Page 34 of Keeper of Secrets

Once he was close enough to hear the trill of her laugh, he stopped.Crossing his arms over his chest as he glared at her.How had she managed it and what was he going to do about it?

“Who is that?”Strongborn rumbled from behind him.

Ryker could hear the interest in his voice.His teeth ground together.He’d never wanted to declare Chloe his more than right at this moment.Adam be damned.

Chloe be cursed.The woman needed to leave London.“My charge.”

“You’re jesting,” Strongborn said, choking on the words.

“About?”He stared at Chloe, who was pointedly ignoring him, her chin rising higher in the air.Had she wished to punish him for locking her in?She was succeeding.

“You live with that woman?In your home?Every day?”

“I do.”He beat his clenched fists against his outer thighs, his jaw hard enough to cut glass.

“She’s your charge?And you keep your hands off her?”

“She is.”His teeth ground together as he ignored the second question.“She isn’t for you.”

“Oh, I know.You’re keeping her for yourself.”

Ryker’s mouth pressed into a firm line.To sayno, he wasn’t keeping herwould mean that Strongborn was free to pursue her.

To sayyeswould mean giving up the club.“I didn’t say that.”

“Are you fucking her already?”

A snarl pulled from his lips as he turned back to the other man.“Here, you are not my leader.We are equals.”

“Still a fair question.If you’re not marrying her, or fucking her, then I am free…”

“Touch her and I will kill you.”

A chuckle rolled from Strongborn’s lips.“Now see.That explains everything.Was that so hard?”

Ryker knew what he’d just revealed.What it meant for his future.But if Strongborn pursued her, he might win her.He was a duke who offered all that Ryker himself did, only he’d give Chloe a real marriage.One where she could remain in London.Have children.Have a duke in her bed.“I will become the next Emperor.”

“The Club is child’s play,” Strongborn answered.“A woman like that is the real prize.Arguably the one for which the club has trained you.”

His brow slashed into a thin line as the natural question rose to his lips.How did debauchery prepare him to be a married man?

But he didn’t get a chance to ask.

Someone else in the crowd caught Strongborn’s attention.Ryker followed the other man’s gaze, catching sight of Countess Green as she moved through the crowd.

Strongborn followed her with his eyes, a sinful smile playing at the man’s lips.“Excuse me,” he murmured and then he was disappearing into the crowd.

Even better for Ryker.

Placing one hand over his other fist, he cracked his knuckles.Those men around Chloe had to go.It was time to knock some heads off…

CHAPTERELEVEN

Chloe stoodin the circle of men, trilling another fake laugh.She felt better in one regard.If Ryker was all that she feared he might be, she had options.

Several pairs of adoring eyes stared back at her.

But that was a consideration for another time.Because she’d spotted Ryker across the ballroom, and she could swear that she felt him moving closer.With every second that passed, the tension that crackled in the air threatened to break.

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