Page 104 of Rules for a Bastard Lord
A bed warmer? Part of him was impressed that she’d made it down the wall while keeping that quiet. The other part was thinking that she was absolutely, completely insane.
He had to make a show of it. Now. Before Bluebell got any crazy ideas.
“Don’t do this, Jeremy. If I killed them, I can kill you.” He pulled a knife from his hip. He had another strapped to his other side for emergencies. But only emergencies because his left was better at punching. Or grabbing. Or anything else except wielding a knife with skill.
“I want me money!” Jeremy bellowed and rammed forward.
Bram sidestepped and slammed his fist into Jeremy’s jaw, whipping the man’s head around. The lug stumbled butrecovered quickly and Bram’s hand ached. Damn, the bastard’s head was like granite.
Meanwhile, Bluebell was raising the warmer, preparing to strike.
“I’ll get you the money,” Bram tried desperately. “Whatever you need. I’ll get it. Just go.”
That was enough to make the other two pause, but not Jeremy. He either knew Bram was bluffing or didn’t care. He drew a knife longer and deadlier than Bram’s and attacked.
Bram leaped backward, avoiding the flashing blade, but he couldn’t go far. Not with a brick wall to his back and rubbish fouling his footing. Jeremy swung again, and Bram countered.
Quick swipes, quicker footwork. Anything to keep the man dancing as Bram drew the fray away from Bluebell. Maybe she would be smart. Maybe she would wait until Bram took care of Jeremy before revealing herself. Maybe—
Clang.
He heard the impact of the bed warmer on someone’s head. So did Jeremy, and he swung around to look.
Fortunately, Bram already knew what was going on, so he wasted no time. If he could subdue Jeremy, maybe the others would run. They hadn’t been aggressive so far.
First punch was to the knife hand, and Jeremy’s weapon went skittering away. Then he followed up with blow after blow, while he held off sticking him with the knife. Even with Bluebell on the line, he was loath to make anyone bleed. If he could knock Jeremy unconscious—
The brute came back at him tenfold. For such a big man, he was quick with his fists.
Clang. Clatter.
“Eeep!”
That cut-off cry set him off. No more holding back. He rushed at Jeremy with a vengeance, knife and fist working hard.He got a few good cuts in, but nothing deep. Damn it, he’d only slowed the bastard down.
“I got ’er! I got ’er!”
Bram slammed a hard blow to Jeremy’s face. He was desperate to end this, but it wasn’t enough. And the pause, as Jeremy stumbled backward, gave the idiot enough time to hear his henchman.
Jeremy straightened, one meaty fist rubbing his jaw as he peered down the alley. Bram was already looking. At least Bluebell had gotten one of them good. One henchman was on his hands and knees, shaking his head, clearly dazed. But the other had his arm wrapped around Bluebell’s throat.
She was struggling, but the more she fought, the tighter the hold on her throat. Much more and she would be dead.
“I got ’er!” the man said again, as he wrenched his arm tight.
That ended the struggle and made Bram’s vision run red. “Let her go,” he said softly. “That’s the Earl of Cavener’s granddaughter. You want him angry at you?”
“That’s no granddaughter. That’s the chippy from Hull,” said Jeremy. “Wot you doing all the way down ’ere? And with ’im?”
Bluebell didn’t have the breath to speak, but she was a master at making her opinion known. Even without breath, she screwed up her face and spat straight at Jeremy. Which was the wrong thing to do.
The bastard raised his fist, ready to subdue her. Bram didn’t hesitate. He simply drew from his hip and threw.
Thunk.
The knife sunk deep in Jeremy’s back. A kidney shot. Hell.
Jeremy roared and reached behind him, whirling around. Bram didn’t stop. He punched the man as hard as he could.
