She almost laughed. Whathadshe hoped for? That he would be regretful? That he’d fight for her to stay in his bed? Yes, if she was being truthful. That he might, just might, have some traceof affection for her? Also yes, humiliatingly. That she could trust him? Yes. That most of all.
She knew better than this. Had always known better. Her brother had taught her early and thoroughly what it meant to live at the mercy of a powerful man’s decisions.
“Violet. Let’s talk upstairs.”
Talk? What would talk help? “Do you know who he works for or not?” she demanded.
“No,” Drake said, clenching his jaw.
Her brother’s cutthroat laughed again. “So this is the bird you’re so worried about?”
“Shut your mouth,” Drake growled, “or you lose your tongue.”
Violet grimaced. Would this man reveal her identity? Fear suddenly skittered down her spine. She didn’t want Drake to discover the truth. She couldn’t trust him with the truth. Above all, she didn’t want her newfound freedom to be wrested away from her. But what was she to do now?
She needed to regroup.
Come up with a plan. A good plan.
Steeling herself, she stated flatly, “I wish to return home.”
An instant scowl darkened his face. “No. That’s not even an—”
“Let her go home, Drake,” Deveraux interrupted. “Unless you plan to lock her in a dungeon, too.”
Violet sent him a look of gratitude.
“What rot are you speaking?” Drake growled.
“Rot is keeping a woman against her will.”
Drake’s gaze snapped fire. “You think I’m keeping her against her will?”
Violet flinched.
“She has just said she wishes to go home,” Deveraux pointed out, and the accusation hung there, heavy and undeniable.
“Deveraux,” Reaper warned quietly. “Careful what you speak. But he is right,frère. If your little flower wants to go home, let her go home. We have the men who attacked you.”
“There are others,” Drake insisted. “It’s too dangerous.”
Deveraux spoke, “Who won’t do anything while we have this one and the other.”
Violet nodded in agreement. “For now, I believe I’m safe. I’m sure you will retrieve the information you desire and deal with the matter accordingly.” She grimaced at her own formal tone.
“And what of tomorrow?” Drake demanded, eyes boring into hers.
Tomorrow. The word scraped along her nerves. “Tomorrow is for tomorrow.” All she wanted to do was escape today.
His gaze refused to let her go, something dark and restless moving behind their depths. “We still need to talk.”
“We can talk another day.” Honestly, she didn’t want to talk anymore. What was left to discuss? All the answers had already become clear to her.
“For what it’s worth,” the cutthroat drawled, “I agree with those two.” He nodded at Drake’s brothers. “Let the lady go.”
Another chill swept through Violet. Did he not plan to out her? A man like this, a cutthroat with leverage in his hands, should want to use it. That was simply what leverage was for. Unless using it served no purpose. And for him to have no purpose to reveal her to the Furys was even more concerning than doing so.
Could her brother already know?
