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  What she really wanted to do was go and find Kade, but because of Cester’s rules she wasn’t supposed to. The more she thought about it, the more she saw why Carl was so frustrated. But on the other hand, Cester only wanted to make sure she stayed safe. Surely that wasn’t a bad thing? And if Cester’s rules kept Amy from getting hurt, she couldn’t help but feel Kade was right to keep Carl away from her.

  She kept her voice as calming as she could. “Why don’t we go see Rose? It might do you good to see her? Maybe you can make things up?”

  Carl’s eyes flashed with anger, and he shook his head. “Don’t you bloody start, and do not tell Kade she ended things. Got it?”

  Hadley nodded, her stomach doing backflips at the annoyance on Carl’s face. He blew out a breath and growled as he shook himself. “You want a drink? I need another drink.”

  Hadley shrugged. What else was there to do? She was stuck here. Waiting. Alone with the wrong Stormer, having an argument she wasn’t even sure she understood.

  Kade trudged towards the stables, the only place he could think of to walk off Carl’s taunts. Why was he so riled up? Carl’s words were working their way under his skin. Too cowardly to take a chance. Was that what his cousin thought of him? He’d faced dozens of Numachi, they’d been in numerous pub fights…not to mention the last fight at the Retreat.

  Yet, still his cousin was calling him a coward? Why? Because he didn’t sleep around and break girl’s hearts on a whim? How was that cowardly?

  Kade jammed his hands on his pockets, leaned against the wall and listened to the sounds of the horses snorting and nickering.

  He needed to quit trying to figure out what Carl was on about this time. He was likely just annoyed he couldn’t try it on with Amy. And aiming barbs at him about his own lack of a love life was a way for his cousin to release his frustration.

  He should probably be relieved Carl wasn’t flirting with Hadley anymore, but he knew what Carl’s intent was, and he couldn’t just let him sweet talk Amy into doing something she’d regret.

  From what Amy’s mother had told him, they’d been through enough. They didn’t need Carl adding to the strain.

  Kade blew out a sigh. Maybe he should just stop trying to make Carl see reason? Was it really his job to protect every innocent girl out there?

  He rolled his eyes and leaned his head back on the wall. Why did everything always seem to land in his lap? Meg, Hadley and now Amy? Why did he have to always do the right thing? Why did he have to follow the rules Cester set?

  He almost envied Carl the freedom he had, the lack of consideration for others. Almost. Because no matter how much Carl chased after girls, he was still alone.

  Kade scratched his head and pushed off the wall. Why was Carl still alone? He should be making plans to head back to Rose by now. Winter was almost done. Surely, she’d be wondering where he was? Waiting to make plans for their wedding?

  Kade slid out of the barn and chewed on the question as he stalked back to the tavern, the night still and quiet around him. Something wasn’t adding up.

  Carl wanted to play around with other girls, but he didn’t want to go anywhere near Rockford where Rose would be overjoyed to see him.

  His frown deepened as he rounded the corner and headed back to the tavern. The hint of movement and voices in the dark made him freeze and ease back against the wall.

  He cocked his head and caught the tail end of a conversation that made his hairs stand on end. “—straight to the camp. If we’re not careful that crazy old coot could still cause problems; shoulda known better than to get it from him.”

  The younger sounding of the two, coughed, his voice was strained as though speaking took all of his energy. “Need a better supplier; not that these two care. We’ll swing back to get the rest then pick em up.”

  The older voice barked an order for the other two to stay put. Cold laughter wafted on the breeze as footsteps faded away. He stuck his head around the corner, squinting to see if they’d all departed.

  Two men, both on the scrawny side with features hidden in the near dark, were standing beside horses. Both were moving sluggishly and not speaking a whole lot.

  Kade swore under his breath as he stared off into the distance. The others had disappeared, but with two left, he still had a chance. Better to deal with them now and question them before they rode off.

  He took a breath, stepped out and started whistling, keeping his posture relaxed as he made his way towards them, his fingers primed to fire his daggers at them. “Ho up there, can you—”

  Before they could react, he released two knives simultaneously, aiming for the men’s calves, making it impossible for them to mount should they try.

