Page 109 of The Devil's Pawn

“Here.” I point to a nondescript house with the curtains closed—an odd thing to do at the height of summer this early in the evening. The paint is peeling on the front door, so much so it’s impossible to tell what color it should be, and weeds push up through cracks in dull, gray paving.

Douglas stops the car, blocking any traffic from getting through, and the four of us climb out.

“Follow my lead.” As I unholster my gun, I consider the possibility that some nosy neighbor might report us to the police, or maybe think wearethe police. Doesn’t matter either way, although I’d rather get in and out without ending up overrun with Met police officers. They’ll slow me down, and I want my wife home, safe and sound, as soon as possible. “I want him taken alive, and Imogen unharmed.”

I still intend to kill the bastard, but I’ll do it painfully and when I’m ready. A gunshot to the head is far too good for the prick who dared to take my woman.

“Boss, I still think you should let me go in first. If he’s armed, I’ll take the hit, not you.”

We had this same argument the entire journey here. Steven is only doing his job, but I don’t care. I’m trained in combat, martial arts, and weaponry. I’m as qualified, if not more so, than Steven. So is Nicholas. Our entire family knows how to take care of ourselves.

“One more word, and I’ll put a bullet in your forehead and end this pointless debate once and for all.”

Douglas snickers while Steven gives a disapproving head shake but keeps it zipped.

There’s an alley a couple of houses down that leads to the rear of the terraces. We hurry around the back. There’s only one window with the blinds pulled halfway down. I peer inside. It’s a small kitchen, and there’s no sign of Imogen, but it won’t take long to find her.

I draw in a deep breath, count to three, and kick the door in.

I’m inside, arms straight out, gun cocked and ready. Nicholas follows me, with the bodyguards bringing up the rear. The kitchen has an archway leading through to the hall and stairs up to the next level.

Imogen is lying face down with a man sitting on top of her, yanking on her hair. A roar explodes out of me, and I throw myself at him. We crash to the floor. I punch him again and again, and once I’m sure he’s too weak to fight back, I push up off him and gather Imogen into my arms. It’d gone down easier than I hoped. For all I knew, there could’ve been half a dozen men holding her, and then I’dhave needed the added muscle of Nicholas, Steven, and Douglas.

“I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

She uncharacteristically bursts into tears, her tiny fists gripping my jacket, turning her knuckles white.

“Take him to the car,” I order Steven. “He’s coming back to Oakleigh with us.”

As easily as lifting a sack of potatoes, Steven throws the perpetrator over his shoulder and marches through the small kitchen, with Douglas bringing up the rear.

“Go with them,” I say to Nicholas. I want to be alone with my wife. I’m so close to breaking down, and that’s not something I need or want my bodyguards or my brother to witness.

Nicholas touches my shoulder. “She’ll be okay.”

I nod but don’t answer. I can’t. My feelings are clogging my throat. Sitting on that grimy floor holding my wife in my arms, with the thoughts of what might have happened running through my mind fills me with horror. He could have done anything to her. Anything.

“Baby.” I kiss her hair. “Talk to me. Tell me he didn’t hurt you. Tell me you’re okay.”

She sniffs, then hiccups. “You never call me baby.”

“You’ve never scared the shit out of me by being kidnapped before.”

She manages a weak smile. “I never thought Will would hurt me. I thought he was my friend.”

Frowning, I brush a strand of sweaty hair off her face. “Will?”

It takes a second for the name to register. When it does, my entire body goes rigid.

Edgerton.

It was fucking Edgerton astride my wife, pulling on her hair.

Edgerton who dared to take her, even after I warned him what would happen if he came anywhere near her.

“I’ll kill him.”

“He’s sick, Alexander. He said… he said…” She hiccoughs. “He was going to mail me back to you in pieces.”

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