Authors: Marie Harte
He
struggled to focus on clearing the haze from his sight.
“Well,
well, look who’s awake.”
Just
his luck, awareness returned and brought with it Butch McKenzie. The bastard had
introduced himself then left to supposedly torture Thais. It had been all Hinto
could do not to react. He knew McKenzie wanted to watch him struggle. Not
giving him pleasure had become Hinto’s number one on his to-do list. Well,
right after escaping and taking Thais with him.
“Your
woman is a refreshing change of pace from what I’m used to.” Butch smiled, his
pleasure genuine.
Hinto
noticed the ripped cloth of Butch’s shirt, as well as a hint of blood. At
least, he thought he saw blood. His right eye had begun to cloud. “Nailed you,
did she?”
“Yes.
It was a fine move. Gracefully executed. She’s very good with that dagger of
hers.”
Hinto
nodded and sent out a flare of energy. To his relief, he found Thais nearby and
alive. He sagged in his chains. The next thing he knew, he was blinking into McKenzie’s
concerned face.
Butch
snapped his fingers. “Stay with me. The ‘great’ Hinto Dakota.” He snorted. “I
must admit, I’m not impressed. So you’ve come for the bounty on my brother’s
head, hmm?”
Truth
be told, the bounty on Gregor wasn’t nearly enough to make this excursion worth
the trip, except by doing so he could justify sticking around Thais without
feeling guilty. Granted, he’d earn more gold tracking down that outlaw Chatrell—his
original plan—but Gregor dead would reward him that much sooner. Provided Hinto
lived long enough to collect it.
“Who
told you I’m here for him?” Hinto slurred, intentionally sounding worse off
than he felt.
“A
few of my men in the bar overheard your discussion with Lou.” Butch tsked. “So disappointing
that our local bar owner can’t keep his dissatisfaction to himself. I don’t ask
for much, mind you. A few whores to keep the boys happy.” He gestured at his
men. “Drinks on the house. Considering I keep him in business, you’d think he’d
show more loyalty. Like your Thais.”
Hinto
said nothing. Guys like Butch did their work on the mind, tearing down their
opponents by demoralizing them. Of course, Butch didn’t leave much to chance,
punishing Hinto’s body. A thorough monster, all said and done.
“I’ve
never come across a woman quite like her.”
And
you never will.
“Tell
me about her. From what I understand, she took out Freddy and Cedric with ease.
I’ve seen her wield that knife of hers. Such a beautiful warrior, a woman of
strength.”
To
Hinto’s surprise, Butch sounded admiring. Maybe if the man liked her well
enough, he’d leave off torturing her.
Hinto
licked his lips and deliberately flinched at the pain. “She’s a fighter, no
doubt. I found her taking on four wranglers a few days ago.”
“Where?”
No
way Hinto would give Butch any information he might tie to Kitty.
He
coughed and opened his mouth as if to answer, then went lax. The strain on his
body hurt, but pretending to pass out saved him from having to answer any more
of Butch’s questions.
Shit,
he needed out of here in the worst way. Thoughts of Thais at this sadist’s
hands made him ill. From what his tormenters Ralph and John had mentioned,
Hinto knew it was only a matter of time before Butch took from Thais what she’d
never willingly give, if he hadn’t already.
Butch
sighed and directed his voice away from Hinto. “As usual, you two fucked up. You
hit him too hard. I wanted him bloody but aware. Now we might as well leave him
until tomorrow.”
Thank
God.
Butch
leaned closer and whispered into his ear, “You can’t hide in the darkness forever,
bounty hunter. Pity that you arrived just as Gregor left to take care of some
personal business for me. But he’ll be back. I’m going to save you for him, a
gift for his birthday.” He chuckled. “But the woman is mine. I can feel it. She’s
the one I’ve been waiting for, and I can’t thank you enough for bringing her
with you.”
Hinto
maintained his even breathing.
Butch
sighed, straightened, and walked away. The sound of his fading footsteps and a door
being opened then closed gave Hinto the reprieve he needed.