  He rushed the closest and smashed his fist into the man’s jaw with a grunt before skirting the frightened mount and hauling the other up and slamming his elbow into the man’s nose.

  With both men now incapacitated, Kade swooped to grab one by the scruff of the neck, shaking him as he growled the words. “Sounds like you two are up to no good? Why don’t you tell me about it, eh?”

  The man sagged, and Kade stumbled slightly, not enough to lose his grip, but enough to remind him one more was still capable of harming him.

  He swung around, using his waist to adjust them so he could keep an eye on the other as he crawled away. “You! Stay where you are, or I’ll put another dagger in you.”

  The man twisted and lit by the light coming from the tavern, he stopped moving and left Kade to deal with the man cowering in front of him. “What are you doing here?”

  The man’s eyes widened, his body trembling as though fear had stolen his voice. Kade shook him again and shoved him slightly. “Go help your friend up and get inside the tavern.”

  When neither moved, he checked his tone, and removed one of his knives, lacing his voice with as much venom as possible. “Oh, I’m sorry, you seem to be hard of hearing. Move your arses!”

  The man closest skittered towards his mate. After a lot of blustering, they both made it, staggering, to the tavern door. Kade sheathed his knife and kicked the backside of the closest. “Inside.”

  The men shuffled forward and as the light hit them, Kade’s scowl lessened. They were no older than him and thinner than he’d realised, chins angular and gaunt with hollowed out eyes that caused him to step back with a start.

  He’d seen that look before. And it didn’t bode well for getting information from them. He stooped to yank his knives out from where they’d been embedded in flesh, and his alarm grew as neither cried out.

  All noise stopped in the tavern as the men staggered inside, eyes downcast, swaying as they fought to right themselves.

  Carl was at his side in an instant, hauling up a boy whose knees had given out. His cousin sent him a questioning look. “You knifed a couple of dopers?”

  He readied a scathing retort when Hadley’s voice stopped him cold. Her eyes were wide, and her voice shook as she stepped towards them. “Thomas? Is that you?”

  All the air left her lungs as Thomas stared vacantly in her direction, as if looking through her. A dull expression filled his gaunt face as he staggered slightly.

  Her eyes moved over him the other boy who leaned heavily on one leg, still in Carl’s grip. His eyes were glazed, his head swaying.

  Something was very wrong with them both. Thomas still looked to be the same lanky brother she’d always known. His blonde hair was a little shaggier and covered in grime and grease, his clothing torn, and shabby. But it was his eyes that haunted her. They were empty, as if the life had been drawn from him.

  The tavern owner interrupted her thoughts. “What’s all this then? You promised no trouble,” she said to Kade.

  Luna sniffed and sat on her haunches as Kade apologised quickly and nodded up the stairs. “We’ll compensate you for any damage, but I caught them outside, and it sounds like they were planning something with another two men. We need to question them; you have somewhere we can take them?”

&n
bsp; The tavern owner nodded sagely and told them to go upstairs to either of their rooms where oil lanterns had been lit.

  Hadley followed blindly, hardly noticing the fear on the faces of the other customers and Luna’s hunched posture as she padded alongside her.

  Her mind was spinning. Kade had found him. After all this time, they’d happened upon him. Thomas was here. Stumbling up the stairs, a blank expression on his face, seemingly unbothered by the blood pooling on his trouser leg and the swelling forming on his chin.

  Kade sent her an anxious look but continued to haul Thomas upwards. In the time it had taken to make it to the room, blood was dripping on the floorboards, but still Thomas didn’t react.

  Hadley’s stomach clenched as Thomas tripped up the last stair. She grabbed his arm to steady him. “Thomas? It’s me, Hadley.”

  He blinked before Kade pulled him inside the room, his lips pressed tightly together as he saw Thomas to a seat on the bed. She forced herself to follow, terror running through her at the possibilities.

