Page 109 of The Highlander's Virgin Widow
“Ye cannae stop me from having her. Laird Blythe might have been a dangerous man, but that doesnae mean he didnae teach me a few things when he was alive,” Hudson said, the words escaping his lips between fits of loud coughs.
He dove for his dagger, but Evander caught up before he could reach it. He slammed his boot hard into Hudson’s hand and heard the sickeningcrackof bones. Hudson screamed again and desperately tried to pull his hand free, but Evander refused to let up. He grabbed Hudson’s arm and yanked him up just to drive his fist into his face once again.
Hudson stumbled but didn’t fall.
Before Evander could deliver another blow, Hudson threw a wild punch that landed clean on his temple. Evander reeled, and his vision faltered for a moment. Hudson lunged at him, pushing him against the edge of the window. His back crashed into the wall.
“Evander!” Keira screamed from the far corner of the room, where she huddled to avoid getting hit.
Hudson wrapped his hands around Evander’s neck and tried to choke him and shove him through the window. Keira took a step forward.
“Stay back!” Evander barked.
The night wind rushed in, cold and sharp against his bloodied face, and his feet skidded helplessly across the floor.
“Now, who’s twice the man yer loving husband is, Keira?”
Keira clamped her hands over her mouth.
“Answer me!” Hudson screamed, his grip on Evander’s neck faltering just the slightest bit.
That was the opening Evander needed. He swung his arm and punched him hard in the throat, then the stomach.
Hudson doubled over, a choked gasp escaping his lips. Evander slammed his fist into his throat once again, causing him to drop to his knees, wheezing and coughing.
Evander kicked him hard in the side once. Twice. Ribs cracked at the impact, and Hudson fell onto his back.
Evander straddled him. “Ye bastard!” he roared.
Before he could do anything, Hudson kneed him from behind. He doubled over, and Hudson clawed at his knees, pulling hard and sending him face-first to the floor.
The two men wrestled across the room, their bodies slamming into the furniture and walls. Hudson bit into Evander’s arm from the back. Evander cried out and slammed his free elbow into Hudson’s mouth.
Hudson fell over and landed on his back.
Evander snatched the dagger from the floor. “Ye messed with the wrong woman.”
Before Hudson could say anything, Evander dropped to his knees beside him and drove the dagger into his chest.
Hudson’s scream echoed through the room.
Evander pulled the dagger out and stabbed himhard, again and again, his chest heaving. Hudson’s body shook violently beneath him, warm blood pooling beneath his body and soaking the floorboards. Evander stayed there, his grip tight on the dagger until Hudson eventually stopped moving.
He rose, his eyes still fixed on Hudson’s lifeless body, as if by some miracle the bastard would reach for him, or his wife, again.
He didn’t. Hudson was truly dead. And his lifeless body remained on the floor as stark evidence.
Evander turned to Keira, who remained by the wall.
“Ye’re safe now,” he said, his voice hoarse. “He willnae hurt ye anymore. I swear it.”
Keira nodded slowly, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face before she finally moved toward him.
He pulled her into his arms, studying every inch of her body for the briefest of minutes.
“Are ye hurt? Did the bastard manage to—” The words froze on his lips before he could finish.
He couldn’t bring himself to ask the question.
