Page 73 of My Noble Disgrace

He must’ve come through a hidden door behind the tapestry. I’d believed our houses were identical, but in my own, I was certain there was no door on that wall. The Brennins must have added secret passages.

“It is,” said Pearce from the floor, his voice slow and heavy.

“Of course it is!” Graham said, his voice pained and hoarse. “What have youdoneto him?”

“Nothing,” I said instinctively, doing anything to keep Graham from knowing the truth.

“You’re lying!” he said in a near shout.

I swallowed, keeping my eyes fixed on him. I couldn’t think of a plausible explanation that would leave him with any shred of respect for me.

“Drop your weapons and step away from him,” said Graham.

I released the handle of the knife I gripped, dropping my entire clutch to the ground to make it abundantly clear that I would never hurt him, and that I would do as he said.

“That depends on where we’re going,” said Cait, turning her gun toward Graham.

“Cait!” I hissed. “Don’t!”

“There are at least fifty Enforcers in my home tonight,” Graham said wryly. “At the sound of a gunshot, every one of them will be in this room, so I suggest you leave this man alone and get out of herenow.”

“Just let us go,” she said to Graham. “We don’t want to hurt him.”

Pearce laughed bitterly.

Graham’s brows furrowed with skepticism.

The radio in my hand, which I’d nearly forgotten about, suddenly buzzed to life.

We all stared at it with bated breath.

“This is Dominic Dunn,” said a nervous voice through the radio.

Pearce let out a half-paralyzed sob and tried to reach for it, but his arm fell to his side limply.

“There,” Cait said, finally putting the gun into her bag. “You got your confirmation. Now tell us precisely where to find those weapons.”

Before he could say another word, the doorknob rattled again, more loudly and violently than before.

Chapter

Twenty-One

We all jumpedat the sound.

The person on the other side of the door continued their struggle to open it, and the chair that held it started to slide.

Cait and Lachlan darted over, pressing their weight against the door.

I eyed the tapestry Graham had emerged from.

“Help us,” I said quietly to him, trying to keep my voice from being heard by the people outside. “Please.”

He looked back and forth between me and the door as if considering his options. Then he came close to me, speaking in a hushed voice. “What’s wrong with Pearce?”

“Help us get out of here and I’ll explain.” I reached for him, gripping his hand.

He looked down, his face reddening from my touch before he pulled away. “You don’t deserve my help.”

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