But then Bohdan seldom felt anything, Chiswick thought. He was the coldest asshole on the face of the earth. He’d seen him torture one of his officers who had displeased him for three days in the square in the center of the city. He’d even offered a bonus to the man in the company who could come up with the most innovative way to inflict pain on the poor bastard. Chiswick couldn’t understand it. Torture had always been a means to an end to him. You did it to get what you wanted and then you disposed of the victim and walked away. Anything else was a waste of time. But of course, he’d never let Bohdan know how he felt. In Bohdan’s army there were no opinions except Bohdan’s. It wasn’t safe. “So do I go and see what I can find out in Scotland?”

“Try London first. The woman looks more promising.”

And he probably wanted to do more experimenting, Chiswick thought cynically. “Whatever you say.” He headed for the door. “I’ll have answers for you by tomorrow.”

*  *  *

MacDuff’s Run
Next Day

“I need you down here,” MacDuff said impatiently. “Right now, Jane. Drop whatever you’re doing and come and handle this package Caleb sent to make my life more difficult.”

“What package?”

“Sean Rodland. Don’t tell me he’s a surprise to you, too.”

“Not exactly. Caleb told me Palik was sending someone and that he was very efficient. But I can’t believe that you’d need help to handle anyone. What’s the problem?”

“I’m trying to decide whether to drown him or just throw him in the dungeon,” he said silkily. “But if you don’t come down and save him, I might call Caleb and tell him I’m going to send him gift-wrapped to Bohdan, and he can go after him.”

“I’ll be right down.” She cut the connection and was out of her room and running down the stairs. What the hell had Caleb done to her? She didn’t need problems with MacDuff after the sleepless night she’d just had.

MacDuff met her at the foot of the staircase. “That’s what I appreciate, cooperation and someone to realize who is presiding over things here at the Run. Evidently, Rodland has no conception of my position in the scheme of things.” He gestured to the man following him down the hall. “Sean Rodland. Jane MacGuire. Rodland was sent by Palik and strolled down here from the hills bold as brass to pay you a visit.” His lips tightened. “Though I don’t know how the hell he got on the property. I was about to ask him and tell him that no one sees you without going through me first. Perhaps you can explain it to him, Jane. You know what a reasonable, peaceful man I am.”