aHunter4Trust

by Cynthia A. Clement

  “We need help.” Darrogh looked up at the rooftop. “I’ll hold them off until the others get here.”

  If only she hadn’t been so flippant about her protection. She always took the side door when she left the bank. It was second nature, so she hadn’t thought about letting Darrogh set up the surveillance before she took the detour. It was too late for regrets now.

  “Who would be so bold to attack in daylight?”

  “Albireons.” Darrogh spit the word out. “Inside.”

  “The door has locked behind us.”

  “Run.”

  “I can’t leave you here alone.” Tamsin saw a movement out of the corner of her eye and screamed. “Look out.”

  Darrogh spun around and blocked the fist that was intended for his jaw. He wrenched the arm high in the air. Tamsin heard the distinct cracking of bone. He twisted the man’s neck and then threw the body off to the side.

  Another attacker jumped on his back.

  Tamsin shuddered with horror.

  Every blow to Darrogh’s body felt like a physical attack on her. This time, Darrogh spun his body around and slammed into the wall behind him. His attacker was crushed, and his hold on Darrogh loosened as he slid down the wall.

  An Albireon reached for her.

  She hefted her purse in the air and beat it against the man’s outreached arm. Darrogh pulled him away and slammed the man’s head against the wall, just as another gunshot rang out. This time the shot whizzed by her head.

  She was grabbed by the arm and dragged down the alley toward the main road. She dug the heels of her leather loafers into the cobblestones and pulled her weight back. It had no effect. The man continued to pull her away from Darrogh. A black SUV drove up and stopped so that it blocked the exit.

  Tamsin’s heart pounded in her chest.

  She was being kidnapped.

  From behind, she could hear the sound of another body landing on the ground. She pulled at the fingers clasped around her arm just as Darrogh launched himself at the man holding her. He seized the hand that was locked onto Tamsin, and wrenched it from her. She fell backwards just as he freed her. Darrogh grabbed her abductor around the neck and twisted his head. She heard the sickening crunch of his neck being broken.

  Darrogh dropped the body.

  Two more Albireons jumped out of the car.

  Darrogh pulled Tamsin up from the ground. “We need to leave,” he said in a calm voice.

  Tamsin couldn’t avoid looking at the body at her feet. It was Albireon, not human, but that didn’t lessen her horror. Her stomach rolled with nausea. Five men had been killed in less than a minute. She tried to move, but her legs were frozen. Darrogh picked her up in his arms and carried her back to the side door. He put her down on her feet in front of the keypad lock beside the door.

  “Do you know the combination?”

  Tamsin punched in the numbers.

  Nothing happened.

  She could hear running feet approaching. Darrogh turned and positioned his body in front of her. She sensed him tensing and knew that he was preparing to fight the new attackers. Frantically, she pushed in the code again. Still, the door refused to open. The code must have been changed since she left the bank. She glanced behind her shoulder just in time to see a man running at them with a gun raised. Darrogh took a step forward. Tamsin braced herself for another attack.

  Two shots rang out.

  Both assailants fell to the ground.

  Darrogh looked up to the roof of the bank. She followed his glance and saw the glint of glass. Somehow, Breanon had repositioned himself from his watch at the front door. The SUV at the end of the alley, sped off.

  Darrogh turned back to Tamsin and put his hand over hers. “Are you injured?”

  She shook her head. “There were so many of them.”

  “They are dead.”

  Tamsin looked into his calm eyes and exhaled. It seemed impossible that they had lived through that attack. She wiped away the blood from his cheek. “You’re hurt.”

  “The bullet missed.”

  “You could have been killed.” Her voice shook as she fought back tears.

  Darrogh pulled her into his arms and ran a hand down her back. He held her close until her breathing and heartbeat returned to normal. When her panic and shock had subsided, he leaned back and looked down at her.

  “I promised to protect you with my life.”

  “I never expected you to be tested. We should call the police and let them know about the attack.”

  The side door swung open and Savis rushed out.

  Darrogh helped her inside. The whole time he used his body to block her view of the alley. Another shudder went through her as she remembered the men lying dead on the cobblestones. She had always thought herself safe from violence. Now in the space of a three days, she’d experienced more brutality than most people do in a lifetime. She rested her head on Darrogh’s chest and let the warmth of his embrace comfort her.

  Darrogh spoke in a low voice to Savis. “Make certain they cannot hurt us.”

  Savis was gone for several minutes. When he returned, his words sent a shiver through her. “Six Albireons and one human at the end of the alley. You need to leave the area.”

  Tamsin straightened up in Darrogh’s arms. “I want to find Winchester. He’s responsible for all of this.”

  “Those were Albireons.” Darrogh’s voice was low. “Henry Kingsley must have notified them when he left the bank.”

  Tamsin stepped back from Darrogh. “All the more reason for us to see Winchester. He knows what is happening.”

  “It is safer if we leave London.”

  “Not until I have the password to his firewall.” Tamsin straightened the collar of her blouse and pulled her jacket down. “Once I have that, I will do whatever you want.”

  Darrogh looked at Savis. “How important is the code?”

