Heal My Heart

EIGHT

Adrian slowly lifted off Nicolette and sat back on his knees. As he looked from one man to the other, he couldn't connect them to anything in his life. This must be a mistake in identity.

"Is there something I can help you with?" Adrian asked.

Nicolette sat up and scooted next to Adrian, holding onto his arm. He knew these men weren't after her, and he'd do anything in his power to protect her.

The brawny man who seemed to be the leader, scratched his unshaven chin as he rocked back on the heels of his boots. "Actually, there is something you can do."

The man nodded to the other two men who were much thinner, and they jumped toward Adrian, each grasping an arm as they lifted him to his feet. Nicolette released a small sob and reached for him. He met her gaze and shook his head, silently pleading with her not to make the men mad.

The brawny man poked a finger into Adrian's chest and scowled. "You can tell us where they have buried that treasure."

Narrowing his gaze, Adrian blinked and tried to wrap his mind around what the goon had just said. Why did Adrian feel like he was suddenly whisked into a pirate's fictional story? "Pardon me?"

"Ain't no pardonin' ya, not now." The other man chimed in. "You know where the military hid our treasure, and we're not lettin' ya go until you take us to it."

"Treasure?" Adrian shook his head. "I think you have me confused with someone else. I don't know anything about a treasure."

The three men looked at each other before letting out loud laughs. The brawny man stepped closer to Adrian, wrapping his beefy fingers around Adrian's neck.

"Now listen here. We know ye were with the others when they found that treasure. We saw'd ya, so don't try tellin' us ya wasn't there."

Adrian took deep breaths as he tried to figure out what treasure these idiots were talking about. "I'm still drawing a blank. Can you tell me where you thought you saw me when I was with the military?"

The man holding his right arm snorted. His bad breath was overwhelmingly rotten. "Hugh, I don't think he 'members bein' there."

The man named Hugh tightened his hand, pinching the back of Adrian's neck. Adrian bit back the pain, but it was minimal to the pain shooting up his arm. The fool holding his left arm had tightened his grip exactly where Adrian had been shot.

"Oh, he knows, Lloyd."

"Believe me," Adrian said gruffly, "if I knew, I'd be telling you so that you could leave me and Miss McFarland alone."

The leader glanced at Nicolette and sneered. "Aren't ya a pretty gal? I bet y'all help yer beau to 'member, won't ya?"

He released Adrian's neck, and with one quick swoop of his hand, grabbed Nicolette by the hair, pulling her to stand up. She yelped and clawed at his hand to release her.

Anger pumped through Adrian, and he found the strength to push the imbeciles holding him away before jumping to Nicolette's rescue. He punched the man in the face, which of course, made him release her hair. She cried out and moved into Adrian's arms, pressing her face against his chest.

"Oh, yer gonna die now," the leader muttered as he held his bloody nose.

"I don't think so." Adrian glared at the man. "After all, you need me to find the treasure."

"I knew ya'd 'member it," Lloyd said in a whiny voice.

Adrian still had not clue to what these men were talking about, but he had to at least pretend to. It would prolong his life a little while longer, until he could somehow figure out a weapon to use to protect him. "I'll tell you where the treasure is, as long as you let Miss McFarland go free."