Page 91 of A Sinful Night with a Scot
“He’s trying tae get intae yer head,” Alisdair murmured.
Keane nodded. “Aye. I ken. But he’s failing.”
“Dae what ye came here tae dae,” Owen added. “We dinnae have much time.”
Again, Keane nodded, and standing a little taller, he looked directly at Laird Gunn.
“I’m nae here fer revenge, Gunn. I’m only here fer me wife.”
“Ye mean,mewife,” Gunn snarled.
“Nae anymore. Elsie and I are married, but ye ken that already.”
“O’ course, I dae,” he spat. “Ye succeeded in humiliating me, Mackay, fer half the country kens.”
“At least I didnae kill her, which is what I intended tae dae in the first place.”
Gunn’s face paled then.
But Keane continued. “What did ye expect after ye slaughtered me faither in front of me very eyes? Did ye really think I was going tae go back tae me own lands and forget all about it?”
“And so now, ye are here tae kill me,” Gunn snarled.
“Nay.” Keane shook his head. “Like I said. I’m only here fer Elsie”
Gunn eyed him suspiciously. “Ye cannae expect me tae believe that,” he spat.
“It’s the truth. It’s the only reason I am here.”
“And ye think I’m going tae just let her leave with ye?” Gunn gawked; his eyes wide with astonishment. “Dae ye think I am a fool?”
“Ye are hardly in a position tae fight, especially while ye hide behind a lass. Ye have that dirk tae her throat, but even that willnae save ye. If ye kill Elsie, I will kill ye. It’s that simple. Once she’s gone, there will be naething nor nayone tae protect ye.” Keane gave him a steady look. “But I dinnae think ye want tae die. I think ye’re smarter than that.”
He watched Gunn’s eyes flick back and forth. He was alone against three opponents with no help coming, given all his men were outside defending the castle. He knew he had lost. His decision now depended on how stubborn and foolish he was. Keane didn’t want to let him live. But this thirst for vengeance, the need for revenge… He didn’t care anymore, not when Elsie’s life was at stake. Keane knew he had made some very poor choices and honestly, he didn’t want to continue being the cruel man he became after his father’s death. Elsie deserved more than a murderer.
“What are ye proposing?” Gunn eventually demanded.
“If ye surrender me wife, we’ll leave ye in peace. As long as ye swear never tae darken me door ever again. It’s that, or ye die here and now,” Keane spat.
“And what guarantee dae I have?” Gunn growled.
“Me word. That’s all I can offer ye.”
“Ha!” Gunn snorted. “Yer word. And I am supposed tae believe that?”
“Ye can believe what ye like,” Keane continued. “But unlike ye and Laird Munro, me wordisme bond. If I am tae be a faither, dae ye really think I want tae be feuding with ye? Ye think I would purposefully put me wife and our unborn child at risk? Killin’ ye will only bring me worries. Ye’re nae worth it, Gunn. Make a smart decision fer once in yer life.”
Again, Gunn took far too long to consider that given his position. But eventually, he stepped forward, pushing Elsie in front of him, still keeping her as a shield. He gave Keane a final look, doubt dancing in his eyes. And then, taking a breath, he pushed Elsie forward.
Keane hadn’t realized he had been holding his breath, but as she threw her arms around him, it gushed out of his lungs with relief. As much as he wanted to treasure that moment, he pulled her arms from around his neck and pushed her behind him. He wanted to put himself between her and Gunn, just in case the man decided to change his mind at the last minute.
Now, as the laird stood there, as vulnerable as he was ever going to be, Keane gripped his sword tightly. An image of his father’s battered face flashed before his eyes. A second later, the memory of Gunn slashing his throat swiftly followed. He could slay this man where he stood, and it would all be over. Wouldn’t it?
Elsie’s soft hand on his arm snapped him out of the horrible memory.
“Keane,” she breathed.
And in that second, Keane realized that there was only one thing that could ever bring him peace, and killing this bastard in front of him wasn’t it. Without another word, he spun on his heels, and nodding to the others, they hurried out of the room.