  “It will save us at least two weeks.”

  “They will have covered their tracks by then.” Darrogh sighed. “Make certain that Breanon is covering us. Firbin and Jehon can take care of the bodies.”

  “Do you want me to go with you?”

  Darrogh shook his head. “Stay here. Once we have the code, I will pass it to you. Get into their records and do what you need as fast as possible. We do not want them to suspect anything before we have a chance to follow their money trail.”

  “Understood.”

  Darrogh took her arm and walked her to the foyer.

  She knew that he was upset by her decision, but she couldn’t let these people win. It went against everything she believed in. She needed to see this through and get the information that Savis needed. Only then, would they be able to find out how much this organization had penetrated the world’s banks. If they were lucky, it was only Nethercott’s that they had under their control. She shuddered to think what would happen to the country and the world if more banks were affected. If this organization was determined to destroy Earth, then decimating the planet’s economy would be go a long ways toward doing it.

  “Did you use the side door to meet Winchester?”

  Tamsin shook her head. “I seldom went to see him during the day. I used the side exit because I loved the small restaurant one street over.”

  Darrogh nodded. “We will not go the normal route to Nethercott’s office. We’ll take the transit and then backtrack.”

  Tamsin didn’t argue. They walked to the underground and took a circuitous route around the city until they arrived at Nethercott’s office. Darrogh wouldn’t let her approach the bank until he was certain that no one was following them.

  The bank was a stark contrast to Creighton’s. Where Creighton’s was old brick, wooden trim and Victorian in design, Nethercott’s was glass and steel. There were no smiling greetings, just cold, professional courtesy. She was recognized, and when she asked to see Winchester, she was directed to go up in the elevator to the top floor.

  Winchester’s office was empty.

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p; “It’s best if I go in alone.” Tamsin kept her voice low. “Knock on the door when he’s coming.”

  “I do not approve.” Darrogh scowled. “He could still hurt you.”

  “I’ll yell.” Tamsin brushed her hand across his chest. “If he has plans to hurt me, he’ll have someone else do it.”

  “It is dangerous being in the enemy’s territory.”

  Tamsin’s eyes widened. She hadn’t thought about it like that, but she guessed that Winchester was now truly an enemy. “I will be very careful.”

  She entered the office and shut the door behind her.

  Two full walls of windows surrounded a glass and metal desk. A couple of modern plastic chairs were in front of the desk and two sofas sat against the far wall. A chill raced through her as she took in the starkness of Winchester’s work space. It was a true reflection of her ex-fiancé; he was cold and impersonal.

  She straightened her shoulders and pushed away from the door. She glanced up to see if there were any security cameras monitoring the office. There were none. She doubted that Winchester allowed anyone to question his actions.

  The desk drawer was the best place to look.

  She pulled on the handle of the top drawer in the center of the desk. It was locked. She then tried all of the other drawers. They opened, and a quick look through the contents showed no small black book. She felt under each drawer looking for a key to use on the lock. Again, she came up empty.

  She bit her lip and looked around the room. Where would he hide a spare key? Winchester didn’t trust people, and he was fanatical about having a backup for everything. He would have put a second key somewhere close. There were very few books or decorations in the room and she doubted that he would put a key in anything so obvious.

  She looked at the closed door to his private restroom.

  Winchester was vain and obsessive about his appearance.

  He was constantly checking that his hair was in place and that there was nothing stuck in his teeth. She used to think he spent more time in front of the mirror than doing work. Now that she knew he funded his bank’s growth by stealing from Creighton’s, she understood why he didn’t need to make an effort.

  She opened the restroom door. It had a sink, toilet, and two mirrors. One above the sink and one behind the toilet. She ran her fingers along the edges of the mirrors and came away empty. The only other place was the small sink cabinet. She pulled the drawers out and again nothing.

  With a frown she gave the room one last look, letting her eyes linger on the expensive hairspray and aftershave that were sitting on the shelf above the sink. There was also a can of cheap deodorant. Winchester only used designer fragrances and sprays. This was out of place.

  She shook the can.

  It rattled.

  She felt along the edges of the can and discovered a false bottom. When she unscrewed it a key fell out. She ran back to the locked desk drawer and inserted the key. It turned in the lock and a click later, the drawer was open.

  The black book was on top.

  She rifled through the pages until she found a section called Creighton’s. She grabbed a pen and paper from her purse and wrote everything down. Then she turned to the Nethercott section and wrote down all of the different passcodes there. Her fingers shook by the time she was done.

  She wasn’t in the clear yet. She needed to get the key back in its hiding spot before Winchester arrived. She had just finished replacing the can, when she heard Darrogh’s knock, followed by his voice in her head.

  “Winchester has arrived.”

  Chapter 22

  Tamsin shut the restroom door, scrambled back into the office, and plopped herself down on one of the chairs in front of his desk. She straightened her blouse and jacket, and took a deep breath to slow her breathing.

  Winchester entered the room with a scowl on his face. “Do you always bring that goon with you?”