“You
think he’s gonna fuck her now?” Ralph asked.
“Nah.
That’d be too quick. Boss likes to toy with ‘em, you know? And he really,
really likes this one. Wouldn’t let anybody put a mark on her. Did you see her?
She’s a looker. I can see how she took Freddy. Dumbass was probably too busy
staring at her tits to notice when she went for his throat.”
Ralph
chuckled. “Wish I could have seen her slam Cedric. Little cousin always had too
much luck with the ladies. Now let’s see him try to get up Lucy’s skirt with
that ugly face.”
John
laughed with him, and Hinto mentally urged the both of them out the door. The
strain on his body started to wear thin. He started to shake.
“Look,
John. Our bounty hunter is having fits. Hope he don’t die ’fore the morning.”
“Come
on. Let’s get outta here before Boss tries to blame us for it.”
The
minute they left, Hinto groaned and straightened. The ache in his shoulder
joints brought tears to his eyes. His blood loss kept him weak, but he could
work around that. Once he broke out of the shackles holding him, he’d find
Thais, bust her out then call for Beast. He sensed the stubborn vore outside
the compound on the eastern slope, hiding in the forest. Hinto couldn’t be sure,
but he thought the mare was with him.
He
shook his head and swore at his stupidity. The throbbing inside his brain
threatened to make him pass out.
Movement
outside the wall behind him cautioned him to silence. Alert, he waited,
wondering who the hell had to sneak around the compound. Maybe another Nolan wanting
payback and not wanting the boss to know about it. Hell, the way everyone
tip-toed around Butch, it was a wonder anything got done at all.
Maybe
that’s why Butch liked Thais. She didn’t bow to anyone.
“Holy
Mother.” The soft whisper shocked the hell out of him.
He
turned his head so fast he saw stars.
“Hinto?”
Gentle hands lifted his chin. “I’m so sorry.” She caressed his cheek, the look
on her face one he’d never seen before.
“Am
I awake?”
“Unfortunately,
yes. Wait a minute.”
Before
he knew it, she unlocked his left shackle, then his right.
He
sagged and would have fallen when she propped him up against the wall.
“You
look terrible.”
“So
do you. What the hell are you wearing?”
“Butch’s
clothes, I think.”
Angered,
he straightened and sent them both sprawling when his knees buckled. He landed
on top of her.
“Shit,
sorry, honey.” His tongue felt thick in his mouth. “Can’t seem to maneuver all
that well.”
“We
need to leave.”
“Gregor’s
not here. He’ll be coming back tomorrow. So Butch said.”
Thais
mumbled something.
Hinto
blinked and somehow looked
up
at her. “What—how—?”
“You
passed out. You’ve lost much blood.” She frowned, staring at his leg. “Shot?”
“Looks
that way. Happened when we almost got away.”
“Outside
the bar when you tripped, pushing me ahead of you.” She cupped his cheeks and
gazed into his eyes. “Your eyes are too dark.”
“You’re
so pretty.” Lightheaded, he pulled her down for a kiss and groaned when pain
centered in his mouth. “Sorry, my lips are chapped.”
“You
mean bruised.” She said something in that lyrical language he didn’t
understand. “We need to leave.”
“
You
need to go,” he corrected, trying to maintain consciousness. “Before Gregor
comes back. Butch’ll hurt you tomorrow. I know it. I’ll wait here for… Gregor. Get
his gun,” he rambled.
“…Hinto?
Hinto, wake up,” she urged and shook him by the collar.
“Gotta
call Beast.” The vore was out there. He could feel Beast’s energy just beyond
the woods. “Help me get to my feet.”
She
moved under his shoulder and walked him out the back door of the barn. Thanks
to the late hour, few sentries stood watch. Butch had underestimated his new
“guests.”
Thais
helped Hinto walk some distance from the ranch before he couldn’t walk on his
aching leg anymore. He put two fingers into his mouth and let out a long
whistle.
