Arranged: An Array Series (Book #1)(22)

“Touch her again, Pierce, and I’ll cut off more than you signed up for,” Garrett growled. He looked like an animal; his breathing heavy and his stare pierced through him.

Pierce chuckled again. “Being a little confident, are ye?”

Garrett nodded at his brother. “Knock him out?”

“What makes ye think I only knocked him out?”

“Because you aren’t really a great swordsman.”

Pierce didn’t seem affected by the comment. Garrett looked over at me, his face softening. “Are you all right, darling?” I nodded, as I got to my feet.

“Darling?” Pierce repeated with furrowed brows. “Did I fight the wrong brother?”

“Any brother is the wrong brother,” Garrett snarled. “Not that I think you’ll tell me, but who do you work for?”

Pierce shrugged. “Get paid too much to open me mouth.” I felt Pierce’s eyes on me as I walked cautiously over to Garrett. Looking around for the first time, I noticed that his men were either dead or held prisoner. Pierce didn’t look a bit scared. “These men aren’t scared to die.”

“Oh, they won’t die,” Garrett countered. “They will be interrogated and when they don’t answer, they will be tortured. Then, if they still don’t answer, I’ll let their bones heal and torture them again.”

“These men have been tortured before,” Pierce added.

“Who hired you?”

“Think about it, lad. My men and I cost a pretty penny. Must be someone wit money.”

“A king?”

Piece shook his head. “Fer ye to figure out.”

“Maybe I’ll just string you up for everyone to see. Make a complete fool out of you.”

Pierce grunted. “And maybe I’ll kill the prince and have me fill with the lass”—he lowered his voice—“until she screams to be killed. I like her spirit; might get her pregnant, so I can continue my legacy.”

Garrett turned toward me and placed his hand on my stomach, guiding me back. “C’mon, Avie,” he said. “I need you to stay back.” His face softened slightly, and I was entranced by the man standing in front of me. “Dry your tears, sweetheart. Everything’s all right.” He brushed one of my cheeks with his thumb. “Pierce would have already taken off with you if he was dead. If you study him closely, you can see him breathing.”

I moved my body to look around him but was cut off. “Now”—he put pressure on my arm—“when I start going at this man, I need you to continue to stay out of the way.”

“I can’t.”

“You can, and you will,” Garrett asserted, pulling me up from the ground.

“Hurry up!” Pierce shouted. “I want this over.” Garrett reached for my hand and squeezed it before walking away. No fear reflected in his eyes, and that fascinated me more than anything.

I watched his back straighten and, lifting his sword, Garrett swung down.





Garrett





Chapter 8





The clashing of metal on metal rattled my bones. The vibrations rippled up my arm, making my teeth clench. Every strike tested my body’s endurance. Pierce met me at every turn, blocking and twisting, to try and get a clear thrust straight into my body.

I stayed focused, biding my time, and waited for him to make a mistake. Pierce swung at my head, and I barely dodged it. I didn’t want Ava to see this; to witness a man die, because one of us would.

Pierce’s sword skimmed across my skin, swiveling off my sword to hit my bicep. Blood seeped profusely from my right arm and the son of a bitch grinned, hollering at Hanson for another sword.

Fucking cheater.

“We are gonna finish this quickly, eh?” Piece taunted. A sword flew in his direction, and he swung both around in the air. “Any last words?”

I stood silent, keeping my focus off the pain. Pierce whirled both swords at me, aiming for my right arm again. Switching hands, I paid special attention to his left hand, hoping to spring the sword free. Pierce noticed my gaze and charged.

Dodging him, I watched Pierce stumble forward when I tripped him. A mouthful of curses cracked through the air and I lunged, slicing his back and ripping through the fabric of his shirt. Pierce howled in pain and flung one of his swords at me, his back still toward me. I easily evaded it and stepped closer to my victim.

As I raised my sword, Pierce quickly turned, blocking my blow. Being a larger man, he shoved me back, knocking off my footing. Taking full advantage, Pierce elbowed my chest and brought his arm up to crack me in the jaw. Pushing off me, he kicked me in the stomach, driving me to the ground.

“You sure you don’t want those last words, son?” he goaded.

“Fuck off,” I croaked. Pierce shrugged and pivoted his sword down. I rolled onto my injured arm as another blow came from Pierce. I kicked at whatever body part I could land and struck his knee.

“Damn it!” he bellowed, his face red from exertion. Wincing, I pushed myself up with my bad arm, blood running into the grass and pain exploding in my head. The air fled my lungs as Pierce's foot slammed into my chest. He raised his sword again and froze. Another blade exposed itself through his chest and quickly disappeared. Pierce’s eyes widened as he coughed up blood onto my face. Falling to his knees, his hands clutched his chest. He gasped for air and collapsed to the ground.