  Tamsin fought the urge to jump to Darrogh’s defense. Instead, she put her brightest smile on and fluttered her eyelashes. “He makes me feel safe.”

  “I’d think big and muscular would get old after a while.” Winchester pulled out the seat behind his desk. “Why are you here?”

  “I’ve been thinking about our chat yesterday. Did you really mean your suggestion that we try to be a couple again?”

  Winchester stopped fiddling with his pen and gave her a penetrating look. “Come to your senses have you?”

  “I was attacked.”

  “When?” Winchester leaned his elbows on his desk.

  “That’s not important.” Tamsin swallowed back her memories of the confrontation in the alley. A part of her wondered if Winchester was aware of the incident. Looking at him across his desk, she found it hard to believe that he would be able to sit here and talk to her calmly if he’d been behind the attack.

  Winchester shrugged. “I warned you.”

  “That’s why I’m here.” Tamsin clasped her hands together. “If we married, would they leave my father and me alone?”

  Winchester leaned back in his chair. “I already told Albirsion Corporation that your answer was no.”

  “So there’s no reasoning with this corporation?” Tamsin’s voice was low. “Surely if you went to them, they’d make an exception. The last time we talked, you made it sound as if you had an inside track with them.”

  “They make the rules.” Winchester picked up his pen. “I’m not a fool. I keep my mouth shut and do what they tell me.”

  “So you’re refusing to help.”

  Winchester tapped the pen on the glass surface of his desk. “My offer to wed you was very generous, especially considering that you’re frigid.”

  Tamsin jumped back as if she’d be slapped. “I didn’t want to consummate our relationship until we were married. That doesn’t mean I’m frigid.”

  Winchester smirked. “You couldn’t stand to let me touch you.”

  Tamsin didn’t bother to argue. She’d hated his hands on her, and she’d foolishly thought that once they were married that would change. There was no doubting that it was a blessing that she’d found Liz and Winchester together in bed. It had given her a reason to stop the wedding.

  “You’re right.” Tamsin stood. “It was foolish of me to come here.”

  Winchester’s eyes widened. “I’m certain we could work something out.”

  “Like an open marriage that would let us both go our separate ways.” Tamsin shook her head. “Not even for my father’s sake am I willing to do that. I’ll fight these people on my own.”

  “They’re too powerful.”

  “Perhaps.” Tamsin raised her chin. “At least I’ll sleep better knowing I tried to do something.”

  “You’ve always been difficult, Tamsin. I can’t say it’s been a pleasure knowing you.”

  “We’re agreed on one thing.” Tamsin turned and left the room.

  Darrogh was waiting for her.

  She tilted her head.

  He gave her a searching look before leading her toward the elevator. They rode down in silence. A sense of peace and safety enveloped her. It felt as if Darrogh was holding her close. Everything she wanted from life was standing right beside her. It had been less than two weeks since she’d first met Darrogh, and yet she felt as if a lifetime of emotions and love had happened in that time.

  There was only one man for her.

  Darrogh.

  They headed for the tube once they were outside. No words were spoken until they were safely inside the train. Darrogh found a seat for her, and then stood in front of her so that his body protected and blocked her from the view of others.

  “Did you get it?” She felt the words, rather than heard them.

  She handed him the paper she’d written everything on. “We should take this to Savis right away.”

  Darrogh shook his head. “Too dangerous.”

  He frowned down at the paper for a few seconds and then folded it. He glanced behind him before shoving it into his front jac
ket pocket. When he turned back, she could see the tension in his eyes. Something was wrong.

  She shifted in her seat to try and look around him.

  He took a step closer. “We are being followed.”

  Her heart beat quickened and she clenched her hands into fists. They’d been so careful in making certain that no one had followed them to Winchester’s office. If the Albireons had guessed their purpose, then speed was even more important than before.

  “How did they find us?”

  “I sensed them the minute we left Nethercott’s bank.”

  “Were they there before we arrived?”

  Darrogh shook his head.

  There was only one explanation.

  “Winchester alerted them.” Tamsin closed her eyes. “I tried not to do anything that was suspicious.”

  “It is not your fault.” Darrogh braced himself as the train came into the next station. “We will exit and take a taxi to your house.”

  Tamsin was jostled by the crowd on the platform as they left the train. People were everywhere. She felt a hand grab her, and looked up into the hairless face of a man wearing a black overcoat and hat. He looked identical to the men who had attacked them in the alley. Panic rose inside her. Before she could react, Darrogh pulled her close and elbowed the offender in the face.

  He half carried her up the stairs and out of the station. Once outside, he hailed a cab and rushed her into it. Only when they were moving, did he release his hold on her.

  “Are you hurt?”

  Tamsin shook her head. “They’re getting bolder.”

  “They are desperate.” Darrogh pulled out the crumpled sheet of paper she had handed him earlier with the passwords on it. “I have already sent Savis the information. He will have found his way into their financial records by now.”

  “So everything will be okay.” Tamsin sagged back against the seat.

  “Not until I get you out of London.” Darrogh clasped her hand. A frisson of heat went up her arm. She leaned her head against his chest and let his strength ease her fears. “I will always protect you.”