Paladin 33

Erik tied his horse to the fence near the front of the estate and wasted no time waiting for a groomsman to come and take the animal to the stable. By all appearances the estate was abandoned, as there was no sign of anyone and there were no lights in any of the windows.

The only indication that anyone had been to Turro Equine Farm was the tracks from the carriage wheels, which were nearly buried beneath the snow. He studied them for a moment, hearing horse hooves pound the frozen earth behind him. He didn't need to glance back to know Philippe Dupree had followed him.

Nostrils flared, Erik stormed toward the front door, intending to break it down if need be.

"Wait!" Philippe shouted.

Erik ignored him and reached for the doorknocker, but Philippe grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him back.

"I said wait," Philippe growled through his teeth.

Fueled by anger, Erik shoved Philippe away, while at the same time stalking toward Sophia's brother who slid on ice and fell backwards onto the snow-covered grass.

"Never lay your hand on me. So much as attempt to do so again and I will kill you," Erik seethed, towering over him. He considered kicking Philippe in the chest but held back, knowing there were more important endeavors at hand.

Philippe scrambled to his feet and looked down his nose at Erik. "She's my sister! You have no right to be here!"

"I have every right!" Erik replied, biting off his words.

The only face-to-face confrontation Erik had experienced in recent years had been with Raoul de Chagny, and though Philippe had different interests in Sophia than Raoul had with Christine, he still considered Philippe a threat.

Philippe rolled his eyes. "Because you employ her? Because you teach her?"

"Because I care for her," Erik replied. Because I love her, he thought to himself. Because I can't bear the thought of losing her.

"Care? You don't care," Philippe said with a humorless chuckle. "You're a man with power, yes, but you're not above needs, physical, primal, lecherous needs. Do you think that mask hides your true intentions?" He nodded toward Erik, his eyes narrowed and lips frowning in a bloodthirsty scowl that left Erik speechless.

Not since he had been a fearful child had anyone dared to insult him or insinuate anything about him to his face.

Philippe kept his eyes trained on Erik. "I know what men such as you want with girls—innocent, trusting girls—like my little sister."

Erik reached for Philippe's throat, but Philippe brushed his hand away and ran his chest into Erik's, daring him to continue with the challenge.

"What do you take me for, Monsieur Belmont? Do you think it's a secret, some sort of trick up your sleeve? Men only want one thing when they keep a girl inside their private quarters or lock them up in the parlor. It's the same thing I always wanted when there was a pretty little thing serving at my parents' vineyard. I know all about being the master of the estate, but if you've done anything to compromise my sister's good name I swear—"

"Shut up," Erik hissed, this time reaching for and taking hold of Philippe's shirt collar. "You know nothing about me."

"I know more than you think."

They glared at each other a moment, both of them standing rigid with their hands balled into fists, ready for battle. Philippe shook his head just enough for Erik to notice before he hit Erik in the forearm and turned away.

"You've picked a fine time to show you care about her," Erik said under his breath.

"I have always taken care of Sophia, Monsieur," Philippe muttered, walking away from the front door. He shot Erik an angry glance before he disappeared around the side of the building. "You've known her for what? Only a few months? Ah, but of course you suddenly care for her, and far more than I ever have? You ignorant fool!"

There was no other choice but to follow Philippe around to the side of the estate where its brick exterior was covered with dead ivy. Philippe walked up to the first window and pushed on it, but it was locked. He glanced back at Erik who, in turn, was staring back at him, a murderous look in his pale green eyes.

Erik walked past him to the next window and did as Philippe had done, walking away with the same result.

"As far as I'm concerned, you're wasting your time," Erik muttered as he walked toward the front of the house again.

The moment he turned away from Philippe, Erik felt a hand on his shoulder. He spun around, his arm raised and hand clenched into a fist again.

"If you truly care for her then you'll shut your damned mouth and follow me," Philippe said before he turned away and rounded the corner of the house, heading to the back yard of Karl Turro's property.

-o-

Philippe was livid as he walked away from Erik. No one would step into Sophia's life and assume that they knew what was best for her, especially not some reclusive musician who would seduce her with his violin or his piano or whatever else he decided to use.

More than anything, Philippe was tired of people telling him he didn't know what to do on his sister's behalf. Each time he saw his two uncles he was met with a dismaying shake of their heads and sullen expressions.

"That poor girl," they would murmur to one another. "What kind of life will she live?"

A damned good one, Philippe thought to himself. He wanted a home for her with people to watch over her the way their mother had enjoyed. He wanted Sophia to spend her days entertaining her lady friends or enjoying a view of the pastures as she sewed in a comfortable wing chair. Even though he knew that her vision was failing, he had hope that she would keep her sight for a few more years so that she could still enjoy watching flowers bloom in the spring and the foals grow over the summer.

Philippe exhaled hard as he reached the back of the and tried another window, another perfect, picturesque window he had wanted Sophia to be able to look out of after she and Karl were married. His anger escalated, the dreams he had for his sister slowly becoming intangible.

This wasn't the way he had imagined things. He wanted her to have a proper courtship and wedding, one Sophia would remember fondly for the rest of her days. The only thing he now knew for certain was that he didn't want her anywhere near Karl Turro. No man would compromise her safety and well-being.

Philippe swallowed hard, sensing Erik Belmont close behind him.

"Stand back," he said without looking at his employer.

"Why?"

"I'm breaking the door down," Philippe said as he took off his cloak and began unbuttoning his overcoat. "I'm getting my sister."

Erik sidled up beside Philippe and looked the door up and down. "And alerting him of your arrival? By the time you break down the door he could hide her anywhere."

Philippe pursed his lips. "What do you suggest?"

"Follow me," Erik replied as he walked away.

"Where are you going?"

Erik glanced over his shoulder. "To the cellar."