Chapter Twenty
Rafe
Ramsay Buchanan glowers at me in a very convincing manner, as if he means to throttle me and then toss me to Thane so he can finish me off. But I rather doubt either man wants to assault me. Iona would beat them to death with a caman if they tried it. My ex-wife would never have stood up for me if someone leveled insults at me or threatened to murder me. After the lightning strike, she wriggled out of driving me to my physical therapy sessions. Angela also categorically refused to offer any sort of comfort.
Blimey . My heart stopped beating for two minutes and forty-eight seconds. A spouse should stand by their partner in bad times, not run away to find a new lover.
Oh, yes, Angela did that too.
Ramsay stalks up to my chair and glowers at me again. Actually, he never stopped glowering. "Why should we believe Iona's problem isn't your fault?"
"What problem would that be?"
"You know which one, ye baltan ."
I must seem confused because Iona tells me, "Ramsay called you a C-word."
"Oh, that would make sense considering his rancorous tone. But I still have no idea what 'problem' your brother is referring to."
Thane jumps out of his chair to grasp his brother's arm. "Calm down, Ramsay. This is a strategy meeting, not a cage fight. Maybe Rafe honestly doesn't understand what problem you're talking about."
I fold my arms over my chest as I gaze dispassionately at Ramsay Buchanan. "It might help if you named the issue. I'm not clairvoyant."
"We're talking about the intruder."
Iona lays a hand on my shoulder. "I assume you mean the cacan who spied on me, and who Rafe detained."
Ramsay snorts derisively. "Detained? You let him get away, ye eejit."
"He kneed me in the groin. I defy either you or your brother to remain able to fight off an attacker under those circumstances."
Thane studies me with curiosity, his head tipped to one side. "I would've thought such a violent event would be ingrained in your mind. Yet you seem to have completely forgotten it."
"No, I didn't completely forget." I look to Iona, and she seems to understand what I'm trying to ask her without speaking. She kisses my cheek. I take that as confirmation. So, I sigh and face her brothers and the others. "Seven years ago, I was struck by lightning. It was an upward streamer that used me as an auxiliary vein of the bolt itself. I suffered a cardiac arrest, clinically dead for several minutes before my heart miraculously came back to life and brought me with it."
Ramsay stares at me with his upper lip curled. "Dinnae understand what that has to do with why you forgot about the intruder's attack."
"Here's how it's related." I stand up and face Ramsay head-on. "I've suffered long-term issues related to the strike. One of them is forgetfulness, another is my hair-trigger temper."
Ramsay glances back at his brother. "Do you believe his story, Thane?"
"I do."
Ramsay looks at Iona. "What about you? How can you be sure this bod ceann won't hurt you when he's in a rage?"
"Because I've gotten to know him. Rafe is a good man who's had terrible things happen to him." She lifts her chin in a defiant expression. "Rafe never hurts anyone but himself---unless someone is attacking him or another innocent person."
The Buchanan brothers exchange a look that I can't decipher. Fortunately, they offer to explain. Thane does the talking. "We trust our sister, and that means we trust you. Iona would never let an abusive man into her life. Besides, Toby told us what a good man you are."
I'm briefly stunned by his declaration. "My son told you that? He's been angry with me lately, so I assumed---"
"Stop assuming. Get the facts before you reach any conclusions."
"Yes, that's good advice." I lift one brow. "Does this mean you and Ramsay won't be shouting at me anymore or threatening to kill me?"
Thane shrugs. "Cannae promise that."
Ramsay chuckles. "I think the Brit is afraid of two burly Scots."
Iona scowls at her brothers, though it's clearly sarcasm. "Don't insult Rafe. If you want him to prove his mettle, challenge him to a shinty match or a round of Highland games. I'm sure he would wipe the field with you two."
Thane and Ramsay stare at their sister for a moment, then start laughing. When they finally stop doing that, Thane pats his sister's arm. "Dinnae worry, gràidh . We already know Rafe is no scared rabbit. He chased that intruder away."
"Was there a point to this little meeting?" I ask. "Iona and I do have a lunch appointment."
"Aye, and you'll get there on time," Thane says. "We'll make sure of that. But here's the point of this meeting. We want you to take Iona to England with you for a wee spell, at least until we can capture the cacan who's been spying on Iona."
The woman in question springs out of her chair, hands on her hips. "I am not a frightened wee lassie who faints at shadows. I am a journalist, and I can find the cacan myself."
"No need for that. Magnus and Piper are already on his trail."
I spring out of my chair. "If your mates are going after the bastard, I need to be there with them."
"No, Rafe. Your job is to take care of Iona." Thane raises a placating hand toward his sister, though she seems less than placated. "Please, gràidh , we need to know you'll be safe. Let Rafe take you to England."
The more I listen to the three siblings arguing, the more convinced I become that Thane is right. "Iona should go on holiday in England if only to give those blokes Magnus and Piper a chance to hunt down the intruder."
Everyone goes silent for about three seconds. Then they erupt into laughter.
"What is so bloody funny?" I snarl.
Iona touches my arm. "Piper is a woman and Magnus's wife. I mentioned her to you once."
"Oh, yes, of course." I knife a hand through my hair. "Sorry."
"No apologies necessary. Everyone here knows about your lightning strike injuries now, so they won't harass you about it---much."
The alarm on my watch chimes, reminding me of where I need to be and when. "We should get going, Iona, or we'll be late for lunch with the boys."
We say goodbye to everyone, then I try to drive to the café. Iona swats my hand away when I reach for the handle of the driver's door. I consider arguing the point, or perhaps stuffing her in the boot, but change my mind. Her mulish nature is part of her charm.
As we pull out of the car park, my mobile chimes. I pull up the text. "It's Toby. He says we should meet them in the outdoor section of the café."
