Fallen Hero (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 3)

“You, sir, are a liar,” Elspeth snapped. “You were told the last time you came here to try to bully me into marrying you that I never wanted you to darken my door again unless you had a solicitor to support you. There is no conscionable reason for you to call by, again, unwelcome and uninvited, at such an ungodly and sociably unacceptable hour.”

“Unless he is here to bully you, or is trying to steal something,” Aaron added with a thoughtful nod.

“I, sir, am not a thief,” Frederick declared firmly.

“Why are you breaking into houses then?” Callum demanded.

“Stop lying,” Aaron warned. “What were you after?”

“You were here for a reason, Frederick. Out with it. If it was important enough to make you force your way into Elspeth’s home, it is important enough for you to tell us. We are, after all, working for the War Office. We are trusted with government secrets, man. Your poxy little problems are nothing compared to what we usually deal with.”

“Oh? Such as?” Frederick threw Oliver a dark look.

Aaron bent over and leaned toward Frederick until they were almost nose-to-nose. Frederick swallowed harshly and tried to ease away but was unable to go too far because of the ties that bound him to the chair.

“Death, mostly. Murder. Embezzlement. Serial killers. Fraud. Theft, and abduction,” Aaron bit out. “We deal with cold hearted killers, conmen, fraudsters and people who think they can help themselves to other people’s life and property without a care in the world. It is what we do.”

Frederick looked truly frightened, until he managed to gather his wits about him and turn a glare on Aaron that was full of false bravado.

“Well, you had better get out there and catch them then,” he snapped coldly.

“I think we have already found ourselves a fraudster, a thief, a charlatan, and a conman. We have certainly found ourselves a liar, who tries to bully people out of their homes,” Aaron drawled. “So, while we set to work finding out the facts relating to the ownership of this house, I would ask you to stay away from Elspeth. We will be watching you, Frederick Roderick Miniver, whether you like it or not.”

Aaron stood back and nodded at Callum, who boldly stepped forward and put on a very blatant display of ruthlessness by slowly sliding his flick-knife out of his boot. The wicked looking blade that popped out of the handle appeared so suddenly that Frederick jerked in fear. Callum slowly walked around the bound man, the heels of his boots ringing hollowly on the wooden floor. A deathly silence filled the room.

Elspeth edged closer to Aaron’s reassuring bulk. Aaron slid an arm around her waist to hold her still while Callum took his time cutting the man’s restraints.

Once he was free, Frederick vaulted out of his seat and took several steps to the door.

“In a rush, are we? But you aren’t done yet,” Oliver informed him with a smirk.

Niall placed a hand firmly in the centre of Frederick’s chest and propelled him forcibly across the room until th

e backs of his legs hit the seat of the chair he had just vacated. Frederick had no choice but to slam his bottom onto the hard wood again. Once down, he peered up at the man before him but gulped warily when he realised he was no physical match for the men from the Star Elite.

Elspeth watched them in amazement. It was shocking how swiftly they had turned the atmosphere within the room from amiable to sinister. All the men Aaron called friends seemed to know what the other was doing with only the briefest nod or signal by slight flicks of their fingers. Elspeth watched Aaron flick his fingers at the man before the window, Oliver, who was watching and suddenly stepped forward.

“We are going to escort you home,” Oliver announced smoothly.

“I can make my own way, thank you,” Frederick replied with a glare. He stood up and began to back away with his fists clenched in readiness when Oliver stepped toward him.

Elspeth wondered if Frederick was stupid enough to think himself a match for Aaron and his friends, who were considerably taller and far more sinister than the countrified oaf.

Frederick looked at her suspiciously. “I should hate to think you have called these thugs in to scare me, cousin,” he hissed.

“They are friends of Thomas’s,” Elspeth reported with a nonchalant shrug.

She felt more comfortable now she had so many men in the house to support her, especially now they had all circled around Frederick, who stood helplessly in the middle of them as though about to take each of them on.

“Come on. It’s time for you to leave this lady alone at this time of night,” Oliver told him.

Together with Jasper, he carried Frederick out of the room.

Seconds later, Elspeth watched them march a hapless Frederick down the street and into the darkness.

“Will they really take him home?” she murmured once they had disappeared.

Aaron was already nodding. “They will have a quiet word with him while they are there. We want him to know we are aware of where he lives and will be back to speak to him if he ever tries anything like this again.”