She
swore. “Now they definitely know we’re gone.”
Shouts
broke out and lights appeared all over the ranch. Someone spotted them and
started running their way.
“Shit.”
He moaned, praying Beast would hurry the hell up. Hinto glanced at Thais. Both
of her looked so pretty, and so annoyed. He couldn’t have said why, but the
situation seemed funny.
“Twins?”
he laughed. Perfect, more of Thais to be mad at him.
“By
the Goddess, I don’t need this. We have to get you out of here before—”
Shouts
and gunshot exploded in the once silent night. Thankfully, Beast’s loud roar
grew louder.
“Finally,”
he muttered. “Your ride’s here, darlin’.”
The
ground tilted as Hinto stood once again. With her help, he mounted the vore in
front of Thais, making them prime targets for anyone with a gun. Then Butch
ordered a ceasefire and started shouting at his men. Everything went dark as
Thais leaned closer to grab the reins and accidentally nudged his leg wound.
“Hinto!
Dammit, stay awake. You can’t pass out now,” Thais yelled as they raced away
from danger.
“Right,”
he wheezed, every jostle and bump like hell on his sore body.
They
rode for some time while he struggled to stay aware.
“Faster,
Beast.” Thais sounded worried. Not good.
The
air breezed by them in a cool wind. He shivered and did his best to hold onto the
vore’s neck.
What
felt like hours passed before Thais slowed them down. “Good boy.”
“Me
or Beast?” he said, shivering uncontrollably. He heard a whinny and realized
the mare rode with them. “Got the horses.”
She
sighed and pulled on the reins, hugging him tight. “I have our transportation,
but I’m afraid Butch hasn’t given up. Beast keeps looking over his shoulder. We’ve
put some distance between us, but they won’t stop. I can feel it.”
A
faint memory intruded. “Beast, the cave. Take us there.”
Beast
snorted and changed direction. Hinto knew they’d have to go the long way, but
Butch and his men would have a helluva time tracking them through the mountains.
“He’ll
get us to safety. No one knows about the cave but me.”
And my brothers. I
wonder how Dad is doing?
His thoughts wandered like a leaf carried on winds
of pain and confusion. Nothing seemed real. Not the woman at his back, the vore
beneath him, or the pain turning to numbness within him.
At
least they no longer had to worry about the McKenzies. Confident the vore would
take them to safe passage, Hinto finally curled around Beast’s neck and slid
into unconsciousness.
Chapter Ten
Thais
swore again, wishing Hinto would wake so she could beat some answers out of him.
If he hadn’t been so bad off she might have. But whatever guidance he’d given
to the vore seemed to be working.
The
rough terrain would have put
her
off traversing the mountains at night. Especially
as they moved higher, toward the white-topped peaks looming majestically
against the dark indigo sky. The Great Mother once again provided, allowing the
moon to push through the clouds and light their way over the rocky pass just
before disappearing again.
Thais’s
mare trudged along behind Beast. The trooper had earned more than a name. Perhaps
a decent meal, just as soon as Thais found her something hardy to eat.
“I’ll
call you Ainippe.”
Queenly mare
. It fit. Thais was on a royal mission,
after all.
Beast
chuffed his approval. Though she at first found the vore’s intelligence odd,
Thais now came to rely on the creature’s senses. Hinto trusted the vore. She
would as well. He’d certainly led them this far.
Of
course, leaving the McKenzie compound unscathed had as much to do with Butch’s fixation
as it did Beast’s timely arrival. She’d heard Butch yell he didn’t want her
harmed. Otherwise, she felt certain she’d be riddled with iron by now.
As
it was, she needed to dig out the bullet lodged in Hinto’s thigh. She worried
the toxin from the round might be stealing more of his strength than he could
afford to lose. A rough bandage tied off more blood loss, but her partner
definitely needed tending.
She
patted Beast’s flank. “When you feel we’ve put enough distance between us, we
need to stop. Hinto needs attention.”