I toss the mobile back to Iona.
When we arrive at the café, we spot the boys immediately, before we've even stepped out of the car. Wrought-iron railing surrounds the outdoor patio, so we need to walk through the indoor section and wend our way around tables and chairs to reach the patio.
Toby and Eric both rise halfway from their chairs to greet us. I pull out Iona's chair for her. Toby smirks as if he thinks it's amusing that I would be polite to a woman. Or perhaps my son is simply glad to see me spending time with someone outside of work.
Once we're all seated, we order our food. Then, the interrogation begins.
Toby grins at me. "Can't believe you finally met the right woman. It's about bloody time. By the way, how did your interview with the Buchanan brothers go?"
"Fine. We understand each other."
Eric hasn't spoken except when he greeted us. Now, he uses the excuse of sipping his water to avoid joining in the conversation.
"What about the git who's been spying on Iona?" Toby asks. "Thane and Ramsay can't be happy about that."
"Naturally, they want to pummel the wanker. So do I. But we can't do that until someone finds him." Iona slips her hand into mine under the table, and that simple touch eases my tension. "Thane and Ramsay want the two of us to go to England for a spell. They have a husband-and-wife private detective team on the git's trail."
The boys look at each other and grin, speaking the same words at the same time. "Magnus and Piper."
Both boys make a strange hand signal that I don't understand. It seems to indicate something good, considering the fact they're smiling. I can't keep track of the trends young people invent.
Toby turns to me, still grinning. "Don't worry, Dad. People your age just can't understand the younger ones. We were trying to say it's awesome that Magnus and Piper will be helping you guys. We haven't met them yet, but they sound like badasses."
"Hmm, I see. The children of the world have all gone collectively insane."
"Come on, Dad. We aren't children. Eric and I both have well-paying jobs, and we graduated from uni four years ago."
"What does that prove?"
He rolls his eyes. "That we're full-fledged adults."
I swing my attention to my son's best mate. "Not sure you've been behaving like an adult lately."
Eric winces. "Yeah, I know. But I'm, uh, coming to the conclusion that I've been a complete ass."
"Then you won't be harassing Iona anymore."
"Yeah." He glances at Iona. "Saying sorry isn't really enough, but I can't think of another way to make amends."
Iona's brows shoot up. "You've given up on winning my heart?"
Eric nods. "Toby and I had a long talk about that. Then my mom and Thane gave me a talk of their own. The gist of it is that I realize I've been an ass, and I won't do that anymore."
"Same for me," Toby says. "I shouldn't have gone off on you the way I did, Dad. I pretended to be the one who wanted Iona, so Eric's mum wouldn't find out he'd been bothering her. That's all over now."
Our food arrives, and we and spend the next half hour eating and engaging in casual conversation, none of which involves Eric's infatuation with Iona or her stalker. We laugh quite often. I'd been slightly anxious about this meeting, yet it's turned out to be a positive experience. But in the back of my mind, I can't stop thinking about the git who got away from me.
Iona is coming home with me, temporarily. She'll be safe because I will make certain of it. I still have niggling doubts, though, about the whole situation.
"Wake up, Dad," Toby says. "You missed a great joke. A Scottish one Iona told us."
"Sorry." I force myself to focus on the present, rubbing my eyes and taking a deep breath. "I've been thinking about the stalker situation. We have no idea how long that wanker had been surveilling her or how far-reaching that surveillance was."
"What are you suggesting we should do about that?"
"Go to England. The four of us."
Eric's eyes flare wide. "Why me? I'm not a family member. That creep has nothing to do with me."
"Are you certain of that? Iona saw him in at least two separate parts of the village, which suggests he could have been monitoring her for who knows how long." I lean forward, hoping to impress Eric enough that he will listen to me. "You've been to Iona's house multiple times. Her stalker has likely seen you. Please come with us to England. I'll ring Rebecca to discuss the issue with her first, of course."
"Let me call my mom. She'll freak out less if I break the news."
"Don't you live in England, anyway?"
"Yeah." He brings out his mobile and dials a number. "Hey, Mom, it's me. I heard you guys had a big summit this morning at the distillery. Rafe thinks I should go with him and Toby, Iona too, in case that creep is still after her. No, I'll be safe, trust me. Toby and Rafe aren't wimps, and neither am I." He laughs faintly. "Yes, I will come say goodbye before we leave."
I glance at Toby, but he's fixated on his best mate.
Eric laughs outright now. "Mom, I'm not going to be assassinated by anybody, promise. Magnus and Piper will find the guy. Uh-huh." He rolls his eyes, then lowers his voice to whisper, "I love you too, Mom. Jeez, you're so embarrassing."
He says goodbye, ending the call.
"It's set, then?" I ask.
"Yep. We're having a slumber party at the Knight house."
Toby seems excited now, as if he can't wait for that. There will be no "slumber party," but I won't bother pointing that out. I'm glad the boys are in a good mood and the tension between all of us has abated.
We enjoy a Scottish dessert called cranachan , then drive to Iona's house so she can pack for the trip. Toby and Eric stay with her whilst I drive to the hotel to retrieve my bags and check out. When I return to Iona's home, three more vehicles are parked along the side of the street, directly in front of Iona's yard.
The persons inside those vehicles have clearly gone into the house. I don't see any evidence of anyone lingering outside.
Just as I mount the steps onto the porch, the door swings open.
Iona flings herself at me, kissing my face repeatedly. I see no reason for her to behave as if I've been gone for ten years. It was only half an hour. Eventually, she takes half a step backward, seizes my hand, and leads me inside.
How and when will the stalker issue be resolved? Sooner or later, we will learn the answer. Will the news be good or bad? The only thing I know for certain is that I will protect Iona and my son at any cost.