Murdock stepped into the dining room, flanked by two men. One of them was Cade, wearing fine clothes that didn’t hide the ugliness underneath. He held Bernard, twisting the butler’s arm at a painful angle. Bernard’s face was contorted in pain.
“Hello, Lion Boy,” Cade said.
Samuel’s blood flowed down from his head, and the floor seemed to turn into quicksand. His worst nightmare turned into reality.
“Let him go,” Vivienne said.
Murdock gave a quick nod to his man who released Bernard with a shove. The butler bent over, clutching his arm.
Samuel rushed to him and helped him walk away from the thug.
“I’m not here to hurt anyone.” Murdock smiled. In his tailored suit and Bowler hat, he could pass for a gentleman. “I’m a businessman, so I want to propose a deal.”
Samuel shook his head, closing a fist.
Murdock eyed him with the usual contempt. “Although you wronged me.” He shifted his gaze to Vivienne. “If you hadn’t taken from me my main vein of gold?—”
“Samuel is a human being!” Vivienne raised her voice. “You treated him beastly.”
“Shut up.” Murdock scoffed. “I wanted to kill you at first for what you’d done to me. Because of you, the circus doesn’t exist. And I thought Lion Boy would have shown himself, knowing you were sick. But he didn’t. Yet you turned out to be as profitable?—”
Samuel shot forth, fuelled by anger. How dare Murdock speak like that of Vivienne?
“Don’t.” She stopped him by putting a hand on his chest. “Let’s listen to whatever he has to say.”
Cade shifted his weight, hand flying to his side.
Murdock waited for silence before speaking again. “If you withdraw the charges and leave me alone, I’ll tell you who your parents are. I’ll tell you everything. Their names, your real name, and where to find your family.”
Samuel drew in a breath. Captain Jackson stared at him in shock. Vivienne gasped.
His family. His parents. He had the opportunity to meet them. Finally, he wouldn’t be a man without a past, but someone with roots.
Murdock slid a hand under his jacket, triggering Samuel’s instinct. He pushed Vivienne behind him and hissed.
“I’m not taking out a gun.” Murdock produced a piece of paper. “I have this document ready, double-checked by my solicitor. All you have to do is sign it, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
Vivienne stepped around Samuel. “You’re bluffing.”
“I took him from his home,” Murdock said. “I know everything about him.” He tapped his temple. “It’s all here. Sign the paper, go to the police, and tell them you changed your mind about the accusations, and I’ll tell you everything about your family. Who knows, maybe your parents are alive. Maybe you have siblings. Maybe they’re waiting for you.”
A quiver went through Samuel. Seeing his family again, learning what had happened to them, and having the opportunity to be with them again were tempting. He had to admit that. His parents might need him, and he had enough money and power to help them.
Murdock’s eyebrow spiked. “I don’t want any trouble. Just do as I ask. I’ll tell you where to find your family, and then I’llleave London. We won’t cross paths ever again. You won’t see me again.”
Vivienne trapped her bottom lip between her teeth. Captain Jackson closed his fists tightly, seemingly ready to punch someone. Bernard rubbed his arm, shifting his weight.
All the people living in his house depended on him, but not only them. The victims Murdock had hurt through many years deserved justice. He had to be stopped.
As much as Samuel’s heart pounded faster at the thought of meeting his family again or knowing who his parents were, he couldn’t let Murdock go.
He shook his head and signed, “You deserve to go to prison.”
Captain Jackson translated, “Samuel said you can rot in hell.”
A muscle of Murdock’s jaw twitched. “I really didn’t want to do this.”
Cade and the other thug punched William and shoved Captain Jackson and Bernard away while Murdock lunged. Samuel leapt backwards, but Murdock wasn’t aiming for him.
