Highland Wolf (Highland Brides) Read Online Free Page A

tick moaned beneath him as he lowered himself onto the edge. He would relax for a while. Just sit.
    Memories crowded in again. Dark, ugly. He pushed them back. He was Roman of the great clan Forbes, trusted friend, respected diplomat. He was not evil. Neither was he weak. But the darkness laughed and closed about him like death.
    Roman awoke with a start. He felt strangely heavy, but he managed to sit up. His head was groggy. And he was naked, and ...
    "'E's awake!"
    "Well, pop 'im, y' dolt!"
    Something swung toward him.
    Roman ducked instinctively. Reality washed in on him as a club hissed through his hair, but he had no time to be grateful for that near miss, for someone was lunging at him. He sprang to the side. A flash of steel arced through the night.
    "Get 'im!"
    Someone grabbed at him. He swung wildly. His fist connected with a skull. A man grunted and fell away.
    "Brain 'im!" someone croaked.
    But Roman had already launched himself at the nearest man. He hit him dead center, propelling him to the floor. Even in the darkness, he could see the blade. Roman grabbed the villain's wrist and slammed it down. Knuckles cracked against wood. A scream of pain and rage ripped the night. Roman rose and swung again. Cartilage cracked! The body below him went limp.
    Something creaked behind him. Roman swung around and braced his back against the floor. A body flew toward him. Slamming his feet upward, Roman connected with his attacker's midsection and tossed the man over his head.
    The wall reverberated with the impact.
    "I got it! Let's get outta 'ere!" croaked a voice from the far corner. Silence answered him. "Acre? Blacks?" he said tentatively.
    No one answered.
    Roman rose slowly to his feet. "Looks like you're alone, lad," he said, and took a step toward the shadowy figure.
    "I uh ..." There was a squeak in the man's voice. "I didn't mean no 'arm."
    'Then give me the sporran and I'll give ye na harm."
    "Yeah, sure. I—" he said and leapt.
    The weight of his assault knocked Roman to the floor. A blade flashed downward. Roman jerked sideways. The knife whizzed past his head and stabbed into the wood beneath.
    It was all the delay Roman needed. Sweeping his arm sideways, he crashed his fist into the villain's ear. In a moment, Roman was astride him, ready to strike again. But there was no need, for it seemed all three of his nocturnal visitors were unconscious.
    Panting, Roman slipped off the flaccid body and stumbled across the room. His sporran lay where the thief had dropped it. He dipped his hand inside. No necklace. He fished wildly and swore. Still no gems.
    With a quick stride he yanked the door open and flew down the stairs, sporran in hand.
    The remains of a fire glowed in the hearth. He rushed across the room and stoked it into flames, then, tossing the poker aside, dumped out the contents of the ornate pouch. No necklace!
    He rose with a snarl and raced up the stairs. Back in his rented room, he rifled through the thieves' clothing. Still nothing.
    Retrieving his plaid, he buckled it quickly about his waist.
    The nearest man groaned. Roman grabbed that one by the shirt and leaned into his face. "Where is it?" he asked softly.
    When no answer was forthcoming, he dragged the man down the stairs to dump him in front of the fire.
    He fell in a heap and groaned at the impact.
    Settling back on his bare heels, Roman watched his captive awaken. He had lank, greasy hair and a scar that ran through his right eyebrow and down his cheek. He twitched as consciousness returned.
    "Where is it?" Roman asked again, just as softly, carefully enunciating each word.
    The thief jerked and cowered backward. "What? I don't know what you're talking about."
    "The necklace. Where is it?"
    "I don't know nothing 'bout no necklace."
    Roman reached out. The thief cowered away, but Roman did not touch him. "How about pokers, lad?" he asked, bringing the metal pole slowly forward. "Do ye ken aught about them?"
    "I didn't take it!" squawked the