ALESBURY LOOKED AROUND THE WATERFRONT. There were too many warehouses to search, and Violet was running out of time. What would Carlisle do to her to get revenge against Edgerton? Hold her for ransom? God knows he needed the money, but what if he violated her? Alesbury would kill him. That indecent act would not make any difference to him. If Carlisle had his way with her, he would convince Violet that she meant the world to him no matter what and he still wanted to marry her.
Edgerton was across the street talking with Bishop, but Alesbury could hardly keep still as nervous energy coursed through his body. It was taking too long. It had been almost three hours since Violet disappeared. He had to find his beloved and now. He saw Edgerton nod and head his way with Bishop in tow.
“Latest surveillance has the third warehouse down as the most likely place Carlisle would take Violet, although Bishop didn’t see her brought there.”
Alesbury nodded and started walking, but Edgerton grabbed his sleeve.
“Wait, we must think about this.” Alesbury and Bishop listened carefully as Edgerton outlined a plan that would have the best chance of success. “Are you agreeable, Alesbury?”
Alesbury nodded. “Although with one minor change: I shall enter the warehouse through the front. If Carlisle sees you, he may do something rash and hurt Violet out of spite. You and Bishop enter through the back.”
“Agreed,” Edgerton said as he and Bishop headed toward the rear of the warehouse, keeping to the shadows.
Alesbury strode down the street, his anger increasing with each step until he broke into a run. He would relish crushing Carlisle under his boot. He approached the warehouse, reached for the door handle, and was surprised to find it unlocked.
Carlisle’s first mistake.
He eased the door open only enough to slip through and breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing voices. If Carlisle was still talking, he probably hadn’t hurt Violet yet. Alesbury was glad for the darkness as he moved stealthily forward toward the lone candle. When he saw Violet bound on a cot with Carlisle looming over her, he could contain his rage no longer and sprang forward to knock Carlisle away from her.
In his haste, Alesbury didn’t see the box in his way and his foot slammed into it with a loud bang, alerting Carlisle to his presence. Carlisle whirled around, pulling a pistol from his pocket. “Stay where you are, Alesbury, or I’ll kill her.” He pulled Violet to her feet and dragged her in front of him. When he pointed the gun at Violet’s temple, Alesbury halted his advance.
He held up his hands to show Carlisle he was unarmed. “Let her go, Carlisle. She’s innocent of any wrongdoing against you.”
“I think not. Now that you’re here, you’ll be the first to know. She’s to be my wife.”
Alesbury knew he had to keep him talking until Edgerton and Bishop got around the back of the warehouse. Carlisle would have no chance against all three of them, but he worried the man would snap and shoot Violet if he felt cornered.
“I’ll never marry you,” Violet said through her tears.
Carlisle tightened his hold on her. “You will marry me, you little fool. Do you think I’ll care when Alesbury’s fatally wounded in an attempt to rescue you?”
Alesbury saw Violet’s eyes widen in horror. “Don’t hurt him, please, I beg of you.”
Carlisle sneered, clearly enjoying her begging. “Let’s see. Alesbury will be shot and unfortunately killed while he and I try to rescue you from your abductor, my dear. Who will discount my testimony, especially if the villain’s never caught?”
“I’ll tell the truth,” Violet shouted. “You’ll not get away with this.”
“Oh, I think I will, and I can’t wait to make you mine.”
Violet twisted and tried to break Carlisle’s hold, but he was too strong.
Alesbury was about to leap at Carlisle, danger be damned when he saw Edgerton and Bishop come into view from the back of the warehouse.
“Witnesses are hard to control, wouldn’t you say, Carlisle?” Edgerton said.
Carlisle whipped his head around, and it was in that split second that Alesbury rushed him and pulled Violet from his grasp. Unfortunately, Carlisle fired his pistol before Bishop tackled him to the floor.
Violet screamed.
VIOLET COULD HARDLY BELIEVEher eyes. Her beloved had saved her from Carlisle’s clutches, but at what cost?
Her brother had fallen, blood leaking from the wound and spreading across the warehouse floor in an ever-widening circle. Alesbury untied her, and she rushed to Edgerton. “Oh brother, please don’t die,” she pleaded, picking up his hand and hugging it to her chest.
Her brother opened his eyes and struggled to sit up. “Not today, sister, although I must say, I don’t relish being shot.”
Alesbury was suddenly beside Edgerton, taking charge of the situation. “Where are you hit?”
“Shoulder. Hurts like the devil.”
