The Bachelor Bargain (Secrets, Scandals, and Spies) by Michaels, Maddison (short books to read TXT) 📕

They will fucking rue the day they dared take anything from me. And if anyone thinks the example I made of Edward Flintock was extreme and confronting, they will have seen nothing until they see what I do with this Orestes. He is to be left to me, neither of you are to touch him. Are we clear?”

The two men nodded, identical expressions of alertness on their faces. They’d all thought these days were well behind them. Seb most especially of all.

But, of course, he’d known, deep down, he couldn’t stay at the top of the chain in the Rookeries without someone trying to challenge his authority and vie to take control. Even with his reputation, there was always someone wanting to wrestle power away from the Bastard of Baker Street and build up their own reputation in doing so.

But this rival leader, as others had before him, was going to learn soon enough just what dealing with Sebastian Colver entailed.

“Just so you know, though—” Rowan said. “This man, Orestes, hasn’t been seen coming or going from the warehouse. He might not even be there.”

“Then after we are done with his men and his warehouse, we will hunt him down, and I will destroy him.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

“What are you talking about?” Livie said, trying to act completely surprised, but the knowing look in the man’s eyes suggested he didn’t believe her for a minute. “This is Charlotte Hastings, a good friend of mine. She has nothing to do with Sebastian Colver.”

“You’re not the only one who can dig up secrets, Lady Olivia.” The man took a step forward and the lower portion of his face came into view as his lips twisted into a smirk.

She still couldn’t see his full face or recognize him, but Livie felt like launching herself at him and clawing his smirk away.

Perhaps she’d been hanging about with Sebastian too much lately, as she’d never felt so violent before. Though she’d also never been in such a situation either. “Just let the girl go before you truly reach the point of no return. If you don’t, Sebastian will hunt you down, and he will not be merciful.”

“Such threats scare me not.” The man seemed unworried. “I am on a mission from God to seek revenge. He will protect me from that spawn of Satan. In any event, the lovely Miss Hastings is a wonderful bonus that my men will enjoy greatly. But you are my true prize.”

Livie felt Charlotte flinch beside her at the man’s words. “Your men will deserve everything they get for even thinking of touching her. And you, you will have a special place in Hell for your part in orchestrating it all.”

Right then, she could have cursed the heavens above when her bad leg began to cramp up, finally having had enough of her weight being placed on it without her cane to take some of the load. She tried to not let the man see the grimace of pain that lanced across her face, but his gaze traveled to her leg.

“Ah yes, my men took your cane, didn’t they? I do feel so very bad about that.” He sighed deeply, sounding so apologetic that Livie could almost believe him. Almost.

“Might I have it back then?”

He laughed. “You’ve got courage. No wonder Sebastian is enamored of you.” He tittered. “But I can’t have you using it as a weapon, now can I? Especially with the blade concealed in its end.”

Livie blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Come, Lady Olivia, stop pretending.” The man shook his head. “Or rather, stop lying to me. We will get along much better if you start telling me the truth. The things I know about you and Sebastian Colver would shock you.” The man’s lips pressed together tightly and a muscle in his jaw twitched, all belying his pretense of calmness. But she didn’t wish to antagonize him further. She had to get answers out of him.

If only he would step slightly forward into the light of the lantern, then she might see who she was dealing with.

“Very well, I shall agree to be truthful with you from now on.” Perhaps a change in tact with him would be just the thing. “If you return the same courtesy to me and tell me why you have kidnapped us and what interest you have in me.”

His upper lip curled in a semblance of a smile. “Very well. Get her a chair,” he called to one of his men standing behind him, who quickly rushed to do the man’s bidding. “I would have you be comfortable for our little chat. You see, I am not such a terrible person that I imagine you believe me to be.”

The other man returned carrying a wooden chair, and a moment later the cell door was unlocked and the chair deposited on the floor in front of Livie. She didn’t particularly want to sit down in front of any of them, but her leg wasn’t giving her much choice. If she kept standing on it for too much longer, she really wouldn’t be able to move anywhere. And then, if an opportunity to escape did present itself, she wouldn’t be in any physical state to take it.

Reluctantly, she sat, somewhat awkwardly without her cane, but instantly her leg thanked her, all but singing out in relief at the weight being removed from her sore and cramping muscles. “Thank you,” she said to him. Politeness had, after all, been drilled into her since she was a child.

“You’re quite welcome. I’m not a bad person by any means and am trying only to make the world a better place.”

“Then why have you done this?” she asked. “The actions of kidnapping two women are not those of a good person. Surely God would not be pleased.” The man had already mentioned God several times, so perhaps if she could scare him with that, he might listen.

“We all answer to God at some point in our lives. Some