacy.”
Garrett turned toward me and placed his hand on my stomach, guiding me back. “C’mon, Avie,” he said. “I need you to stay back.” His face softened slightly, and I was entranced by the man standing in front of me. “Dry your tears, sweetheart. Everything’s all right.” He brushed one of my cheeks with his thumb. “Pierce would have already taken off with you if he was dead. If you study him closely, you can see him breathing.”
I moved my body to look around him but was cut off. “Now”—he put pressure on my arm—“when I start going at this man, I need you to continue to stay out of the way.”
“I can’t.”
“You can, and you will,” Garrett asserted, pulling me up from the ground.
“Hurry up!” Pierce shouted. “I want this over.” Garrett reached for my hand and squeezed it before walking away. No fear reflected in his eyes, and that fascinated me more than anything.
I watched his back straighten and, lifting his sword, Garrett swung down.
Garrett
Chapter 8
The clashing of metal on metal rattled my bones. The vibrations rippled up my arm, making my teeth clench. Every strike tested my body’s endurance. Pierce met me at every turn, blocking and twisting, to try and get a clear thrust straight into my body.
I stayed focused, biding my time, and waited for him to make a mistake. Pierce swung at my head, and I barely dodged it. I didn’t want Ava to see this; to witness a man die, because one of us would.
Pierce’s sword skimmed across my skin, swiveling off my sword to hit my bicep. Blood seeped profusely from my right arm and the son of a bitch grinned, hollering at Hanson for another sword.
Fucking cheater.
“We are gonna finish this quickly, eh?” Piece taunted. A sword flew in his direction, and he swung both around in the air. “Any last words?”
I stood silent, keeping my focus off the pain. Pierce whirled both swords at me, aiming for my right arm again. Switching hands, I paid special attention to his left hand, hoping to spring the sword free. Pierce noticed my gaze and charged.
Dodging him, I watched Pierce stumble forward when I tripped him. A mouthful of curses cracked through the air and I lunged, slicing his back and ripping through the fabric of his shirt. Pierce howled in pain and flung one of his swords at me, his back still toward me. I easily evaded it and stepped closer to my victim.
As I raised my sword, Pierce quickly turned, blocking my blow. Being a larger man, he shoved me back, knocking off my footing. Taking full advantage, Pierce elbowed my chest and brought his arm up to crack me in the jaw. Pushing off me, he kicked me in the stomach, driving me to the ground.
“You sure you don’t want those last words, son?” he goaded.