A Highland Wedding

Decoy

Alexei

Sawyer motioned for me to follow him out while Anna was checked out by the doctor. The grim look on his face told me that there was something amiss.

“Do you want the bad news or the worst news?” Sighing, what now? I know I should never ask that question though.

“Just give it to me straight.” Sawyer nodded and we walked to his office.

I saw Maddox sitting in a chair, a pair of flex cuffs on him. He took one look at me and his eyes went wide with fear.

“I’m sorry Mr. Nikolaev. I tried to tell Claire what would happen but she wouldn’t listen to me. Is Anna, ok?” I closed my eyes and remembered what Anna told me, he was just a pawn. It wasn’t fully his fault that he was strung along.

“Anna told me you tried to help her. You were part of the problem but then you tried to fix it.” Maddox slumped in the chair and let out a sigh.

“I really didn’t want to go as far as we did. I know there is nothing I can say that will change that though.” I nodded and sat next to him and Sawyer sat behind the desk and he looked exhausted.

“I want to head back to Scotland as soon as possible. Unfortunately Maddox I need to take you with me because you are a criminal and need to be tried.” I looked at the other man and he slumped even further in his chair.

“Honestly if it will keep me away from Claire, I’m willing to go to jail. She isn’t right in the head anymore. Something snapped and I don’t know what it was.” He shuddered and I had to agree. I knew Claire from before.

She was a bit vain and self-absorbed but she was never unhinged. Maybe she was always like this and we are just seeing her for what she really was.

“That is the worst news, so I guess we will start with that. Claire walked out of the hospital and my men lost her.” Maddox sat up straighter and he was cursing under his breath. I knew exactly how he felt.

“So I will have to call my father and he will send his men to help you.” Sawyer flinched and I guess he knew what was going to happen if my father’s men got to her first.

“I would like to try and solve this civilly.” Maddox let out a snort and we both stared at him.

“There is nothing civil about her anymore. She thinks she is still pregnant and will do anything and everything to try and protect her phantom child.” I winced, Anna lost her child as well and I couldn’t imagine the pain that meant for the mother.

“Don’t have any sympathy for her Alexei, she is a wild animal now.” Sawyer was right, of course he was. Maddox looked pale but he didn’t have anything else to say about Claire and her escape.

“Whatever you do, don’t let her get Anna again. This time she is going to torture Anna and then eventually kill her.” My blood ran cold and I knew Claire was going to meet her end one way or another.

“That is the bad news, we need to use Anna as a decoy to lure Claire out.”

“No, absolutely not! I am not putting her in danger again. Find someone on the payroll that looks like her. We are going back to Scotland and putting this behind us.” I was not going to use her as bait to lure out the crazy lady.

“Even if you go back and hide away, she will still find you guys, and knowing her she will burn the house down with you and the kids and everyone else in it.” Cursing, I stood up and stalked out of the office. I wasn’t going to let her be used as bait.

“Alexei, I have a clean bill of health I just have to rest for a couple of days and detox off the medication they gave me, what’s wrong?” My Anna, always the observant one.

“Nothing, we are heading back to Scotland as soon as I can get us there.” She crossed her arms and glared at me.

“I know you’re lying. I’m not sure what you are lying about but it probably has to do with Claire. By the way, can I see Maddox? I would like to thank him for at least trying to help me.” I grit my teeth and she moved closer to me.

Wrapping her arms around my waist I still couldn’t let go of the tension coursing through my body. I know it should be her decision, but after what she went through, I don’t want her to have to make the decision.

“You are tense, tell me what is going on. I hate it when people treat me like I’m some fragile damsel. I’m practically a Highlander Warrior Princess now.” She grinned and struck a cheesy pose and I snorted.

“Come on, I will let Sawyer explain it to you and you can see Maddox. He does seem like he feels really bad about what happened.” She twined her fingers through mine and gave my hand a squeeze.

I know she doesn’t see herself as fragile but she doesn’t understand that I just want to shield her from the world and the ugliness of it.

I knocked on the office door and we walked in, Maddox looked like he was ready to cry and he started apologizing profusely to Anna. She smiled and I knew she was still mad at him but I also knew she saw firsthand why he did what he did.

“I really am sorry; I shouldn’t have done any of that.” She shook her head and was trying to get him to calm down but he just wouldn’t.

“Anna I am Sawyer Keating; I am glad we were able to extract you alive. I am just sorry we couldn’t get there in time before the hospital stay.” She shook his hand and sat down, my girl was still looking drained and she probably needed sleep.

We were going to bed after this meeting and I wasn’t going to let her leave the hotel room until she was fully capable of being a decoy. I knew in my heart that she was going to accept the job, and I would do anything and everything in my power to keep her safe.

“So Alexei is looking like someone kicked his puppy, this has something to do with Claire, doesn’t it?” Sawyer glanced at me and she sighed.

“We might be an item Mr. Keating but he doesn’t speak for me. Just come out and say it, I’m tired and I miss my animals.” He blinked at her and I couldn’t help but start laughing. Later she was going to crumble and show her weakness but now she was going to be strong.

“Claire managed to elude us and well she is now at large.” Anna’s jaw tensed and she ran a hand through her hair.

“You want me to play decoy and lure her out right?” Sawyer blinked again and I put my hands on her shoulders.

“Anna, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” Closing her eyes, she dropped her head and clenched her hands in her lap.

“I will do it, but we need a plan and I need sleep. I suppose we are not leaving for Scotland yet?” Sawyer rubbed at his stubble and yawned.

“Sleep sounds great. I agree we do need a plan and going in half-c****d isn’t going to help.” We all nodded in agreement.

“What about me? I would rather not spend my time in jail.” Sawyer looked at Maddox and picked up the phone and called in two of his men.

“You will all stay at my place. It is secure and we have 24-hour security.” Anna yawned and I squeezed her shoulder again.

“I have one request.” Sawyer stopped shuffling his papers around and I glanced at her. She wasn’t making eye contact with either of us, which meant it was something none of us was going to like.

“If it is within my ability to grant it I will.” Sawyer waited patiently as she picked at the fuzz on her pants.

“We need to bring Gregor Mackenzie into the fray. If there is one thing, she wants more than me it is him.” I let go of her shoulders and walked out of the office. I knew she had a point but I also knew where this was going and I didn’t want to be a part of it.

Of course, this was the only way to get Claire to take the bait.