The Sunstone Brooch : Time Travel Romance by Katherine Logan (i am reading a book TXT) 📕

“They both are wearing crossed-keys rings. It’s possible, but I don’t think so.”

“If we leave now, with or without prisoners, what about Kit and Cullen?” she asked.

“After we turn these creeps over to David, we can return for them,” Remy said.

“Elliott might not let us come back, although I don’t know who’s in the mood to travel right now,” Austin said.

“Sophia. She’s always ready,” Remy said. “But with the Illuminati searching for you, Ensley, Elliott might not let you go.”

“Let’s worry about that when we get home,” Austin said. “For now, let’s figure out how we’re going to get those two disarmed.”

“Okay, listen,” Remy said. “Austin can hide in your bathroom, Ensley, while you ring for Mr. Bailey to come and do something. Clean your room, remove the trash, bring a glass of water. Whatever. When he gets there, I’ll come in from behind and taser him. As soon as he’s down, I’ll go after the cook. You two tie up Bailey. As soon as the cook is disabled, I’ll drag him to your stateroom, and we’ll get the hell out of here. But if this goes south, be prepared to take him down any way you can. Got it?”

“Got it,” Austin said.

“I’ll hide in the second stateroom,” Remy said. “As soon as Bailey goes by, I’ll come in behind him.”

“I want a gun,” Ensley said. “I’ve never shot a person, but if it’s him or me, I’ll do what I have to.”

Remy gave her the Glock he carried in his boot. “There’s a full magazine with a bullet in the chamber.”

She took the gun and looked it over. “Cocked and ready.”

“You act like you know how to use it. Any questions?” Remy asked.

“Nope.” She stood and slipped it into the back of her waistband. “Let’s get the show on the road.”

He looked her in the eye, and she did her best to tamp down a hundred emotions flapping around in her system—dread and terror being the two headliners—yet still, she was ready for the show. And when Remy signaled and opened the gate, she’d barrel through without hesitation.

“I’ll go first. Give me a count of twenty to get into position,” Remy said, then closed the door behind him.

Austin took Ensley’s hand and started counting. When he reached twenty, he opened the door and led her toward her stateroom. The train swayed and rattled, and she held tightly to the railing.

He led her into the bedroom, leaving the door slightly ajar, and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll have eyes on you the entire time.”

As soon as Austin was out of sight, she pulled the bell cord and expected any minute to see Mr. Bailey at her door.

Earlier she had tossed boxes everywhere and strewn clothes on the furniture and the floor. She made quick work of the trash, stacking the boxes at the foot of the bed. She picked up one of the dresses and was in the process of folding it when Mr. Bailey knocked on the partially open door.

“Ma’am. Did you need something?”

“Yes, Mr. Bailey. Would you mind removing these boxes? I’ve unwrapped everything.”

He came into the room, and his gaze crawled across her before he pushed the door shut. “You have several beautiful dresses. I look forward to seeing you wear them.”

As soon as he took a menacing step toward her, any remaining hope that they were wrong about Mr. Bailey evaporated. A seven-inch fixed blade knife appeared like magic in his hand.

“If you scream, my associate has orders to kill your bodyguards immediately.”

She’d never seen an evil gleam in anyone’s eyes like the one she saw in his. Evil had ripped out his heart, chopped it up, and littered tiny pieces along the trail for vultures to eat.

“Associate?” That meant just one. “You mean the cook?”

Mr. Bailey chuckled. “The hotel food is gourmet compared to any food he can prepare.”

She swallowed hard. “Where’s the cook hired by the railroad?”

“He took another job.”

She didn’t believe that for a minute.

Mr. Bailey’s eyes bored into her, making her downright terrified.

“So I guess this means you’re not going to dispose of the boxes.”

Don’t get smart. He’s more dangerous than the bear.

Mr. Bailey’s features became taut with malevolence. “The only thing I intend to dispose of is…well… There’s no need to talk about it right now. Where’s the brooch?”

“I don’t have one,” she said.

“Don’t be coy, Miss Williams.”

“How do you know my name?”

He took a step closer, tsking. “I know all about you, your sunstone brooch, and your friend Mr. Fraser.”

“I haven’t seen James Cullen in weeks.”

“When you split up, we had to make adjustments, but it worked out.” Mr. Bailey held out his hand. “Mr. Fraser didn’t have the brooch, which means you do. Give it to me and save yourself a great deal of pain.”

Austin, why the hell are you waiting?

“I don’t have it. It got too hot to hold and was left behind. The same thing happened to JC when he used it.”

Mr. Bailey laughed, and the sound scraped across her skin, chilling her to the bone, but somehow she remained calm, using every bit of the control she learned at the rodeo.

“That’s impossible. No brooch acts like that.”

Now she laughed—or made her best attempt at one—but it sounded more sarcastic than humorous. “You’ll have to take that up with the brooch gods because mine did. And JC dropped it at the stables in Maryland. By now, someone has probably found it.”

Mr. Bailey’s knife hand shot out and sliced down the front of her jacket, cutting off the buttons. He was as emotionless—soulless—as anyone she’d ever encountered, and it was terrifying. She had no doubt he would do everything he threatened to do—and more if the mood struck him.

Whatever self-defense she knew would be ineffective against a man with a knife used by Special Forces.

Special Forces.

Nothing stupid about her. She connected the dots and knew then that Mr. Bailey was a traveler, which made him even more dangerous. Plus, now he reeked of liver and onions.

“That