  She eased through the door, her heart thudding against her ribs and throat closing over as she stumbled into a seat in what must be Kade or Carl’s room.

  Kade sent her a scowl as he gently shoved the other boy onto the bed, before turning his attention to Carl. “They’re on something. No wonder they didn’t put up a fight.”

  Carl nodded and waved his hand in front of Thomas’s face. He blinked again but stared ahead as though in a dream. “Whatever it is, it’s keeping them dumbed down, and they aren’t bothered by the pain.”

  Kade closed the door behind them and dragged a chair, turning it so he could lean his arms on the back. He glanced at her, his expression pained. “This is definitely him then?”

  Hadley nodded, tears prickling at her eyes. After all these months, all the dreams she’d had of reconciling with Thomas, and he didn’t even recognise her. What could have done this to him? Her lip wobbled as she spoke. “It’s him: he’s even thinner than I remember, but it’s him.”

  Kade ran a hand over his face and shook his head. “Carl, you reckon you could find someone to take care of their wounds?”

  Carl nodded vaguely, his eyes drifting to her. “I’ll be back.”

  As the door shut again, Thomas squinted across at her as though he was finally seeing her. “Hads?” he said weakly.

  Hadley caught the sob as she flew across the room, dropping to her knees as she took his hands. “Tom? What’s going on? Where have you been?”

  Thomas looked down at her, his face pained as though struggling to keep a hold of what was happening. She squeezed his filthy hands, tears escaping as she looked on the brother she’d almost given up hope of seeing again.

  He didn’t respond again except to swallow thickly. In the dull light his complexion seemed even more washed out under the grime covering him, his lips cracked, palms clammy.

  Hadley cried quietly, still holding on to Thomas’s hands as Kade shifted to sit beside the other boy. He released a long sigh, his voice soft as he tried to catch her eye. “I don’t know if it’s worth even trying to talk to him just yet; he’s out of his head.”

  She blinked back hot tears and withdrew her hands from Thomas, her heart sinking as she pulled away from him. “Who did this to him?”

  Kade swallowed, his eyes on the boy in front of him, who was staring with a lifeless gaze just like Thomas. “I don’t know yet. But we still need to go see this old guy, and we need to go now if we have any chance of catching whoever did this.”

  He shifted slightly and peered at the boy closest and pointed to his eyes. “See how the black is so big? He’s well under whatever it is that they gave him; your brother is the same. I’ll see if Amy can sit with you, but Carl and I need to go.”

  He pulled himself from the chair and winced as she wiped at her eyes. “This might be our only chance.”

  Hadley rose to her feet, legs wobbling as she stepped into him, too devastated to care about rules. He didn’t stop her from hugging him. And she clung to him until the metallic tang of blood filled her nostrils, and she recoiled, her eyes locked on the soiled blade he’d used to harm her brother.

  He flinched as though she’d struck him and backed away as heavy footsteps came from the hallway. His scowl returning ten-fold, Kade opened the door to a breathless Carl, Amy and an elderly man who Hadley recognised from downstairs.

  “This is Terry: he’s the gardener.” Carl said as though that explained everything.

  Kade checked his daggers before glancing at Carl. “We need to find the old hermit. The other two were off to see him. Did you get directions?”

  Carl nodded crisply, and neither bothered with goodbyes as they hurried out the door, leaving her alone with a wide-eyed Amy and the bewildered-looking old man.

  She opened her mouth to explain what was happening when the old man cocked his head at Thomas and the other boy. “These ones aren’t Stormers too, are they, lass?”

  Hadley shook her head and couldn’t seem to stop the flood of tears from erupting. Amy gripped her arm, her voice soothing as she peered at her. “Whatever it is, we can help.”

  Hadley’s shoulders shook as the old man stepped past her and stooped down to stare at Thomas, muttering under his breath about the sorry state they were in.

  It was all she could do to silently cry and watch the shell that was her brother until Amy pulled her into a hug and told her that a healer had been sent for.

