Read Return to Me for Free Online

satisfied in the way things had turned out. The innkeeper had also agreed to drug his quarry’s wine, so the man and his wife were certainly sound asleep by now.
    Easy pickings,
he thought.
    Bassa reached the third-floor landing and searched the hall, getting his bearings. Harbor side. The door to the room stood ajar. He treaded softly. The brazier’s coals gave off a feeble glow; just enough to see two forms nestled beneath the covers. They were still, their breathing deep, even. He closed the door, moved to the bed, and stared down at the larger figure.
    Bassa raised his blade, made sure of his angle, and plunged it into the man’s flesh. Luck was with him and it hit true, causing instant death.
    He pulled out the knife and raised it once more, but the woman suddenly thrashed to life and let out a shriek. Bassa leapt upon her, covering her mouth with one hand, his knife piercing her eye and brain with the other.
    Her body went limp. He threw the blanket over the corpses and raced out the door. The coins banged against his balls as he left the inn and headed for the whorehouse.
    • • •
    Gigi held Placidia’s infant son. He was so sweet, a little peanut with big, blue eyes and a smile that reminded her of Athaulf’s youngest daughter, Rosenda …
    A scream of terror rent the air and was cut short.
    Awakening with a start, Gigi sat upright, breathing hard, and tried to make sense of the sound.
    Magnus yanked her out of bed. “That was meant for us. The window — open the window!”
    Gigi threw back the curtains and opened the shutters as Magnus grabbed their gear and leaned out, letting their leather knapsacks and cloaks drop onto the stable roof.
    Damn!
The .45 was in her bag, so was the stun gun. They would do her no good for the moment. Thank goodness they’d kept their blades in their belts!
    Magnus held onto the window ledge and lowered himself outside, then dropped the few feet to the tiled roof below. Gigi did the same, easing into his outstretched arms before her feet touched down. They sat and slipped to the edge, then repeated what they’d done at the window.
    The stable boy opened the door a crack and hoarsely whispered, “Who’s there?”
    Magnus wedged his foot into the doorway before the boy could shut himself in, and spoke softly, “There has been a murder inside tonight, and I hope to the gods you did not forget to keep our horses saddled.”
    “They are ready, sir,” the boy said, his voice squeaking with fright. “I, I heard the scream. I am most grateful it wasn’t you, sir.”
    Gigi hurried past him and headed for their horses. Taking their leads, she brought them to the main door as her husband pressed a pouch of coins into the boy’s hand.
    “Let’s get out of here,” she urgently whispered, desperate to get away.
    “You must leave this place, lad,” Magnus warned. “They’ll torture you to find out where we’ve gone, whether you know or not.”
    “But his family … they’ll go after his family, too,” Gigi said.
    Wide-eyed, the boy stared at the pouch. “I have no family.”
    “Then go now and never return,” Magnus ordered.
    As he dashed off, Gigi and Magnus mounted their horses and raced away. She hoped the stable boy would escape. She didn’t want him to suffer for helping them, like the bald man certainly had.
    Gigi closed her mind to dark thoughts and concentrated on staying on her horse. Portus to Barcelona by land. It had to be a thousand miles, maybe more. How long would that take in the best of circumstances? How long would it take in the worst? She entwined her fingers through her mare’s mane and bent over its neck. They were flying through town, making enough noise to raise the dead, but thankfully it was very late and no one seemed to care.
    Soon, the gate and Portus lay behind them, open country and myriad back roads before them. They made less noise out here, hooves beating against packed dirt, two shadow figures riding low as they galloped into the