Page 101 of When a Lady Dares
Still holding Sophie in a viselike grip, the cur snapped his attention to Gavin. “I want you to watch her die. A sight like that would break any man. Not that you’ll have long to think about it before I put another bullet in you.”
“I will kill you,” Gavin vowed.
McNaughton dragged Sophie to the parapet. “I’m shaking in my boots.”
Gavin staggered forward. Spreading his feet wide, he braced himself. Damn his unsteady legs. Blood loss was getting to him. That, and the blasted way his head swam when he looked past the edge of the tower. God above, he hated heights. Just his bloody luck.
This was no time for weakness. He’d steady his limbs. He’d get to her.
He could not fail.
He had to kill the bastard.
He must protect Sophie.
“Let her go.”
McNaughton sneered. “You want me to let her go—good enough, mate. Take a look…we’ll see how well she can fly.”
…
McNaughton’s powerful hands slammed against Sophie’s shoulders. She staggered back. Her back hit the tower wall, stealing her breath and sending shockwaves of pain along her spine. Terror welled in her chest. She heard herself scream, the sound like a stranger’s voice, so very foreign to her ears.
“You shouldn’t have made a fool out of me. I might’ve let you live.” McNaughton eyed her ruefully. “Damn shame an angel face like yours can’t save you. Maybe you’ll grow some wings on the way down.”
He caught her in an unyielding hold. She pummeled his chest. She drove her heel into his foot.
Useless.
Evil gleamed in his pale eyes. He gave her another shake.
Her toes brushed the floor.
A scream wrenched from her lungs.
She punched him hard, slamming into his crooked nose. Desperate to free herself, she clawed at him. Fear seemed a living, breathing entity, swallowing her up.
She curled her fingers around McNaughton’s lapels, digging her nails into the fabric. “If I fall, I’m taking you with me.”
“Damn it, you’re making this hard on yourself,” McNaughton growled. “I generally don’t like to strike a lady. But this time, I’ll make an exception.”
He manacled her wrists with one hand. He reared back with his other arm, his fingers curled into a massive fist.
“Release her, or I’ll kill you.” Gavin’s voice had gone raw. Dangerous. “Turn around and face a man, you bloody coward.”
Releasing his grip on Sophie, McNaughton went for his revolver. “I should’ve put a bullet in your gut.”
“Sophie, I love you,” Gavin said. “Always remember that.”
He surged forward. Light reflected off the steel blade in his hand. The dagger plunged into McNaughton’s chest.
Sophie gasped. Wild-eyed, McNaughton covered the sickening wound with one hand. An agonized moan escaped him.
He raised the gun in a trembling hand. “It’ll be the last thing I do, but I’ll put a bullet in your heart.”
He drew back the hammer.
Gavin lunged. The dagger pierced McNaughton’s belly.