  Kade’s heart thudded in time with the horse’s hooves as they thundered through the forest. With little time to be cautious, he and Carl had decided to take the direct route and chance the men they sought wouldn’t put up too much of a fight.

  If the old man they sought was who Kade suspected he was, he wouldn’t be unused to violence on his property. The business he was in, by its nature, bred discord and problems when customers got desperate.

  They had once chance at this; it was a risk—a big one, blazing in there—but with Thomas in the state he was, and Hadley left alone with them, Kade was prepared to attack and ask questions later.

  Light filtered through the trees, moonlight splashing on the path as they crashed through the foliage. When warm light appeared from the left, Kade slowed his mount, and Carl did the same as they reined the mounts in, pulling them to one side.

  Kade slid off his horse and threw the reins over the nearest branch before slinking across the path and peering at the shack, just visible. Carl crouched alongside him, his breath ragged. Kade frowned at him. “How much ale did you drink? Half a cask?”

  Carl growled. “Don’t start, princess. I’m allowed to have a few drinks, or is that against the bloody rules too?”

  Kade kept his mouth shut. Carl had a point. Were it not for the fact that he needed him, it wouldn’t normally bother him if Carl tied a few on.

  He quashed his concern and eased out, heading towards where three horses were hitched to a tree stump. At least the moonlight was giving them enough light to see by; the only downside, that also provided light for their targets to see them creeping up to the cabin.

  “Make a little noise, eh? We need them to come out,” Kade whispered.

  Carl nodded, the light catching on his unsheathed dagger as he ran at a half crouch towards the horses.

  Kade edged his back alongside the flimsy shack and pressed his ear against the rough-hewn panels. Even with the paper-thin walls, the voices were still muffled. But when he heard a familiar cold laugh, he knew they had their men.

  The horse closest to Carl snorted loudly as he passed by to pick up a stone to throw. He narrowed his eyes and adjusted his footing before he sent the rock through the window nearest Kade.

  Fragments of glass hit his arm, and he had time to scowl at Carl before the door opened, and he moved into action.

  Carl ran at the first man as he burst out the door, tackling him as Kade, still pressed against the wall, pulled his elbow taut and smashed his fist backwards at the next person out the door.

  Th
e man grunted and rounded on him, a growl escaping as he swung. Kade blocked the first punch, holding his guard up to protect his head as he kicked hard at the man’s gut, folding him in two.

  While the man was gasping for air, he grabbed the man’s head and rammed his knee into his face, before shoving him aside, ready to lend a hand if Carl needed it.

  Carl hauled his man to his feet and grinned at Kade as he approached. “Doing all right, cuz?”

  Kade nodded and gestured at the shack, a moment before a grizzled old man appeared in the moonlight. “You better have good reason to cause trouble out here. Unless you have an order, I suggest you clear off.”

  Kade’s eyebrows shot up as the man approached, walking stick in his hand as he glowered at them, his eyes flicking to the man writhing in agony on the ground.

  The man in Carl’s grip shoved him and swiped his nose, crimson spilling down his chin. “What’s your problem? We’re entitled to get our supply just like everyone else.”

  Kade shook his head at Carl before he said something to give them away. If there was a chance they could get out of this with information, they needed to tread carefully. Wasn’t that precisely why Cester had placed him in charge? Stealth, and discretion was needed, not carnage and mayhem.

  He played his hunch and bluffed his way through, hoping Carl would catch on quick. “Sure you are, but we’ve got a toss pot of a boss, and our suppliers cut and run.”

  The man shrugged and assisted his mate, the younger of the two to his feet. “Where you boys from? North?”

  Kade cocked his head at the man, wondering why he was talking so freely after Carl had thumped him. It wasn’t until he shifted closer to the shack, that Kade noticed the slack expression on his face. The man was a little too relaxed not to be under the effects of something.

  The pieces fell into place and he forced a grin. “Been testing out the merchandise, eh?”

  “Why don’t we take a seat inside, boys; there’s plenty to go around,” the old man said.

  Kade shot a look at Carl but gestured towards the open door. “After you, cuz.”