Read Online Once Upon a Diamond by Teresa McCarthy - Free Book Online Page B

“Stop it!  Stop it right now!”
    Tristan’s stomach jumped in fear when he saw the girl
scramble toward the end of the bed, as if she were going to step between the
giant and him. “Stay put, Kate!”
    The giant chuckled. “Ah, so her name’s Kate, now, is it?
You work fast, yer lordship. But thank you all the same. Does help a man when
he knows the chit’s name. If you know what I mean.” 
    Tristan’s mouth spread into a thin-lipped smile. “Oh, I
know exactly what you mean, and I fear, dear man, that you will have to go
through me to get to her.”
    “But that’s me plan, yer lordship. Upon my soul, black
though it is, you’re almost as stupid as the wench here. Why, this is going to
be easier than I thought. You first, then Katie here.”
    Tristan’s blood sizzled with rage. The thought of the
man touching Kate barely kept him in check. But because it was her safety he
was concerned about, he waited in strained silence for the man to make the next
move.
    “So you think you could best me, eh?” the giant said
with a sneer.
    Tristan’s work in reconnaissance had trained him well. But
Kate was too close for him to try hand to hand combat. Fighting the intruder,
man to man, as if they were in Gentleman Jackson’s boxing ring was his last
resort. He had to make certain the knife was not in her vicinity. There would
be one chance to get the man off his feet and that was by pulling the rug from
beneath him.    
    In the glow of the moon, the man’s shadow fell upon
Kate’s small form. Tristan bent his knees, keeping his eyes fixed on the giant
coming toward him. His muscles grew taut as Kate hovered at the edge of the bed.
    Before the massive intruder had another second to move, Tristan
dropped to the floor and yanked the rug. The giant fell with a thud. There was
a low groan, and Tristan sprung over the fallen man.
    “B – blimey,”
the ruffian muttered, “fell on me own knife. W-wasn’t supposed to be like
th-this.” The man gave one last gasp and breathed his last.
    Tristan turned the body over. Even in the moonlight that
was suddenly smothered by a veil of clouds, he could see the knife protruding
from the man’s chest. Something wet and sticky spilled over his hand. Blood.
    “Is he dead?” Kate’s ragged voice whispered over his
shoulder.
    Tristan raised his gaze, more concerned for her then the
intruder. “Yes. Don’t look.”
    Kate stood away from the bed, her blond hair tumbling
down her back, a thin white nightgown clinging to her delicate form.
    She appeared so frail, Tristan’s gut twisted as she eyed
the blood on his hands. “Turn away,” he said, but it was too late.
    The clouds suddenly shifted, allowing the moon’s beams to
spill onto the scene like a bright white light. Pools of dark red blood flooded
the rug. Kate’s eyes widened in horror as she threw her hand to her mouth. Her
bottom lip trembled along with her legs.
    Before Tristan could respond, his little defender lay in
a small heap on the floor, her white gown encompassing her like an angel of
mercy.
    He knelt down, wiped the blood from his hands on the
nearby coverlet, and took her face in his hands. He noted the thick dark lashes
that fell across her cheeks. Innocent, soft, pale cheeks. Two white feet peeked
out from her gown, and he grimaced. A part of him knew instinctively that this
little female would not have swooned had she been in better health.
    His heart screamed with the injustice of it all. She
shouldn’t have been subjected to this. She had refused to tell the thief where
he was. That, in itself, deserved a loyalty that Tristan gave out sparingly.
    The clouds shifted again, darkening the room in a
forbidding blackness. An intense emotion swept through Tristan as he scooped
Kate’s body into his arms. It was fear, he realized. Fear for her.
    He took one last look at the dead man and carried Kate
to his chambers next door. His mind raced with unanswered questions.
    Was the man looking for the diamond?