Page 22

Suddenly, she understood why Adam had sat with his back to the entire pub, shielding her from view. But what in the world was he trying to accomplish now?

She didn’t want an apology from the unpleasant man. She’d had enough of this pub. She was ready to go home. In fact, if they left right now, she would forget about the entire list, give up, and go back to her little village.

But she didn’t dare say that to Adam. She didn’t want to distract him.

“Right on,” the unpleasant man stated. “First I’ll fuck ‘er, then I’ll apologize.”

Chapter 6

For Beatrice, the next moment simultaneously stretched out for eternity and vanished in an instant. She could see, as if in slow motion, Adam’s hand rise, draw back, and then deliver a powerful blow to the man’s jaw. And yet, all Beatrice managed to do in that time was raise her hands to cover her face as a horrified gasp left her lips.

And then time resumed its usual pace just as another blow came, but this time in Adam’s direction.

Adam staggered back, his arms outstretched, grasping for stability. The momentum carried him toward Beatrice, almost knocking her off her feet. Instead, he grabbed her by the shoulders and gently, but firmly, pushed her against the wall. The coolness of the wooden surface pressed against her back, a stark contrast to the intensity of the situation unfolding before them. Her breath hitched as Adam looked deeply into her eyes, his gaze magnetic, his voice rough but insistent. “Do. Not. Move.”

And off he went, turning toward his attackers, shielding Beatrice with his broad back once again.

Beatrice’s heart pounded in her chest as chaos erupted around them.

More fights started breaking out, random people fighting with whoever stood nearby. The once raucous laughter turned into angry shouts, and the clinking of tankards in a toast turned into drinkware slamming against the floor.

Beatrice’s gaze was locked on Adam, moving farther away from her, continuing his fight with the huge unpleasant man and a few random strangers he passed as he moved.

The crowd closed in on him, hiding him from her view. Beatrice looked around frantically, thinking of a way she could help Adam. He’d told her to stay there, but she couldn’t just let him get lost in the throng of angry people, could she? As it was, she could barely make out his dark head among the raucous crowd.

Grabbing a wooden stool, she hitched up her skirts and climbed on top, finally having a better view of the entire floor.

She watched in horror as Adam stood at the center of the turmoil, surrounded by a group of drunk patrons. They had a wild fire in their eyes, their loose, dirty hair, and unkempt appearance making them look more dangerous, almost feral. As if in answer to Beatrice’s thoughts, one of the men growled, showing his rotten teeth. He spread his arms, and something glinted in his hand.

A dagger!

The man lunged at Adam, slashing the air wildly. Adam swiftly avoided the attack, jumping from side to side, then retaliated with a sharp jab to the man’s midsection, sending him stumbling backward.

“Behind you!” Beatrice cried, but Adam had already turned, blocking another’s attack. He moved swiftly, gracefully, and fluidly as if in a dance, but with deadly precision. For a moment, Beatrice couldn’t help but watch this elegant, handsome, gentle man block one blow after another and retaliate with swift vengeance. A punch to the nose sent one of the attackers reeling, blood flowing down his face. A few jabs to the torso, and another man doubled over. Adam kicked the third assailant in the knee with the heel of his shiny, leather boot, causing him to crumble to the floor.

Instead of deterring further attacks, this seemed to have made the crowd even angrier. The scuffle intensified as others joined in, swinging their fists at Adam from all directions.

Beatrice saw as the unruly mob closed in around him. Adam was strong, fast, and confident in his movements. But even he couldn’t withstand the onslaught of blows from the deranged crowd.

She couldn’t help but jump and flinch with his every movement. Adam was a rather skillful fighter, surprisingly so. He was still but one man. If she didn’t do anything, soon the foolish man would be badly beaten, or worse!

How could Beatrice intervene? She had never fought, and she would probably be a detriment in a fight rather than an asset. But there was something Beatrice had. A voice. So, she took a deep breath and screamed at the top of her lungs, “Stop this madness, this instant!”

Beatrice’s voice rang out, but her plea seemed to be drowned out by the shouts and curses echoing through the pub. She stomped her foot, angry and helpless, but nobody was paying her any heed. Wasn’t she the reason for this scuffle? Shouldn’t they pay attention to her even a little?

She quickly stepped down from the wooden stool, seized it, feeling its weight in her hands, and charged toward the fray. She pushed her way toward Adam, and with all her might, swung the stool, aiming for the closest attacker. The wooden legs connected with a satisfying thud, and the assailant yelped in pain, momentarily stunned. Seizing the opportunity, Adam swiftly struck him with a powerful punch, sending the man sprawling to the floor.

Then Adam turned to Beatrice, his brows raised. “Not bad.”

“Look out!” Beatrice yelped as she noticed a man about to hit Adam with a stick. But before Adam turned, the assailant froze, his eyes wide, and fell in a heap on the floor, revealing a barmaid with a tankard held up above her head.

“What are you waiting for?” she yelled. “Get out of here!”

With a brief nod, Adam took Beatrice’s hand and quickly dragged her away, weaving his way among the fighting crowd. The fight continued, patrons turning on each other, not caring who they were fighting with and why.

Adam and Beatrice ran out of the pub, their breaths labored, but they didn’t stop until they could only hear faint sounds of the raucous inside.

Adam dropped Beatrice’s hand, bent down at his waist, and placed his hands on his knees. The wheezing sounds that came out of his mouth didn’t sound like a healthy breath.