Chapter 5

The Duke had decided to go to Hampshire on horseback.

A dozen guards would accompany them to guarantee their safety.

Brennan did not have the courage to stay locked alone in a carriage with Justin for several hours. He would be capable of raping him.

Seeing him getting ready to mount one of his chestnuts too, his eyes blazed with desire.

He would have given anything to be the one he was riding.

He shook himself. But what was he thinking?

Justin was under his protection and he had other things to do than think about his libido.

For example, finding the murderer of his beloved brother.

He addressed his men,

"Make sure Justin is protected. He is the main target of Red Flam."

They nodded to go ahead as a few fell in behind them.

They rode quietly through the surrounding countryside until they arrived at the forest of Hargrove Manor.

Justin didn't take his eyes off Brennan. What presence! He must have been riding horses since he was little to be so comfortable.

He felt best on his ship.

He suddenly realized that everything was too quiet. No sound pierced this distressing silence.

However, they should have been safe since they were on Brennan's lands but a sixth sense warned him of imminent danger.

The guards protecting them from behind then began to scream as a hail of arrows pierced them.

Justin just had time to whip his horse to find himself next to Brennan.

He then jumped behind him and hugged him tightly:

-Gallop! We are under attack!

Brennan didn't turn around. He galloped out of breath as he heard screams behind him.

Justin warned him:

-There are about twenty of them after us! Faster Brennan! They are armed with swords and sabers!

The men who had gone before them had been arrested and were also fighting valiantly against a group of attackers.

He yelled at Brennan:

-Right!!!

They sped off down a small path that had been ignored by the brutes pursuing them but those behind them were pulling ahead.

There were two of them on Brennan's horse and he was starting to tire.

Justin then felt a lightning pain in his hip that disappeared quickly. He had certainly been hit by a low branch.

In a few minutes, they would be out in the open and that was the most dangerous because the one who was in danger was not him but Brennan!

He spread out a little more on his back. He absolutely had to protect him!

They galloped out of the forest but no one pursued them.

Sinister howls and a stampede ensued through the forest as they reached the manor.

Brennan went down first as the door opened to reveal Adams.

He had been heading to Hargrove Manor since dawn with several maids to get everything ready for their arrival.

Unmoved by their disheveled looks, he greeted Justin cordially:

-Good morning, sir. Did you have a good trip?

Justin rolled his eyes and went inside while Brennan briefly explained the situation to him.

Suddenly he felt empty. After what had happened, it was normal.

He would sit down for a few moments and he would feel better.

As Brennan explained the situation to him, James followed Justin with his eyes and paled.

He turned to Brennan:

-Mr. Duke... but Brennan continued talking.

He then took his arm:

-Mr. Duke!

Brennan trailed off with a frown but seeing the panic on Adams' face, he followed his gaze and blanched as well.

Justin had stopped in front of a painting in the hall representing Brennan and Aaron when they were children.

He had to sit down quickly. His head was starting to spin slightly. If Black saw him like he did now, he would laugh at him!

-Justin!

Brennan ran towards him and caught him just in time before he collapsed to the ground:

-I would like to sit down Brennan but there are no chairs in this hall.

The Duke took him gently in his arms:

-Listen my angel. It is not possible for the moment.

Justin then looked into her eyes. Her warm voice captivated him.

Hey! Now that he thought about it, had he heard Brennan call her my angel?

Everything was getting confused in his head:

-Why can't I sit down?

-You have a dagger stuck in your hip and it's not a pretty sight.

-You're kidding!

He tried to turn around to see but Brennan stopped him:

-Adams went to get the material needed to sew you up but as you can imagine, it will have to be removed.

-Oh! So that's why I don't feel very well?

Faced with the Duke's worried look, Justin took on a serene air:

-Don't worry! I don't even hurt.

Justin looked him up and down:

-And you? You're okay?

The Duke's eyebrows arched. He was worried about him when he was the one with a knife stuck in his back?

-You can let go of me you know Brennan, I feel fine and besides I have never fainted in my life. It's not today that I'm going to start...

He screamed and fainted.

Brennan had taken the bloody knife from him with a sharp and clean blow:

-Quick James. We're going to have to clean and stitch the wound while he's unconscious.

Brennan had never felt so helpless as he carried her in his arms towards his room.

When Justin woke up, he felt a very slight pain in his hip and remembered what had happened.

He stood up, grimacing, but Brennan appeared in the doorway of the room:

-Get back to bed right now! You're in no shape to stay up!

So he sat back down on the bed slowly.

This was no time to make waves. This little stab wasn't much but Brennan had to think he couldn't cope without him.

It would be the best way to keep him close.

He sighed:

-Yes, you're right. I don't feel very well. Thank you...Brennan.

Every time he called her by his first name, Brennan got chills.

His hungry gaze fell on him as he sat down next to him and tenderly took his hand.

"I apologize. I failed to protect you and you were hurt."

Justin blushed violently but didn't remove his hand. His heart beat faster.

How could he resist when his whole body was straining towards him?

Luckily Adams arrived:

-All your men have returned. Some are injured but they are all safe.

On the other hand, a third group of men appeared out of nowhere and saved them.

Without them, your men would all be dead and you too.

Brennan frowned,

"And where are they now? I'd like to thank them."

Adams shrugged,

"They got away, but your men are certain they were pirates.

" "And the ones who attacked us?"

"All dead.

" "I see."

Justin lay back down but kept his hand in Brennan's:

-Maybe it was a rival gang of Red Flam, who learned of his plans concerning us and took advantage of it to set a trap for them?

-Yeah, that makes sense,

Brennan breathed, burning with desire as Justin stroked his hand without realizing it.

If only Adams would leave them alone.

As if he had heard his prayer, the butler withdrew:

-I will try to find out more, Sir Duke.

Not knowing what to say to Hargrove Justin decided to dismiss him. His men had done a good job.

Now he had to let them know that he too was unharmed.

-If you don't mind Brennan, I'd like to rest a little.

The latter stood up but instead of letting go of his hand, he squeezed it tighter, leaned towards him and delicately placed his lips on his.

-Rest, my angel. You are safe now.

As Brennan left the room, Justin touched his lips.

A horrible rush of desire had taken over him.

Clenching his fists until they hurt, he punched his pillow hard.

It was unbearable for him to think about it but he wanted Brennan to make love to him and it made him sick!